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Light My Fire: My Life with The Doors
"The best book yet about The Doors." -- Booklist
The inside story of the Doors, by cofounder and keyboard player Ray Manzarek. Includes 16 pages of photos.
"A refreshingly candid read...a Doors bio worth opening." -- Entertainment Weekly
No other band has ever sounded quite like the Doors, and no other frontman has ever transfixed an audience quite the way Jim Morrison did. Ray Manzarek, the band's co-founder and keyboard player, was there from the very start--and until the sad dissolution--of the Doors. In this heartfelt and colorfully detailed memoir, complete with 16 pages of photographs, he brings us an insider's view of the brief, brilliant history...from the beginning to the end.
"An engaging read." -- Washington Post Book World
The inside story of the Doors, by cofounder and keyboard player Ray Manzarek. Includes 16 pages of photos.
"A refreshingly candid read...a Doors bio worth opening." -- Entertainment Weekly
No other band has ever sounded quite like the Doors, and no other frontman has ever transfixed an audience quite the way Jim Morrison did. Ray Manzarek, the band's co-founder and keyboard player, was there from the very start--and until the sad dissolution--of the Doors. In this heartfelt and colorfully detailed memoir, complete with 16 pages of photographs, he brings us an insider's view of the brief, brilliant history...from the beginning to the end.
"An engaging read." -- Washington Post Book World
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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2146 people want to read
About the author
Ray Manzarek
24 books17 followersRay Manzarek was an American musician, best known as one of the founders, and keyboardist for the rock group 'The Doors'.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
February 25, 2024
Being a big Doors fan I have read many books about the Doors before. Every book gives another perspective on the same events. This one by Ray is a very pleasurable read. You get a personal narrating of events filled with love. Love for Jim, love for the Doors, love for the Sixties. Really enjoyed !
May 21, 2013
Place Holder
Manzarek was jealous as hell of Morrison, but at least he had the guts to recognise the myth that Morrison created around himself and not try to squash it (even if so many other people want to squash it).
Densmore was more of a straight shooter, but I think you need both books to find the truth (if not more than two).
But you have to care enough about the truth.
Manzarek was jealous as hell of Morrison, but at least he had the guts to recognise the myth that Morrison created around himself and not try to squash it (even if so many other people want to squash it).
Densmore was more of a straight shooter, but I think you need both books to find the truth (if not more than two).
But you have to care enough about the truth.
October 12, 2013
Wonderful, inspiring book by a down to earth guy who loved Jim Morrison a little too much!
Having been a lifelong Doors fan and having already read all the standard books, I assumed that this book was just going to be keyboard player Ray Manzarek's personal love letter to his friend Jim. I figured all it would be was a tribute to Jim's genius, and lots of feel-good stories that would put their relationship in a positive light. And I got that. But I got more. Much more.
The irony is, Ray is on every human level a much more admirable character than Jim. The best part of this book is actually not when Ray is glorifying Jim and the Doors, but when he describes his own uniquely American journey.
I never knew before that Ray grew up in Chicago, or that his parents were tough, blue-collar Polish immigrants who encouraged him as an athlete, a musician, and a student. Where Jim Morrison was famous for insisting that "both my parents are dead" Ray does an amazing job of showing how his parents gave him the confidence and moral charcter to achieve fame but not be destroyed by it.
For me the first few chapters of this book -- the Chicago chapters -- are the high point of the story. Ray brings his boyhood back to life. He shows what it was like in the days when working class white kids actually shared Chicago's South Side with blacks just arrived from the South. And he shows how learning classical piano did nothing to prevent young Ray from learning to master the blues as a young rocker.
The story goes downhill when Jim comes into the picture at UCLA. Ray's hero-worship is often unintentionally funny ("Jim looked like a movie star. I just knew he was gonna be president some day!") but also terribly sad. Ray is quite insightful about the hidden class conflicts, i.e. that Jim as a wealthy WASP had an allure and mystery that no Polish Catholic boy could ever match. Yet the irony that hangs over the whole book is that Ray is actually a far more admirable man than his "hero" Jim.
LIGHT MY FIRE is a Doors classic -- even if Ray Manzarek is actually more interesting than the band he served so well.
Having been a lifelong Doors fan and having already read all the standard books, I assumed that this book was just going to be keyboard player Ray Manzarek's personal love letter to his friend Jim. I figured all it would be was a tribute to Jim's genius, and lots of feel-good stories that would put their relationship in a positive light. And I got that. But I got more. Much more.
The irony is, Ray is on every human level a much more admirable character than Jim. The best part of this book is actually not when Ray is glorifying Jim and the Doors, but when he describes his own uniquely American journey.
I never knew before that Ray grew up in Chicago, or that his parents were tough, blue-collar Polish immigrants who encouraged him as an athlete, a musician, and a student. Where Jim Morrison was famous for insisting that "both my parents are dead" Ray does an amazing job of showing how his parents gave him the confidence and moral charcter to achieve fame but not be destroyed by it.
For me the first few chapters of this book -- the Chicago chapters -- are the high point of the story. Ray brings his boyhood back to life. He shows what it was like in the days when working class white kids actually shared Chicago's South Side with blacks just arrived from the South. And he shows how learning classical piano did nothing to prevent young Ray from learning to master the blues as a young rocker.
The story goes downhill when Jim comes into the picture at UCLA. Ray's hero-worship is often unintentionally funny ("Jim looked like a movie star. I just knew he was gonna be president some day!") but also terribly sad. Ray is quite insightful about the hidden class conflicts, i.e. that Jim as a wealthy WASP had an allure and mystery that no Polish Catholic boy could ever match. Yet the irony that hangs over the whole book is that Ray is actually a far more admirable man than his "hero" Jim.
LIGHT MY FIRE is a Doors classic -- even if Ray Manzarek is actually more interesting than the band he served so well.
May 22, 2015
BS
I knew Jim, so I also knew Ray, John and Robby. This book is typical Ray Manzarek still lost on a trip trying to protect the name of a drunken self destructive burnt out genius, who also was his dearest friend. Which is admirable and touching, however in doing so once again Ray shows his own psychological flaws, by using words and references the typical Doors fan doesn't understand. Rays constant need to show the world his education and his intellectual superiority comes through in the writing of this book.
