Love Becomes a Funeral Pyre: A Biography of the Doors

Journalist and author Wall (When Giants Walked the Earth; Lou Reed) creates an in-depth portrait of the Doors, with singer Jim Morrison serving as the lodestar in a tumultuous story of one of the most enduring Sixties bands. Wall interviewed the three other group members as well as associates, friends, producers, music executives, and former loves of Morrison to create a fully formed history of the band from its beginnings to worldwide fame and fortune and ultimately to a dizzying and tragic end for Morrison, who died in Paris in 1971. The author discusses the genesis of the band, its early live performances in L.A. clubs, the albums and increasingly riotous live shows with Morrison walking a tightrope between performance and chaos, in a cohesive and informative narrative. This is certainly not a hagiography as Morrison's descent into ever increasing drink and drug abuse and erratic behavior is examined bluntly, and Wall also offers critical evaluations of the band's work.