The Seekers: Meetings With Remarkable Musicians (and Other Artists)

The Seekers: Meetings With Remarkable Musicians (and Other Artists)

The Seekers: Meetings With Remarkable Musicians (and Other Artists)

The Seekers: Meetings With Remarkable Musicians (and Other Artists)

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Overview

The iconic drummer of The Doors investigates his own relationship with creativity and explores the meaning of artistry with other artists and performers in this compelling and spellbinding memoir.

Whether it's the curiosity that blossoms after we listen to our favorite band's newest record, or the sheer admiration we feel after watching a knockout performance, many of us have experienced art so pure-so innovative-that we can't help but wonder afterwards: "How did they do that?" And yet, few of us are in a position to be able to ask those memorable legends where their inspiration comes from and how they translated it into something fresh and new. Fortunately for us, this book is here to offer us a bridge.

In The Seekers, John Densmore—the iconic drummer of The Doors and author of the New York Times bestseller Riders onthe Storm—digs deep into his own process and draws upon his privileged access to his fellow artists and performers in order to explore the origins of creativity itself. Weaving together anecdotes from the author's personal notebooks and experiences over the past fifty years, this book takes readers on a rich, thought-provoking journey into the soul of the artist. By understanding creativity's roots, Densmore ultimately introduces us to the realm of everyday inspirations that imbue our lives with meaning.

Inspired by the classic spiritual memoir Meetings with Remarkable Men, this book is fueled by Densmore's abundant collection of transformative experiences—both personal and professional—with everyone from Ravi Shankar to Patti Smith, Jim Morrison to Janis Joplin, Bob Marley to Gustavo Dudamel, Lou Reed to Van Morrison, Jerry Lee Lewis to his own dear, late Doors bandmate Ray Manzarek. Ultimately, the result is not only a look into the hearts and minds of some of the most important artists of the past century—but a way for readers to identify and ignite their own creative spark, and light their own fire.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780306846243
Publisher: Hachette Books
Publication date: 11/16/2021
Pages: 240
Sales rank: 514,520
Product dimensions: 5.45(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.95(d)

About the Author

John Densmore is an original and founding member of The Doors. In 1993, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and since then, he has earned a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In addition to his bestselling book, Riders on the Storm, his writing has also been featured in the Los AngelesTimes, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Nation, and Chicago Tribune, among others. He lives in Los Angeles.

Table of Contents

Seekers All by Viggo Mortensen xi

Acknowledgments xvii

Introduction xix

Chapter 1 Survival Margret (Peggy) Mary Walsh 1

Chapter 2 The Twinkle Robert Armour 7

Chapter 3 Professor at Large Fred Katz 11

Chapter 4 The Edge Elvin Jones 17

Chapter 5 The Shaman Jim Morrison 29

Chapter 6 Good Vibes Emil Richards 35

Chapter 7 Darkness Visible Lou Reed 41

Chapter 8 Abandon Janis Joplin 45

Chapter 9 Improvisation Ray Manzarek 51

Chapter 10 "The Flow" Van Morrison 63

Chapter 11 The Trance Ravi Shankar 73

Chapter 12 Vulnerability Patti Smith 81

Chapter 13 Rasta Man Vibration Robert Nesta Marley 89

Chapter 14 Percussion Healer Airto Moreira 101

Chapter 15 Killer Energy Jerry Lee Lewis 107

Chapter 16 The Hero's Journey Joseph Campbell 113

Chapter 17 The Method Peggy Feury 123

Chapter 18 Poetic Father Figure Robert Bly 129

Chapter 19 Soul Sister Barbara Morrison 145

Chapter 20 His Holiness The Dalai Lama: Zen Slap 149

Chapter 21 The Rocker and the Dude Gustavo Dudamel 155

Chapter 22 Rhymin' Simon Paul Simon 171

Chapter 23 Wheelchair Mystic Ram Dass 177

Chapter 24 Red-Headed Stranger Willie Nelson 189

Conclusion 195

Permissions 202

Index 203

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