Jimbo was an asshole, and he was honest enough to know and admit it. He also was a friend who was a troubled soul that all that knew him as more than someone to party with wish we could've found away to get through to him but were too young at the time to get through to ourselves.
If you want the real story of the doors read John's book, if you want Rays self promoting, cover up fantasy read this book. In the time that I spent with them Ray wasn't even a third as passionate for his own craft let alone being passionate about the craft of others that he describes being in awe of. One thing for sure though Ray, John, Robby and Jim were 4 of the best to ever play rock-n-roll.
I knew Jim, so I also knew Ray, John and Robby. This book is typical Ray Manzarek still lost on a trip trying to protect the name of a drunken self destructive burnt out genius, who also was his dearest friend. Which is admirable and touching, however in doing so once again Ray shows his own psychological flaws, by using words and references the typical Doors fan doesn't understand. Rays constant need to show the world his education and his intellectual superiority comes through in the writing of this book.
Jimbo was an asshole, and he was honest enough to know and admit it. He also was a friend who was a troubled soul that all that knew him as more than someone to party with wish we could've found away to get through to him but were too young at the time to get through to ourselves.
If you want the real story of the doors read John's book, if you want Rays self promoting, cover up fantasy read this book. In the time that I spent with them Ray wasn't even a third as passionate for his own craft let alone being passionate about the craft of others that he describes being in awe of. One thing for sure though Ray, John, Robby and Jim were 4 of the best to ever play rock-n-roll.
May 18, 2009
Heartfelt Tribute to A Lost Friend
Perspective is everything. Light My Fire is Ray Manzarek’s perspective. Jim Morrison is an icon and will always be an icon. There are those who knew Morrison as a person and Manzarek is in a unique position to relate the story of The Doors, and to avoid having to answer the same question for the rest of your life “what was Jim like?”
Manzarek and Morrison were UCLA film students who started The Doors. Light My Fire takes us through Manzarek’s early years in Chicago, and concentrates his focus on the development and history of The Doors. Manzarek is a natural raconteur and while he relates some familiar tales there are some new tales about him and Morrison, it is obvious that the friendship that he and Morrison had at the creation of The Doors still exists and Ray is able to voice that affection. Manzarek also keeps the involved in the story and gives a great sense of time, place, and people involved in The Doors story. Manzarek also takes the time to explain how he worked up the original Doors songs with Morrison and it’s clear that he enjoys teaching and talking about this aspect of The Doors, and it is interesting and not too technical even for someone who has no musical training (like me).
Manzarek reveals himself as an epicurean and his reminiscences about having a lunch at the Lucky U or Olivia’s (both UCLA film school and early Doors hangouts) will make you feel as if you’re there, like the rest of the book Manzarek has a great sense of the time and is able to render the atmosphere as to make you feel as if you’re there.
Manzarek’s narrative is thoroughly informed by hindsight, and the viewpoints close to his heart. Manzarek does indulge himself in paying back old debts with harsh criticisms of certain people both well known and not so well known. He also avoids the shortcomings of other Doors books that the narrative falls off when Morrison exit’s the scene.
Interestingly, Manzarek’s stint in the army before moving to L.A., which was included in an earlier edition of the book is excluded from this edition.
Since Light My Fire was first published this is my third time reading it and I still find the stories entertaining and full of information. Whether you’re a long time fan of The Doors or a newbie wanting to get into The Doors Ray’s first hand account is one of the books you want to have in your collection.
Perspective is everything. Light My Fire is Ray Manzarek’s perspective. Jim Morrison is an icon and will always be an icon. There are those who knew Morrison as a person and Manzarek is in a unique position to relate the story of The Doors, and to avoid having to answer the same question for the rest of your life “what was Jim like?”
Manzarek and Morrison were UCLA film students who started The Doors. Light My Fire takes us through Manzarek’s early years in Chicago, and concentrates his focus on the development and history of The Doors. Manzarek is a natural raconteur and while he relates some familiar tales there are some new tales about him and Morrison, it is obvious that the friendship that he and Morrison had at the creation of The Doors still exists and Ray is able to voice that affection. Manzarek also keeps the involved in the story and gives a great sense of time, place, and people involved in The Doors story. Manzarek also takes the time to explain how he worked up the original Doors songs with Morrison and it’s clear that he enjoys teaching and talking about this aspect of The Doors, and it is interesting and not too technical even for someone who has no musical training (like me).
Manzarek reveals himself as an epicurean and his reminiscences about having a lunch at the Lucky U or Olivia’s (both UCLA film school and early Doors hangouts) will make you feel as if you’re there, like the rest of the book Manzarek has a great sense of the time and is able to render the atmosphere as to make you feel as if you’re there.
Manzarek’s narrative is thoroughly informed by hindsight, and the viewpoints close to his heart. Manzarek does indulge himself in paying back old debts with harsh criticisms of certain people both well known and not so well known. He also avoids the shortcomings of other Doors books that the narrative falls off when Morrison exit’s the scene.
Interestingly, Manzarek’s stint in the army before moving to L.A., which was included in an earlier edition of the book is excluded from this edition.
Since Light My Fire was first published this is my third time reading it and I still find the stories entertaining and full of information. Whether you’re a long time fan of The Doors or a newbie wanting to get into The Doors Ray’s first hand account is one of the books you want to have in your collection.
April 16, 2010
Not just an account of the rise and fall of the Doors, LIGHT MY FIRE is especially an expression of the creative process, psychedelic style; back when drugs were used for opening doors instead of escaping from life.
This is how Ray Mazarek sees it. He had the ultimate example of the different uses of drugs, in the two personalities of Jim Morrison, poet and addict. He also had a group of four musical personalities who, combined, created more than any of them could have created alone. Ray's descriptions of the growth of their music were fascinating to me.
Reader, hang in there through the turgid first chapter, in which the author pushes his prose too hard, and feel the growing excitement as his creative life gathers momentum and exposes a new part of the legend.
Disclaimer: I would never advocate the use of mind-altering drugs, including alcohol.
Favorite Non-Fiction Read of 2010
This is how Ray Mazarek sees it. He had the ultimate example of the different uses of drugs, in the two personalities of Jim Morrison, poet and addict. He also had a group of four musical personalities who, combined, created more than any of them could have created alone. Ray's descriptions of the growth of their music were fascinating to me.
