RSS
Home
The Last Stage: A Doors inspired novel
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
The Last Stage courtesy Jim Cherry
Jim Morrison, and The Doors created a legend and myth around themselves, and since the early 80’s writers have been exploring that legend and myth in their novels. The two most famous examples may be Burn Down The Night by Craig Strete. The novel is set in the early days of The Doors at UCLA with the climatic scenes being in a cemetery which of course is based on Morrison’s Cemetery poem which he included in some shows. The other is Lewis Shiner’s Glimpses which is about a stereo repairman who discovers how to go back in time to meet his Rock ‘n’ Roll idols Brian Wilson, Jimi Hendrix, and, of course, Jim Morrison.
The newest addition to novels that are Doors inspired or include The Doors and/or Jim Morrison is The Last Stage by Jim Cherry. The Last Stage follows a Doors tribute band from conception, to awkward first shows then a climb to stardom climaxing at The Whisky A-Go-Go. Along the way, the main character Michael Gray is given advice by Ray Manzarek and has a run in with the ghost of Jim Morrison. Cherry describes the novel as “a Rock ‘n’ Roll Sunset Boulevard,” and indeed the story does take the reader on a tour of The Doors’/Morrison’s Los Angeles.
The Last Stage has garnered good reviews from a variety of reviewers from Doors tribute band members who know the scene and that Cherry has rendered an accurate behind the scenes look at a band. To people who have actually known Jim Morrison, such as Robert Gover who wrote the piece “A Hell of a Way to Peddle Poems” which appeared in Frank Lisciandro’s An Hour for Magic has seen something of The Doors experience in Cherry’s writing and has provided a blurb for The Last Stage. The book also appeals to those who aren’t necessarily into The Doors and have more literary leanings, noticing The Last Stage is able to stand on its literary merits. Cherry is the featured interview on the latest blog of the literary site Visual Arts Junction. (scroll down to Nov 6th)
Recently, Cherry has been working with Doors tribute bands around the country who include The Last Stage into their shows with a book giveaway for their fans. Tonight (11/7/9) the band The American Night, a Seattle, Washinton based band is appearing at the Red Hook Brewery. Other bands in November will also give away copies of The Last Stage, they include Stoned Immaculate on 11/13, The American Night 11/14, The Back Door Jam 11/22, and Riders On The Storm 11/25. Please see the band websites for show times and information.
The Last Stage is available at the bookstores The Tattered Cover in Denver, CO, and Waterstones in the U.K. or you can order it from your local bookstore or from the publisher through Jim’s website Jymsbooks.com.
Like what you see? Click "Subscribe" next to my picture above and you will receive email notifications when I post new articles.
Read previous related articles : The Top 10 Non-fiction Doors Books
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
