Roadhouse Blues

Hailed as “one of thegreatest non-fiction writers and storytellers,” by New York Times bestselling biographer Brian Jay Jones, culturalhistorian Bob Batchelor is a noted expert on contemporary American culture,history, and biography. His books examine modern popular culture icons, events,and issues, from comic books and music to literary figures and history’soutlaws.Bob wrote a concise biographyof Bob Dylan, introducing the iconic music legend to a new generation ofreaders, and edited a collection of fiction and essays inspired by thelegendary Johnny Cash. He has written about MTV, the Grunge movement, and REMfor PopMatters; Aerosmith, Metallica,and the Beatles in Rock Brands; andthe evolution of music history in The1900s, The 1980s, and American Pop. Bob has talked aboutnumerous musicians and musical influences as an on-air or quoted expert ontelevision and in the media, including Dylan, George Michael, Hair Metal, GlamRock, Grunge, and Michael Jackson.Bob has also published bookson Stan Lee, The Great Gatsby, Mad Men, and John Updike, among others. Rookwood: The Rediscovery and Revival of anAmerican Icon, An Illustrated History won the 2021 Independent PublishersBook Award for Fine Art. The BourbonKing: The Life and Crimes of George Remus, Prohibition’s Evil Genius wonthe 2020 Independent Publishers Book Award for Historical Biography. Stan Lee: The Man Behind Marvel was afinalist for the 2018 Ohioana Book Award for Nonfiction.Bob’s books have beentranslated into a dozen languages. His work has appeared or been featured in theNew York Times, Cincinnati Enquirer, LosAngeles Times, Today.com, TheGuardian, and Time. Bob is alsothe creator and host of the podcast JohnUpdike: American Writer, American Life. He has appeared as an on-aircommentator for The National Geographic Channel, PBS NewsHour, BBC, PBS, and NPR. Bob hosted “TriState True Crime”on WCPO’s Cincy Lifestyle televisionshow.Bob earned a doctorate inAmerican Literature from the University of South Florida. He has taught atuniversities in Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, as well as Vienna, Austria.Bob and his wife Suzette live in North Carolina and have two wonderful teenagedaughters.

• 1. Lighting America’s Fire2. How a Sound (and a Band) are Born3. The Doors Rule!4. Blood in the Streets, It’s Up to My Ankles5. Another Lost Angel6. Death of the Lizard King7. America’s Favorite Rock and Roll Band8. Who Was Jim Morrison and Why does it Matter?

“Bob Batchelor writes with great eloquence and insight about the Doors, the greatest hard-rock band we have ever had, and through this book, we plunge deeply into the mystery that surrounds Jim Morrison. It is Batchelor's warmth and compassion that ignites Roadhouse Blues and helps explain Morrison's own miraculous dark fire.”—Jerome Charyn, PEN/Faulkner Award finalist"Batchelor writes well and his narrative flows smoothly. His work is an insightful look at the Doors as creative artists and a compelling portrait of Morrison."—Thomas Hauser, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award nominee