Reader, hang in there through the turgid first chapter, in which the author pushes his prose too hard, and feel the growing excitement as his creative life gathers momentum and exposes a new part of the legend.
Disclaimer: I would never advocate the use of mind-altering drugs, including alcohol.
Favorite Non-Fiction Read of 2010
August 10, 2016
Me & Jim (& John)
Ray Manzarek's "Light My Fire" is (of course) a very interesting read for all Doors fans. The book doesn't uncover much new information about it's main topic, Jim Morrison, but it certainly says a lot about Manzarek's psyche and how he wants to appear before the reader.
Everybody knows Manzarek as the cool, storytelling dude with the sixties slang, that talks like he's reading from a script, and it is also how this book is written - sort of, because the "beat generation style" of writing doesn't work that well for Manzarek. It's all too much and seems almost like a caricature - together with the intellectual namedropping. Throughout the book the same phrases are repeated over and over, for example the constant desciption of Morrison as "Dionysos". You get the feeling that the form, how he appears, is more important than the content.
Manzarek obviously loves and worships Morrison, and there is some great first hand scenes of "the real" Jim Morrison, which you don't find in some of the other books. A funny scene is when a very drunk Manzarek is being carried home to his hotel room by Morrison, whom a very late and very hungover Manzarek sees in the hotel bar the next morning drinking. Morrisons self-destruction is something Manzarek has a bizarre explanation of: It is not Jim that can be a primitive, beer drinking redneck, it is his alter ego "Jimbo". One can say alcoholism is a form a schizophrenia, but Manzarek is taking it too far. He is also too far out when he is insinuating that Morrison faked his own death.
People who think of Manzarek as this cool, laid back guy and protector of Morrison's legacy will definitely have a more differentiated view after reading this book. We get to see the "dark side" of him, which is not always pretty. Manzarek is not a person who reflects much (in contrast to Densmore in "Riders On The Storm") and his view of the world is very much "us and them" or black and white. He uses a lot of energy on "the idiots" and "fascists" like Oliver Stone, who just don't get it. All in all he comes off somewhat arrogant, which doesn't suit the self proclaimed fighter for love and freedom. It is also ironic that greed is not something he is ashamed of or at least try to hide. He decides to marry his wife to be, Dorothy, because he is advised to do so because it will save him a loadfull of royalty dollars in tax. Romantic, huh?
Most Doors fans know, that there has been a divide in the band between Krieger-Manzarek and Densmore, and it's probably in this light you have to read the constant Densmore bashing throughout the book. He is constantly made fun of and ridiculed, and the focus is almost as much on him as the lizard king! Densmore is described as a bitter and grumpy man - which is very much in contrast to others description of him (for example Sugerman's in "Wonderland Avenue"). A long passage describes how Morrison tries to convince Manzarek to get rid of Densmore, who refuses because "we're stuck on him". Throughout the book we are constantly assured, that Morrison never liked Densmore. True or not, it's not good style to bash a former bandmate like that.
All in all the book gives an valuable insight in Manzarek's experiences with The Doors and Jim Morrison, but be prepared to have your view of Manzarek chanced.
Ray Manzarek's "Light My Fire" is (of course) a very interesting read for all Doors fans. The book doesn't uncover much new information about it's main topic, Jim Morrison, but it certainly says a lot about Manzarek's psyche and how he wants to appear before the reader.
Everybody knows Manzarek as the cool, storytelling dude with the sixties slang, that talks like he's reading from a script, and it is also how this book is written - sort of, because the "beat generation style" of writing doesn't work that well for Manzarek. It's all too much and seems almost like a caricature - together with the intellectual namedropping. Throughout the book the same phrases are repeated over and over, for example the constant desciption of Morrison as "Dionysos". You get the feeling that the form, how he appears, is more important than the content.
Manzarek obviously loves and worships Morrison, and there is some great first hand scenes of "the real" Jim Morrison, which you don't find in some of the other books. A funny scene is when a very drunk Manzarek is being carried home to his hotel room by Morrison, whom a very late and very hungover Manzarek sees in the hotel bar the next morning drinking. Morrisons self-destruction is something Manzarek has a bizarre explanation of: It is not Jim that can be a primitive, beer drinking redneck, it is his alter ego "Jimbo". One can say alcoholism is a form a schizophrenia, but Manzarek is taking it too far. He is also too far out when he is insinuating that Morrison faked his own death.
People who think of Manzarek as this cool, laid back guy and protector of Morrison's legacy will definitely have a more differentiated view after reading this book. We get to see the "dark side" of him, which is not always pretty. Manzarek is not a person who reflects much (in contrast to Densmore in "Riders On The Storm") and his view of the world is very much "us and them" or black and white. He uses a lot of energy on "the idiots" and "fascists" like Oliver Stone, who just don't get it. All in all he comes off somewhat arrogant, which doesn't suit the self proclaimed fighter for love and freedom. It is also ironic that greed is not something he is ashamed of or at least try to hide. He decides to marry his wife to be, Dorothy, because he is advised to do so because it will save him a loadfull of royalty dollars in tax. Romantic, huh?
Most Doors fans know, that there has been a divide in the band between Krieger-Manzarek and Densmore, and it's probably in this light you have to read the constant Densmore bashing throughout the book. He is constantly made fun of and ridiculed, and the focus is almost as much on him as the lizard king! Densmore is described as a bitter and grumpy man - which is very much in contrast to others description of him (for example Sugerman's in "Wonderland Avenue"). A long passage describes how Morrison tries to convince Manzarek to get rid of Densmore, who refuses because "we're stuck on him". Throughout the book we are constantly assured, that Morrison never liked Densmore. True or not, it's not good style to bash a former bandmate like that.
All in all the book gives an valuable insight in Manzarek's experiences with The Doors and Jim Morrison, but be prepared to have your view of Manzarek chanced.
November 18, 2016
While on a whirlwind road trip to D.C, we stopped at the Gettysburg outlet mall, and in the Book Warehouse I saw a book by one of my all-time favourites. Ray Manzarek! Right there on the shelves, cut price. I had never heard of this autobiography so naturally I grabbed it.
For the uninitiated, Manzarek was a product of his times; son of Polish immigrants in south-side Chicago, luckily learning the piano instead of the accordion, and those skills came into use once he went to UCLA and met other musicians, and eventually Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger and John Densmore. There he was, front row centre in the counter-culture vortex of Southern California, us against them, the hippies vs. the "fascists" and so on. Such were his politics, a product of that time.
