Good Reading:

Biography
"No One Here Gets Out Alive" by Jerry Hopkins

Good Watching:

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Discography:

Classics (1985)

Greatest Hits-The Doors-
Oliver Stone film soundtrack (1991)

An American Prayer
re-issued with new material (1995)

Jim Morrison said he considered himself a screamer, not a singer; a poet, not a rock star. He managed to achieve all that and more. A talented singer with an unmistakable voice, a poet and a rock legend. He has become one of the most recognized, adored and idolized images and voices in rock history.

The Doors music was a kick in the head to the west coast music scene in the mid 60s. No flower power, feel good music from these guys. The Doors music was dark, their lyrics even darker, sometimes bordering on bizarre. Their music encompassed pop and electro-blues along with Morrison's poetry/lyrics. His unpredictable behavior while onstage along with his raw sex appeal captivated audiences from the beginning. Morrison sang from the depths of his gut while clad in tight leather pants and boots. On record, Jim's deep, almost bass voice was unmistakable and has come to be identified with the rebellious side of late 60's and early 70's rock. Jim's fascination with death and in "moving the masses" through shaman-like, trance induced (acid induced?) ceremonies and rituals were both recurring themes both on record and in concert. He thought nothing of giving a 20 minute "sermon" when performing while at the same time engaging in North American Indian influenced dances and rituals.

The son of a US Navy Admiral, you would think, would have great respect for law, order and the overall establishment. Unless of course you were talking about James Douglas Morrison. Morrison had a disdain for the establishment and society in general from day one. During his brief stint as a "rock star", he derived extreme pleasure in pushing all the buttons that make society cringe. He brought to the fore all the taboo (especially for mid 60's America) questions such as incest (you don't need to be reminded of the lyrics in "The End" do you?) and death. He was a full participant in the drug and sexual revolution that was overtaking the previous generation's conservatism. Morrison lived the life of a true rock and roller and as is sadly the case died an early death because of it. While drinking with friends near the end of his life, he would often say, "Hey, your drinking with number 3", a reference to the previous two rockers whose first names also started with J (Jimi and Janis) and had both died within weeks of each other. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter he did indeed become the third major rock and roll fatality in the span of 11 months. Jim Morrison would finally get the chance to break on through to the other side and experience death in the first hand, rather than just singing about it. Today, almost 3 decades after his death he is still adored by millions as one of rocks greatest, enduring and all encompassing images.

Morisson's blatant disregard for law and authority and society's fear of his corrupting influence made him a police target all over America and throughout the world. The Doors often performed under the watchful eye of the local police, especially after Jim allegedly exposed himself in Florida (until this day both Manzarek and Krieger swear they did not see him do it, although he was threatening the audience that he was going to - mass illusion? perhaps people seeing what they want? OR, maybe he did give everybody a flash! who knows? ). Jim got pretty used to trouble with the police; he was arrested by the FBI and escorted off a plane for "causing a disturbance"; charged with indecent exposure in Florida and countless public drunkenness and disorderly conduct arrests. Jim, on more than one occasion had to be talked down from apartment building window ledges, where he often ventured to dance, drink, moon and defy death.

In 1970, Morrison was found guilty in Florida of indecent exposure and sentenced to 8 months hard labour (hard labour!). Only an immediate appeal saved him from being taken into custody immediately. Trouble with the law and unable to tour due to hesitant promoters, The Doors went into the recording studio and recorded what was to be their last album with Jim. "LA Woman" was released in 1971 and some say it was their best album ever. After  his recent troubles with the law and wanting to escape the media as well as his "Lizard King" image and the idolization that came with the huge success of The Doors, Jim left for Paris to concentrate on writing poetry. While in Paris, Jim wrote but continued to drink heavily. Some say it was here that he was introduced to heroin by his girlfriend Pamela, who interestingly enough died of a heroin overdose in 1974. Once again, no one really knows, but on July 3, 1971 Jim Morrison's body was found in the bathtub of his Paris flat. Heart failure was given as the official cause of death and his body was quickly buried in Pere Lachaise cemetery.

Jim Morrison is credited, along with others, with personifying the rock and roll rebellion of the late 1960s. His unique blend of poetry and lyrics along with his flirtations with taboo issues set himself and the music of The Doors apart, solidifying his status as an original rock and roll iconoclast.

Another member of Rock and Roll Heaven

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