A benefit roast of local author James Riordan will be held Friday night at the Majestic Theater in downtown Kankakee.
Riordan is a New York Times best-selling author who has had 33 books published, including "Break On Through,'' a biography of the late Jim Morrison, lead singer of the popular rock band The Doors.
The Morrison biography has been described by Amazon.com as "one of the best 10 rock biographies ever written and the best Morrison biography.''
The roast will raise money for Mindfulness On The Inside, an organization that works with inmates at Jerome Combs Detention Center in Kankakee to reduce recidivism, a relapse into criminal behavior, through education and meditation.
"They have helped many people turn their life around," Riordan said, "including many of the young people I work with as a mentor."
Two famous people who have crossed paths with Riordan will participate in the roast. Oliver Stone, the three-time Academy Award winning filmmaker who was the subject of Riordan's biography "Stone: The Controversies, Excesses & Exploits of a Radical Filmmaker'' has agreed to take part, although it could be via a film clip. Stone used Riordan's Morrison book as a reference for his 1991 film "The Doors.''
Creed Bratton, a former cast member on television's "The Office'', will send along a film clip. Bratton, also a member of the band The Grass Roots, recently recorded "Pablo,'' a song for his new album which he co-wrote with Riordan.
The master of ceremonies for the roast will be Stefan Benoit. Jaymie Simmon, Tim Milner, Gary Moore, Palmer Tolly, Gary Reynolds, Jake Collins and Bob Hilbrich will be among the guests who will roast Riordan.
The band Space Madness will perform at the event.
Activities will begin at 6 p.m. when Riordan will sign copies of his newest novel, "The Kill Switch.'' The signing period will last until 7:45. The doors to the auditorium open at 7. The roast will begin at 8 and Space Madness will perform from 10 until midnight.
Tickets are $10 apiece; they are available at King Music and the Majestic Theater.