The Doors were a collective, no one-man band by any means. But Ray shows how the somewhat shy Jim Morrison came into his own once they developed the idea of a band unlike any other. Those heady days on Venice Beach where Ray and Jim dared to dream big is a wonderful part of the book.
Forward it goes; to success despite so many rejections at first. The book mostly centres on the early days, how the Doors made it against all odds. And listen along to Robby Krieger's greatest composition "Light My Fire" as Ray details all the chord changes in the intro. Nice little music class for the layman reader.
It's a rise and fall. Jim Morrison started hanging around with the wrong people, and abused his body with drink and drugs. Eventually a whole chapter about Jim's Miami bust. Ray writes about Jim the shaman dreamer, and his dark alter-ego "Jimbo", who Ray portrayed as a vicious redneck when he had alcohol in him.
There's nothing here about Manzarek's post-Morrison career, how the Doors soldiered on as a threesome for two albums, or his support of young L.A. bands later on. A lot seems missing so it's more of a memoir than a straight autobiography. But for those who've read bios of the Doors and especially Oliver Stone's movie, Ray sets the record straight. (clue-he was not a fan of the movie at all!)
For the Doors fan, but also a good look at growing up in post-WW2 America. Ray passed away a few years ago, so enjoy these words from someone who was THERE, and lived the life, and fuelled us with his inspired Vox keyboard playing.
For the uninitiated, Manzarek was a product of his times; son of Polish immigrants in south-side Chicago, luckily learning the piano instead of the accordion, and those skills came into use once he went to UCLA and met other musicians, and eventually Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger and John Densmore. There he was, front row centre in the counter-culture vortex of Southern California, us against them, the hippies vs. the "fascists" and so on. Such were his politics, a product of that time.
The Doors were a collective, no one-man band by any means. But Ray shows how the somewhat shy Jim Morrison came into his own once they developed the idea of a band unlike any other. Those heady days on Venice Beach where Ray and Jim dared to dream big is a wonderful part of the book.
Forward it goes; to success despite so many rejections at first. The book mostly centres on the early days, how the Doors made it against all odds. And listen along to Robby Krieger's greatest composition "Light My Fire" as Ray details all the chord changes in the intro. Nice little music class for the layman reader.
It's a rise and fall. Jim Morrison started hanging around with the wrong people, and abused his body with drink and drugs. Eventually a whole chapter about Jim's Miami bust. Ray writes about Jim the shaman dreamer, and his dark alter-ego "Jimbo", who Ray portrayed as a vicious redneck when he had alcohol in him.
There's nothing here about Manzarek's post-Morrison career, how the Doors soldiered on as a threesome for two albums, or his support of young L.A. bands later on. A lot seems missing so it's more of a memoir than a straight autobiography. But for those who've read bios of the Doors and especially Oliver Stone's movie, Ray sets the record straight. (clue-he was not a fan of the movie at all!)
For the Doors fan, but also a good look at growing up in post-WW2 America. Ray passed away a few years ago, so enjoy these words from someone who was THERE, and lived the life, and fuelled us with his inspired Vox keyboard playing.
September 5, 2011
Interesting. Ray had nothing but love and respect for Jim, even when he was at his lowest.
August 17, 2017
Ray's book on his life in The Doors is a fun and quick read. He's as lighthearted and enthusiastic as John Densmore is serious and cerebral. The two memoirs stand as entertaining, revealing, and, as these things go, somewhat contradictory books.
But we're here to talk about Ray's book, which I found to be an entertaining grab bag of stories about The Doors and, most interestingly, Ray's tremendous admiration and, you could even say, worship of his friend, Doors' singer Jim Morrison.
The cool thing about Ray is that he writes enthusiastically about everything. His enthusiasm gives his book a narrative drive that's missing from, I'd like to say, every other book I've read on The Doors. It's great when Ray gets lost in this enthusiasm and riffs on specific memories. He can go on for pages, writing about specific scenes from The Doors' history. He really gives you a sense of immediacy - of what it would have been like to have been with The Doors when they were jamming, coming up with songs, playing live, arguing, dealing with Jim's descent into alcoholism etc.
The only problem - and its a big one - is that Ray can riff for pages on stuff that just isn't that interesting. His description of his meeting of his future wife falls into this trap, as does his description of being on acid. The book seriously drags in these sections - and even some of the scenes on The Doors themselves go on for way to long.
As a musician, I'm of course very interested in the more technical aspects of Ray's writing on music. I love his description of how the chord progression of "The Crystal Ship" makes that song so radical.
Moreover, I enjoyed Ray's description of Jim's books. The man read all the great authors (and most of my favorites): Blake, Rimbaud, Kerouac, Burroughs, Céline, Genet, Ginsberg, Joyce, Mailer, Nietzsche, Artaud. In fact, one of Jim's sole possessions was his box of books. Perhaps his lyrics and sensibility resonate so much with me because we're influenced by the same guys.
It's also cool to find out that Jim and Ray were interested in the same filmmakers that I am (man, this is getting self-indulgent!).
I can't give Ray's book more than three stars, however, because of the sometimes too lengthy riffs and its problematic ways of quoting dialogue that happened almost thirty years before he wrote the book.
But we're here to talk about Ray's book, which I found to be an entertaining grab bag of stories about The Doors and, most interestingly, Ray's tremendous admiration and, you could even say, worship of his friend, Doors' singer Jim Morrison.
The cool thing about Ray is that he writes enthusiastically about everything. His enthusiasm gives his book a narrative drive that's missing from, I'd like to say, every other book I've read on The Doors. It's great when Ray gets lost in this enthusiasm and riffs on specific memories. He can go on for pages, writing about specific scenes from The Doors' history. He really gives you a sense of immediacy - of what it would have been like to have been with The Doors when they were jamming, coming up with songs, playing live, arguing, dealing with Jim's descent into alcoholism etc.
The only problem - and its a big one - is that Ray can riff for pages on stuff that just isn't that interesting. His description of his meeting of his future wife falls into this trap, as does his description of being on acid. The book seriously drags in these sections - and even some of the scenes on The Doors themselves go on for way to long.
As a musician, I'm of course very interested in the more technical aspects of Ray's writing on music. I love his description of how the chord progression of "The Crystal Ship" makes that song so radical.
