Set The Night On Fire

★★★★ Robby Krieger with Jeff Alulis

WHITE RABBIT. £16

The Doors guitarist on Jim Morrison and more.

“Robby! This is God speaking!” is the memorable first sentence of The Doors’ guitarist’s memoir. The deity speaking was Jim Morrison, the brilliant, charismatic and successfully self-destructive singer. Everyone remotely connected to the ’60s band have written reminiscences of the Lizard Kingdom, but this is one of the very best. Krieger relays untold anecdotes (Dylan and Elvis were fans) and he’s ribaldly funny (keep an eye out for “Elephant Dick”). When you consider the Quiet Door mastered flamenco guitar and Indian music and wrote Light My Fire, his sharp wit fits. Krieger’s breakdown of the band’s classics by musical and lyrical sources is fascinating, as is his revelation that he became a junkie in middle-age. Jimbo continually hovers, especially after he’s dead and Robby repeatedly tries to move past his wildly successful youth. A well-told classic tale.