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Summary:

"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 on the 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." --Amazon.com.

Table of Contents:

• Margaret (Peggy) Walsh : survival
• Robert Armour : the twinkle
• Fred Katz : professor at large
• Elvin Jones : the edge
• Jim Morrison : the shaman
• Emil Richards : good vibes
• Lou Reed : darkness visible
• Janis Joplin : abandon
• Ray Manzarek : improvisation
• Van Morrison : "the flow
• Ravi Shankar : the trance
• Patti Smith : vulnerabilty
• Robert Nesta Marley : rasta man vibration
• Airto Moreira : percussion blues
• Jerry Lee Lewis : killer energy
• Joseph Campbell : the hero's journey
• Peggy Feury : the method
• Robert Bly : poetic father figure
• Barbara Morrison : soul sister
• His Holiness the Dalai Lama : zen slap

• Gustavo Dudamel : the rocker and the dude
• Paul Simon : rhymin' Simon
• Ram Dass : Wheelchair mystic
• Willie Nelson : red-headed stranger.

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Author/Creator:

Densmore, John , author

Contributors:

Mortensen, Viggo, 1958- , writer of foreword

Languages:

English

Language Notes:

English text.

Main Work:

The seekers: meetings with remarkable musicians (and other artists) [by Densmore, J.]

Subjects:

Densmore, John

Drummers (Musicians) — United States — Biography

Rock musicians — United States — Biography

Drummers (Musicians)

Rock musicians

United States

Genres:

Anecdotes

Biographies

Autobiographies

General Notes:

Includes index.

Physical Description:

xxiii, 216 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm

Physical Characteristics:

illustration; plate

Call Numbers:

ML419.D457 S4 2020

ISBNs:

9780306846236 (hardcover)
0306846233 (hardcover)

OCLC Numbers:

1143651422