Moreover, I enjoyed Ray's description of Jim's books. The man read all the great authors (and most of my favorites): Blake, Rimbaud, Kerouac, Burroughs, Céline, Genet, Ginsberg, Joyce, Mailer, Nietzsche, Artaud. In fact, one of Jim's sole possessions was his box of books. Perhaps his lyrics and sensibility resonate so much with me because we're influenced by the same guys.
It's also cool to find out that Jim and Ray were interested in the same filmmakers that I am (man, this is getting self-indulgent!).
I can't give Ray's book more than three stars, however, because of the sometimes too lengthy riffs and its problematic ways of quoting dialogue that happened almost thirty years before he wrote the book.
December 7, 2009
"And Jim is always with us. In the air, in the ether, in the electricity. In the sounds and rhythms of Door's music. In the images of his poetry. In the joys and anguish of his soul, which he so publicly bared to us. . . And in each new generation's discovery of The Doors and Jim's plea of: "Please, please, listen to me, children. You are the ones who will rule the world." In each new generation's quest for its own freedom, Jim is there. The Doors are there."
February 28, 2025
Fun but more than a bit biased. This one, on the other hand, feels more like the unvarnished truth: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
December 21, 2025
never been obsessed with a band so bad that iʼve been listening to them non-stop for 3 months, watched a movie about them, learned all of their songs and chords by heart. now that itʼs complete, i have finally read the book too. and I know this is not "The End".
November 28, 2025
To me the uniqueness of The Doors’ music lies even more in Ray Manzarek’s wild and crazy keyboards than in Jim Morrison’s vocals. I mean, what is the song Light My Fire without Manzarek’s intro/outro “hook”—at a time organ solos were unheard of in Rock music. I also like how in later years Manzarek agreed to play on Weird Al Yankovic’s Craig’s List, a parody of/paean to The Doors music. Gotta love the guy. Luckily, Manzarek’s book about Jim Morrison is just as much about his own life, and the friendship they shared.
Musicians and fans will enjoy the detail with which Ray describes particular songs and how they came together. He’s rather a poet and word painter himself, weaving in arcane symbols and quotes from various songs when they relate to the plot. Ray comes off as an intellectual stoner, serious and gifted musician, and genuine nice guy. Except when he gets off on a rant.
After ranting a bit, he generally begs pardon. However, he lets it be known that he hates not only Oliver Stone’s movie The Doors, but also Oliver Stone. And he’s not keen on bandmate John Densmore’s personal style either. In fact, I now want to read Densmore’s biography of Morrison, Riders on the Storm to get the story from Densmore’s point of view. Update 11/25: I also rated Densmore's book 4 stars. I recommend reading both.
Light My Fire is very nostalgic, and not just for its content. Manzarek’s writing style and manner of speaking are a blast from the 1960s and 1970s. His beliefs echo values of that time: love of peace and freedom paired with hatred of authority figures. Political correctness was unheard of, and people spoke their beliefs without sugar-coating. Ray's plan for working Morrison up from the ranks of poet to presidency is delightfully naïve, as much of the younger generation was in those days.
If you want to learn more about Jim Morrison and The Doors, this book is an excellent place to start. Bonuses: an authentic feeling of 1960s-70s popular culture, and the story of a strong friendship between two men with very different personalities who shared values and experiences in the arenas of art, music, performance, and politics.
Musicians and fans will enjoy the detail with which Ray describes particular songs and how they came together. He’s rather a poet and word painter himself, weaving in arcane symbols and quotes from various songs when they relate to the plot. Ray comes off as an intellectual stoner, serious and gifted musician, and genuine nice guy. Except when he gets off on a rant.
After ranting a bit, he generally begs pardon. However, he lets it be known that he hates not only Oliver Stone’s movie The Doors, but also Oliver Stone. And he’s not keen on bandmate John Densmore’s personal style either. In fact, I now want to read Densmore’s biography of Morrison, Riders on the Storm to get the story from Densmore’s point of view. Update 11/25: I also rated Densmore's book 4 stars. I recommend reading both.
Light My Fire is very nostalgic, and not just for its content. Manzarek’s writing style and manner of speaking are a blast from the 1960s and 1970s. His beliefs echo values of that time: love of peace and freedom paired with hatred of authority figures. Political correctness was unheard of, and people spoke their beliefs without sugar-coating. Ray's plan for working Morrison up from the ranks of poet to presidency is delightfully naïve, as much of the younger generation was in those days.
If you want to learn more about Jim Morrison and The Doors, this book is an excellent place to start. Bonuses: an authentic feeling of 1960s-70s popular culture, and the story of a strong friendship between two men with very different personalities who shared values and experiences in the arenas of art, music, performance, and politics.
August 2, 2015
I picked this up at a thrift store along with a copy of Densmore's Riders on the Storm. All paperbacks $1 day!
Of the two reads I enjoyed this book more. Manzarek has his issues but he's more positive about his experience. His view resonates more with my memories than Densmore did. reading them one after the other was interesting. The writing is ok but was sometimes repetitious to me. It's an interesting flashback to the 60's or a visit for those of you who may not have been there. Both books approach the Doors from their personal view and experiences which were very different but one thing they had in common for me is how they depicted were aware of Morrison's substance problems but never appeared to have addressed them but rather adapted to the effects. Certainly like so many people in music or other show business especially with quick success, the temptation to excess was always present, often relished and destroyed some while others managed to get out alive.
Musically groundbreaking in their time, The Doors are still one of my favorite bands. How could you not love a band who named themselves after an Aldous Huxley book (The Doors of Perception)quoting William Blake "If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite.".
I had the pleasure of seeing them perform before Jim Morrison was out of control, so it was a great show.
Of the two reads I enjoyed this book more. Manzarek has his issues but he's more positive about his experience. His view resonates more with my memories than Densmore did. reading them one after the other was interesting. The writing is ok but was sometimes repetitious to me. It's an interesting flashback to the 60's or a visit for those of you who may not have been there. Both books approach the Doors from their personal view and experiences which were very different but one thing they had in common for me is how they depicted were aware of Morrison's substance problems but never appeared to have addressed them but rather adapted to the effects. Certainly like so many people in music or other show business especially with quick success, the temptation to excess was always present, often relished and destroyed some while others managed to get out alive.
