"The Doors Examined" by Jim Cherry - The Legendary Rock Band Still Resonates

Some four plus decades after Jim Morrison's death, The Doors still loom large for longtime fans, while continuing to gain new followers. Indeed, the legacy of Jim Morrison continues to thrive and he may, via technology, perform with The Doors once again in the not too distant future. That topic, among many others, is discussed in the new book The Doors Examined (Bennion Kearny) by Jim Cherry.

The Doors Examined is comprised of numerous articles from The Doors Examiner that cover nearly every aspect of the legendary band, including their history, releases, tours and reviews. While those topics are, perhaps, expected to be covered, Cherry also provides information about The Doors in the movies, including Oliver Stone's controversial 1991 film based on the quartet, reviews of other Doors related books, including the excellent The Doors FAQ by Rich Weidman, and The Doors relationship with, of all things, rap music.

I enjoyed reading various articles about Jim Morrison's ghost, which I had not heard about previously. While the author admits he is a skeptic, I am a believer in such phenomena. Although there is no conclusive proof, I would not be surprised if Jim Morrison's spirit is alive and well, considering how many people continue to be influenced by him. I also learned about Harrison Ford's relationship with the band, which was fascinating and unexpected. Another strong aspect of The Doors Examined is the time spent focusing on Jim Morrison's poetic efforts, as well as his personal life. Clearly, Morrison had demons to contend with, but there was an intellectual and empathetic side to him that is frequently overshadowed by his bad boy antics, which, of course, garnered more attention.

Since reading The Doors Examined, I have spent time watching live performances of the band online and am interested in obtaining various concert Blu-rays and DVDs that are available. While I am not sure if I would go see a reunion of The Doors, featuring a Jim Morrison hologram, along with keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore and guitarist Robby Krieger, the idea intrigues me and it will be interesting to see if the concert tour comes to fruition. If nothing else, the potential for such an event proves the enduring power of The Doors and their unforgettable musical legacy.