Jim Morrison looms large in the history of rock, but a forthcoming book titled The 27s-The Greatest Myth of Rock & Roll examines his legacy under a different light as one of more than thirty musicians who died at the age of 27. The roster includes bluesman Robert Johnson, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones, Chris Bell of Big Star, Pete Ham of Badfinger, D. Boon of the Minutemen, Dave Alexander of the Stooges, Jesse Belvin, and Kurt Cobain. "This eclectic group tells the story of rock in all its beauty, tragedy, success, and excess and Jim is obviously an important part of the saga," says Josh Hunter who has illustrated and designed the 224-page book. In addition to original artwork of Jim the poet, Hunter uses motifs from songs such as "Moonlight Drive" to set the mood for the lavishly illustrated and unique page spreads. "In the mid-sixties Morrison, like pretty much everybody else, looked up to Brian Jones. The Stone defined rock star like no other, but with the Doors Jim became the new definition. Leather pants, an air of mysteriousness, and excess were the three ingredients that the likes of Robert Plant and Iggy Pop took to heart," says Eric Segalstad, author of The 27s. "Jim soon eschewed it though and wanted to be remembered as a poet, not as a singer." "One of our main motivations with The 27s has been to tell new stories about the forgotten heroes of rock and focus on something different with the big stars. I think one of the most fascinating things about Jim and Doors, his poetry withstanding, was that the band pioneered the art of the music video. The Byrds, The Beatles, and Bob Dylan had all tinkered with videos, but they were more promotional clips than anything else. The Doors' "Unknown Soldier" is really the first real music video with a plot and a message."