Musically groundbreaking in their time, The Doors are still one of my favorite bands. How could you not love a band who named themselves after an Aldous Huxley book (The Doors of Perception)quoting William Blake "If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite.".
I had the pleasure of seeing them perform before Jim Morrison was out of control, so it was a great show.
July 28, 2021
a good companion piece to the (also good) densmore book. uncle ray, however, focuses much more on his formative days, and those of the band.
anybody picking this one hoping for a documentary of "the rock star years" is going to be sorely disappointed. the sessions for "waiting for the sun" and "LA woman" are covered in probably a total of 5 pages or less.
if you're interested, though, in the milieu that created the doors - the heady days of a youth filled with greasy blues and r&b, the sophisticated sounds of west-coast jazz, and post-beatnik poetry will be very pleasantly surprised. ray wrote as he spoke - his language dense with what sounds nowadays like a lot of pseudo-intellectual hoo-ha about dionysian ecstacies and jungian archetypes, but for me, that is part of the charm of the band. it sounds authentic. while a lot of what ray says may seem naive or cliched from our 21st-century vantage point, his discursive style gives one a real idea of what it must have been like being at UCLA film school, and living in the venice of 1964-1965.
his occasional cheap shots at densmore, though, are unneccessary and annoyed me.
that being said, this is a fascinating read and highly recommeneded for doors fans - especially if read back-to-back with john's book.
anybody picking this one hoping for a documentary of "the rock star years" is going to be sorely disappointed. the sessions for "waiting for the sun" and "LA woman" are covered in probably a total of 5 pages or less.
if you're interested, though, in the milieu that created the doors - the heady days of a youth filled with greasy blues and r&b, the sophisticated sounds of west-coast jazz, and post-beatnik poetry will be very pleasantly surprised. ray wrote as he spoke - his language dense with what sounds nowadays like a lot of pseudo-intellectual hoo-ha about dionysian ecstacies and jungian archetypes, but for me, that is part of the charm of the band. it sounds authentic. while a lot of what ray says may seem naive or cliched from our 21st-century vantage point, his discursive style gives one a real idea of what it must have been like being at UCLA film school, and living in the venice of 1964-1965.
his occasional cheap shots at densmore, though, are unneccessary and annoyed me.
that being said, this is a fascinating read and highly recommeneded for doors fans - especially if read back-to-back with john's book.
December 21, 2017
Doorsi su bili i ostali moj najdraži band ikad.
March 7, 2017
Raymond Daniel Manzarek picks you up and drops you off right in his living room as a child as he shares his introduction into music , classical , jazz and most importantly the blues. he then takes us to Venice Beach and UCLA where he meets Jim and forms the Legendary rock band The Doors. He shares things about Jim and their relationship that are honest and at time brutally honest and does it in a fashion only Manzarek can, as he has a natural gift for story telling and setting the scene and feeling of the time and place and how he felt while experiencing it. Great read, in fact I've read it 2 1/2 half times through . And Always read it in the summer , since the Doors took the states by storm during The Summer Of Love
June 25, 2023
Nel 1991, venne presentata al pubblico la pellicola cinematografica di Oliver Stone, dal titolo "The Doors", che si basava sulla figura enigmatica del suo leader, Jim Morrison, magistralmente interpretato da un Val Kilmer di straordinaria bravura e seduzione.
Attraverso il suo film, Stone dipinge il frontman della band come un personaggio dotato di un carisma innato, a tratti autodistruttivo e costantemente immerso in un conflitto interiore. L'autore mette in risalto il suo talento musicale, la sua passione per l'esplorazione spirituale e la sua ribellione contro le convenzioni sociali, spingendosi a ritrarlo in maniera esagerata come un pacifista.
Sette anni dopo, nel 1998, Roy Manzarek, fondatore della band nonché tastierista, pubblica il libro intitolato "Light my fire: la mia vita con i Doors". In numerose occasioni all'interno della sua opera, Manzarek critica aspramente Stone per aver dipinto Jim Morrison come un pazzo ubriacone pacifista, accusando il regista di distorsioni storiche e di aver filtrato gli eventi narrati attraverso una visione romanzata.
Al contempo, è doveroso riconoscere che anche Roy Manzarek ci presenta una versione fin troppo idealizzata della figura di Jim Morrison. Spesso, i suoi encomi sembrano assumere la forma di una strumentalizzazione artistica, facendo apparire Jim estremamente fragile e influenzabile.
Tuttavia, ho apprezzato maggiormente l'opera di Manzarek, poiché, nonostante tutto, ritengo che essa rappresenti la descrizione più veritiera degli eventi che coinvolsero tutti i membri della band, all'interno di un contesto storico intriso di incertezze. La nascita della band avviene negli anni '60, un'epoca caratterizzta da un eccesso di amore libero e dall'uso di sostanze psichedeliche, ma anche da crudeltà e timori legati al clima politico dell'epoca, come l'assassinio del presidente Kennedy nel 1963.
I primi capitoli di "Light My Fire" narrano degli anni formativi di Manzarek a Chicago e della sua passione per il jazz. Man mano che le pagine scorrono, il libro si concentra sullo sviluppo e la storia dei Doors. Manzarek emoziona e coinvolge il lettore grazie al rispetto e alla dedizione nei confronti del suo caro amico Jim Morrison. È opportuno sottolineare che fu proprio Roy a riconoscere in Jim Morrison un grande potenziale.
Roy Manzarek e Jim Morrison erano entrambi membri fondatori dei Doors. Si incontrarono per la prima volta nel 1965, quando frequentavano l'UCLA Film School di Los Angeles. Manzarek rimase affascinato dalla voce di Morrison e dalla sua profonda conoscenza poetica. Iniziarono così a suonare insieme, sviluppando un sound unico che mescolava il rock psichedelico con influenze blues e jazz.
Gran parte del libro è dedicata all'ascesa dei Doors, nonostante le sconfitte e i numerosi rifiuti. Non mancano sezioni che potrei definire tecniche, in cui Roy rivela i dettagli musicali di alcune delle composizioni più celebri come "Light My Fire" e "Break On Through (To the Other Side)".
Successivamente, vengono affrontati i capitoli che narrano l'inizio delle frequentazioni negative di Morrison, il suo abuso di alcol e il modo dissoluto di vivere, tanto da essere arrestato per incitamento ad atti osceni. Il libro ci conduce fino al momento in cui Morrison decise di ritirarsi a Parigi per dedicarsi alla poesia, fino al fatidico giorno della sua morte.
