Mr. Mojo Risin': Jim Morrison, the Last Holy Fool [Paperback]

David Dalton (Author), Nick Tosches (Foreword)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Just 15 years before Morrison and his band the Doors set aflame the late 1960s rock scene, Enyalois , an ancient god of destruction described in hermetic scripts, reemerged in academic discussions. According to Rolling Stone contributor Dalton, the mythic Morrison, driven by whiskey demons and acid-laced visions of glory, seemed an avatar of this god whose name, loosely translated, meant "to render unto nothingness." Likewise, Dalton pictures Morrison as the embodiment of a tradition of doomed artists that includes Beat generation poets as well as modernist poets Arthur Rimbaud and Charles Baudelaire. Now 20 years after Morrison's death, Dalton discusses the two most interesting aspects of the so-called "Lizard King's" existence: his varied and lurid influences, and his original intention that the Doors be a performance art-based band. Doors fans will clamor for this original treatment, although Dalton's description of Morrison's demise is ordinary grist for the mill. Another recent book on Morrison is Dylan Jones's Dark Star (LJ 3/1/91).--Ed.
- Lauren Bielski, New York
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 157 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press (March 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312058993
• ISBN-13: 978-0312058999
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #960,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No Flowery 60's types need apply, January 7, 2001

By 

Duncan (Austin, Tx) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mr. Mojo Risin': Jim Morrison, the Last Holy Fool (Paperback)

With a deft pen Mr. Dalton cuts through the man-made creation that many of us know as Jim Morrison to expose something more truthful. A tragic figure caught in the idealistic and pretentious 60's, trying to use music to transcend, yet ultimately defined and cliched, trapped in his own celebrity. Not always easy to stomach the book paints a picture of the rock scene and the 1960's far and away from the nostalgic musings we hear on the subject today, the picture the author paints is far more sinister. Yet through it all Morrison's music stands as a testament to his genius, and the often dark journey you take with the author serves the necessary task of shattering the creation that is Jim Morrison. When this was accomplished I felt I had an insight into Jim, a deep empathy and closeness that our pop culture seeks to conceal.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC, September 6, 2000

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"drgroovy" (Aurora) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mr. Mojo Risin': Jim Morrison, the Last Holy Fool (Paperback)

This is one fantastic look at Jim Morrison. It really does give you some insight into the man, myth and legend, without becoming to over-the-top. Not to mention the fact that I learned a lot about other poets that influenced him. Mindful, insightful. It really gives you the blood and guts of the man right in front of your eyes. Go Dave! I wonder what else your have in store for us with other rockers of days gone by.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars best book on morrison i've ever read, November 16, 2001

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J from NY (New York) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Mr. Mojo Risin': Jim Morrison, the Last Holy Fool (Paperback)

"mr. mojo rising" is the best book on jim morrison to date. if you admire morrison and understand who the man was, you will appreciate the non-academic, poetic nature of this book that paints a picture of jim as a creative but also very human and flawed individual who dug his own hole and yet was still a well intentioned, noble young man full of talent and passion as well as self destructiveness and rebelliousness. although at times i was a little annoyed at dalton's slightly excessive cynicism and criticism, as a whole it strikes the balance perfectly between admiration and construtive commentary, giving the intelligent fan an imaginative rush and a glance into the underground literary/pop rock vision that is all too rare in the literature available about jim and the underlying message of his art. ignore dalton's occasionally arrogant dismissal of morrison's attempt to transcend rock and actually change things, and you will find that no other study of morrison is as penetrating into his motives and the inspirations that formed his attitude to authority and oppositional philosophy of life. a passionate study of a somewhat misguided but nonetheless truly great figure, the like of which popular culture will probably never see again. a must.