Credo in definitiva a prescindere da ciò che si racconti che Morrison fu prima di tutto un intellettuale, che provò ad abbattere i tabù del proprio tempo. Egli desiderava essere il portavoce di una ribellione ideologica. Era un profondo conoscitore delle opere di William Blake, dalle quali trasse ispirazione per la sua visione del divino e per la sua esplorazione della dualità umana. Morrison era affascinato dalla figura ribelle di Rimbaud e dalle idee filosofiche di Nietzsche. Era attratto anche dalle opere di Verne e dai poeti della Beat Generation, come Allen Ginsberg e Kerouac. Dunque la vera essenza di Jim risiede proprio nel suo ruolo di artista ribelle e nel suo desiderio di sfidare gli stereotipi e le convenzioni del suo tempo. La sua passione per la musica, la poesia e l'esplorazione spirituale lo ha reso una figura iconica e immortale nella storia del rock e della cultura contemporanea. E sarà proprio attraverso le interpretazioni, i libri ei film che continueremo a discutere e a celebrare la sua eredità, assicurandoci che il suo messaggio di libertà e sperimentazione resti vivo nelle menti e nei cuori di coloro che lo ascoltano ancora oggi.
In conclusione l'opera cinematografica di Oliver Stone, "The Doors", e il libro di Roy Manzarek, "Light my fire: la mia vita con i Doors", offrono prospettive differenti sulla figura di Jim Morrison e sulla storia della band. Entrambi presentano interpretazioni soggettive e romantiche, filtrate attraverso le lenti dell'arte e della narrativa.
Se da un lato Stone tende a esagerare certi aspetti della personalità di Morrison per creare una narrazione coinvolgente, Manzarek offre un'immagine più intima e appassionata, pur idealizzando in qualche misura la figura di Jim.
Nonostante le discrepanze e le critiche mosse da entrambi, l'eredità di Jim Morrison e dei Doors rimane significativa e avvolta in un'aura di mistero e fascino. La loro musica unica e rivoluzionaria, le loro performance e la poetica di Morrison continuano ad ispirare e stimolare generazioni di artisti e appassionati di musica.
Sia attraverso il film di Stone che attraverso il libro di Manzarek, emerge un'epoca storica caratterizzata da profonde contraddizioni sociali, politiche e culturali. Gli anni '60, con il loro bagaglio di amore, ribellione e incertezza, forniscono lo sfondo ideale per comprendere il contesto in cui i Doors hanno trovato la loro voce unica.
Attraverso il suo film, Stone dipinge il frontman della band come un personaggio dotato di un carisma innato, a tratti autodistruttivo e costantemente immerso in un conflitto interiore. L'autore mette in risalto il suo talento musicale, la sua passione per l'esplorazione spirituale e la sua ribellione contro le convenzioni sociali, spingendosi a ritrarlo in maniera esagerata come un pacifista.
Sette anni dopo, nel 1998, Roy Manzarek, fondatore della band nonché tastierista, pubblica il libro intitolato "Light my fire: la mia vita con i Doors". In numerose occasioni all'interno della sua opera, Manzarek critica aspramente Stone per aver dipinto Jim Morrison come un pazzo ubriacone pacifista, accusando il regista di distorsioni storiche e di aver filtrato gli eventi narrati attraverso una visione romanzata.
Al contempo, è doveroso riconoscere che anche Roy Manzarek ci presenta una versione fin troppo idealizzata della figura di Jim Morrison. Spesso, i suoi encomi sembrano assumere la forma di una strumentalizzazione artistica, facendo apparire Jim estremamente fragile e influenzabile.
Tuttavia, ho apprezzato maggiormente l'opera di Manzarek, poiché, nonostante tutto, ritengo che essa rappresenti la descrizione più veritiera degli eventi che coinvolsero tutti i membri della band, all'interno di un contesto storico intriso di incertezze. La nascita della band avviene negli anni '60, un'epoca caratterizzta da un eccesso di amore libero e dall'uso di sostanze psichedeliche, ma anche da crudeltà e timori legati al clima politico dell'epoca, come l'assassinio del presidente Kennedy nel 1963.
I primi capitoli di "Light My Fire" narrano degli anni formativi di Manzarek a Chicago e della sua passione per il jazz. Man mano che le pagine scorrono, il libro si concentra sullo sviluppo e la storia dei Doors. Manzarek emoziona e coinvolge il lettore grazie al rispetto e alla dedizione nei confronti del suo caro amico Jim Morrison. È opportuno sottolineare che fu proprio Roy a riconoscere in Jim Morrison un grande potenziale.
Roy Manzarek e Jim Morrison erano entrambi membri fondatori dei Doors. Si incontrarono per la prima volta nel 1965, quando frequentavano l'UCLA Film School di Los Angeles. Manzarek rimase affascinato dalla voce di Morrison e dalla sua profonda conoscenza poetica. Iniziarono così a suonare insieme, sviluppando un sound unico che mescolava il rock psichedelico con influenze blues e jazz.
Gran parte del libro è dedicata all'ascesa dei Doors, nonostante le sconfitte e i numerosi rifiuti. Non mancano sezioni che potrei definire tecniche, in cui Roy rivela i dettagli musicali di alcune delle composizioni più celebri come "Light My Fire" e "Break On Through (To the Other Side)".
Successivamente, vengono affrontati i capitoli che narrano l'inizio delle frequentazioni negative di Morrison, il suo abuso di alcol e il modo dissoluto di vivere, tanto da essere arrestato per incitamento ad atti osceni. Il libro ci conduce fino al momento in cui Morrison decise di ritirarsi a Parigi per dedicarsi alla poesia, fino al fatidico giorno della sua morte.
Credo in definitiva a prescindere da ciò che si racconti che Morrison fu prima di tutto un intellettuale, che provò ad abbattere i tabù del proprio tempo. Egli desiderava essere il portavoce di una ribellione ideologica. Era un profondo conoscitore delle opere di William Blake, dalle quali trasse ispirazione per la sua visione del divino e per la sua esplorazione della dualità umana. Morrison era affascinato dalla figura ribelle di Rimbaud e dalle idee filosofiche di Nietzsche. Era attratto anche dalle opere di Verne e dai poeti della Beat Generation, come Allen Ginsberg e Kerouac. Dunque la vera essenza di Jim risiede proprio nel suo ruolo di artista ribelle e nel suo desiderio di sfidare gli stereotipi e le convenzioni del suo tempo. La sua passione per la musica, la poesia e l'esplorazione spirituale lo ha reso una figura iconica e immortale nella storia del rock e della cultura contemporanea. E sarà proprio attraverso le interpretazioni, i libri ei film che continueremo a discutere e a celebrare la sua eredità, assicurandoci che il suo messaggio di libertà e sperimentazione resti vivo nelle menti e nei cuori di coloro che lo ascoltano ancora oggi.
In conclusione l'opera cinematografica di Oliver Stone, "The Doors", e il libro di Roy Manzarek, "Light my fire: la mia vita con i Doors", offrono prospettive differenti sulla figura di Jim Morrison e sulla storia della band. Entrambi presentano interpretazioni soggettive e romantiche, filtrate attraverso le lenti dell'arte e della narrativa.
Se da un lato Stone tende a esagerare certi aspetti della personalità di Morrison per creare una narrazione coinvolgente, Manzarek offre un'immagine più intima e appassionata, pur idealizzando in qualche misura la figura di Jim.
Nonostante le discrepanze e le critiche mosse da entrambi, l'eredità di Jim Morrison e dei Doors rimane significativa e avvolta in un'aura di mistero e fascino. La loro musica unica e rivoluzionaria, le loro performance e la poetica di Morrison continuano ad ispirare e stimolare generazioni di artisti e appassionati di musica.
Sia attraverso il film di Stone che attraverso il libro di Manzarek, emerge un'epoca storica caratterizzata da profonde contraddizioni sociali, politiche e culturali. Gli anni '60, con il loro bagaglio di amore, ribellione e incertezza, forniscono lo sfondo ideale per comprendere il contesto in cui i Doors hanno trovato la loro voce unica.
October 16, 2009
I was never a big Doors fan, although I do recall precisely where I was when I first heard "Light My Fire" on the radio (in my family's kitchen, washing the dishes). This biography of the band, written by one of its members, gives details and insight that journalists reporting on the band from outside would never know. Unlike other accounts of the band, it presents Jim Morrison in a very sympathetic light, as the author cared deeply for him. I recommend this to anyone interested in one of the top bands of the 60's, a precursor of musical styles to come.
August 31, 2022
A truly delightful read that intertwines (sometimes fictional or embellished) anecdotes with gut-wrenching descriptions of a friendship that was built to stand the test of far more years than it was afforded.
Ray's narration is entertaining and easy to follow, and provides some insight into the musical knowledge of four musicians who carved out their own space in rock and roll, and propelled themselves into the halls of legends.
Ray's narration is entertaining and easy to follow, and provides some insight into the musical knowledge of four musicians who carved out their own space in rock and roll, and propelled themselves into the halls of legends.
June 20, 2007
A good selection for those of us who can't get enough of Jim Morrison. A nice perspective from Manzerick, but if you're a shameless Doors fan, definitely check out "Dark Star", which features great photo spreads.
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February 8, 2025Why did no one save jim
October 25, 2021
Having known little about Jim Morrison before this book yet a big fan of the doors I was excited to find out some about him. Ray Manzorek has a wonderful array of words to his vocabulary, his stories are so captivating and descriptive, this book is a must read for any Doors fan. The funny and wild yet sad and poignant life of Jim Morrison who like he said himself was like a shooting star, here for a short time but in that short time lite up the world.
November 6, 2021
Its a shame this book was not out a few years sooner perhaps Oliver Stone would of made his movie “The Doors” following this book and not making up so much out of thin air as he ended up doing. This book tells the true story of “The Doors”. I found it facinating how the band came together and all the success they attained. A very well written account.
May 26, 2020
Excellent reading
Ray Manzarek was not only an incredible organ player but also wrote an excellent book about the Doors, Jim Morrison and himself, of course. Like John Densmore, Manzarek also had written a lot about the alcoholism of Jim Morrison , something as an illness that was not known in the 60ies. Indeed, it is an illness, but don’t understand why it was not known. That was interesting how he described Jimbo and the relationship between Jim and Jimbo. However I cannot imagine Jim Morrison as a participant of a rehab... he was not that kind of common people. Manzarek had some business oriented approach while Morrison half only the artist side, he was more a poet than a singer. Great book, I am happy I read it .
Ray Manzarek was not only an incredible organ player but also wrote an excellent book about the Doors, Jim Morrison and himself, of course. Like John Densmore, Manzarek also had written a lot about the alcoholism of Jim Morrison , something as an illness that was not known in the 60ies. Indeed, it is an illness, but don’t understand why it was not known. That was interesting how he described Jimbo and the relationship between Jim and Jimbo. However I cannot imagine Jim Morrison as a participant of a rehab... he was not that kind of common people. Manzarek had some business oriented approach while Morrison half only the artist side, he was more a poet than a singer. Great book, I am happy I read it .
May 5, 2022
This is a fun and insightful read, but Manzarek is a little too willing to cry over the lost spirit of the 1960s. His rants on the subject are tiresome. In regards to Morrison he holds back too much of the bad. Densmore's book is a better read in every way. No hard feelings though. Ray was the musical heart of the band, the man who kept the ship going, and probably the best rock keyboardist of all time.
May 20, 2008
It's the Doors by one of the band members. The only thing better would be Morrison's corpse writing an autobiography. Ray writes his version of the mysticism and legend that is now just remembered. He holds Jim Morrison on a totem pole, but does the book justice by teaching us join him in the Jim-worshipping. Great rock story!
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October 31, 2009On the one hand, this book serves to demystify the legend of Jim Morrison. It was fascinating to read the accounts of The Doors' early days from someone who was there in the middle of it all. But Manzarek's frequent references to his charismatic lead singer in god-like terms make it sound like he was just as enamored of the Lizard King as the public was.
January 25, 2025
Ray Manzarek's look backward into the times and travails of the Doors' journey from unknowing to knowing, symbolic birth to an actual death. He uses psychedelic glasses to view much of the action, interpreting what happened symbolically, at times. You feel the intimacy developed between the band members. All in all, an insightful view of their cosmic ride.
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