Jim Morrison
James Douglas Morrison was born on the 8th of December 1943, in Melbourne, Florida. His father served as a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy and later rose to rear admiral. The family moved frequently due to military assignments across the country. They lived in San Diego, Kingsville, Texas, and Albuquerque, New Mexico during his childhood years. In 1947, when he was three or four years old, the family drove past a car crash in northern New Mexico. A truck had overturned and some Native Americans lay injured on the side of the road. Morrison claimed this incident became the most formative event of his life. He referenced it repeatedly in songs like Peace Frog from their 1970 album Morrison Hotel. He also spoke about it during performances titled Dawn's Highway and Ghost Song on the posthumous 1978 album An American Prayer.
His family did not recall the traffic incident happening exactly as he described it. According to the biography No One Here Gets Out Alive, they did drive past a car crash on an Indian reservation when he was young. He was very upset by what he saw. His father stated that they went by several Indians and it made an impression on him. Morrison told stories of Indians scattered all over the highway bleeding to death. Research established the accident occurred on the 17th of October 1947. One passenger died while returning home after finishing work. Subsequent research showed the deceased person was not actually Native American. The discrepancy between his version and reality remained unresolved throughout his life.
Morrison attended Florida State University in Tallahassee starting in 1962. He appeared in a school recruitment film for the institution. On the 28th of September 1963, he was arrested at age nineteen for disturbing the peace and petty larceny. The arrest happened while drunk at a Florida State Seminoles football game held at Doak Campbell Stadium. A mugshot from this event exists today showing his face at nineteen years old. He transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles shortly afterward. He enrolled in Jack Hirschman's class on Antonin Artaud within UCLA's Comparative Literature program.
Artaud's surrealist theater brand profoundly impacted Morrison's dark poetic sensibility of cinematic theatricality. He completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA's film school within the Theater Arts department of the College of Fine Arts in 1965. Refusing to attend the graduation ceremony, he went to Venice Beach in Los Angeles instead. The university later mailed his diploma to his mother in Coronado, California. While living there, he befriended writers at the Los Angeles Free Press. He advocated for the publication until his death in 1971. He conducted a lengthy interview with Bob Chorush and Andy Kent of the Free Press in December 1970.
Morrison met keyboardist Ray Manzarek months earlier as cinematography students at UCLA. They formed the group during that summer in 1965. Manzarek recalled lying on Venice Beach one day when he coincidentally encountered Morrison. He was impressed with Morrison's poetic lyrics, claiming they were rock group material. Guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore joined soon after. All three musicians shared a common interest in the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's meditation practices at the time. Morrison was not involved in these series of classes.
He named the band after Aldous Huxley's book The Doors of Perception. This referenced unlocking doors of perception through psychedelic drug use. Huxley's concept came from William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. Blake wrote that if doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear infinite. In May 1966, Morrison attended a concert by the Velvet Underground at The Trip in Los Angeles. Andy Warhol claimed his black leather look had been heavily influenced by dancer Gerard Malanga who performed there. Conversely, Krieger and Manzarek claim Morrison was inspired to wear leather pants by Marlon Brando from his role in The Fugitive Kind.
On the 1st of March 1969, during a concert at Dinner Key Auditorium in Miami, a visibly intoxicated Morrison attempted to spark a riot in the audience. He screamed You wanna see my cock and used other obscenities. Three days later six warrants for his arrest were issued by the Dade County Public Safety Department for indecent exposure among other accusations. Consequently many of the Doors' scheduled concerts were canceled. On the 20th of September 1970, Morrison was convicted of indecent exposure and profanity by a six-person jury after a sixteen-day trial.
After recording L.A. Woman with the other members of the Doors in Los Angeles, Morrison announced his intention to go to Paris. His bandmates generally felt it was a good idea. In March 1971, Morrison took leave from the Doors and joined girlfriend Pamela Courson in Paris at an apartment she rented in Le Marais fourth arrondissement. During this time he shaved his beard and lost weight gained previously. He also telephoned John Densmore to ask how L.A. Woman was doing commercially. Densmore was the last band member to ever speak with him.
A notebook of poetry written by Morrison was recovered after his death titled Paris Journal.
It contains allegorical foretelling of a man left grieving having to abandon belongings due to police investigation into death connected to Chinese opium trade. The concluding stanzas convey disappointment in someone with whom he had intimate relationship perhaps using it as metaphor for life itself. Another notebook found alongside Paris Journal known as the 127 Fascination box sold for two hundred fifty thousand dollars at auction in 2013. This box contained home movie footage of Pamela Courson dancing in unspecified cemetery in Corsica.
On the 3rd of July 1971, Morrison was found dead in bathtub of apartment at approximately three o'clock morning by Courson. He was twenty-seven years old. Official cause of death listed heart failure although no autopsy performed since not required by French law. Courson said Morrison's last words while bathing were Pam I think I'm drowning. However this remains highly debated due to Courson's inconsistency with another account saying Pam are you still there.
Several individuals claiming eyewitness status including Marianne Faithfull say death resulted from accidental heroin overdose. Sam Bernett founder and manager of Rock n Roll Circus night club affirmed finding Morrison unconscious in club bathrooms
after purported heroin overdose around same time. His body taken away from club by two men supposed drug dealers. Because lack of autopsy these statements could never confirmed. Music journalist Ben Fong-Torres suggested death kept secret reporters told Morrison not deceased but tired resting hospital. Film director Agnès Varda admitted responsible hiding incident becoming public.
In 1993, Morrison posthumously inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with other Doors members. Rolling Stone readers placed him fifth place on Best Lead Singers of All Time list in 2011. NME named him thirteenth greatest singer of all time. Classic Rock magazine ranked number twenty-two on their fifty Greatest Singers in Rock list. Fatboy Slim song Sunset includes Morrison vocal performance poem Bird of Prey. Electronic music producer Skrillex released Breakn' a Sweat containing vocals from interview with Morrison in 2012.
Oliver Stone directed biopic film about Morrison in 1991 with actor Val Kilmer portraying him. Kilmer learned over twenty Doors songs to get
role. While inspired many real events individuals film depiction heavily criticized people knew him personally including Patricia Kennealy and other Doors members. Manzarek said movie ridiculous not about Jim Morrison but drunk Jimbo Morrison God where sensitive poet funny guy. Despite widespread acclaim for Kilmer performance he did not win any award. His grave still without gravestone at Père Lachaise Cemetery Paris June 1978 remains one city most visited tourist attractions.
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Common questions
When and where was Jim Morrison born?
James Douglas Morrison was born on the 8th of December 1943, in Melbourne, Florida. His father served as a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy and later rose to rear admiral.
What formative event did Jim Morrison claim happened during his childhood?
Morrison claimed that driving past a car crash involving Native Americans on the 17th of October 1947 became the most formative event of his life. He referenced this incident repeatedly in songs like Peace Frog from their 1970 album Morrison Hotel.
Why was Jim Morrison arrested at Florida State University?
On the 28th of September 1963, he was arrested for disturbing the peace and petty larceny while drunk at a Florida State Seminoles football game held at Doak Campbell Stadium. A mugshot from this event exists today showing his face at nineteen years old.
How did Jim Morrison die and when was he found dead?
On the 3rd of July 1971, Morrison was found dead in the bathtub of an apartment at approximately three o'clock morning by Courson. The official cause of death listed heart failure although no autopsy was performed since not required by French law.
Who is buried at Jim Morrison's grave in Paris?
Jim Morrison remains without a gravestone at Père Lachaise Cemetery Paris June 1978 which remains one city most visited tourist attractions. His girlfriend Pamela Courson died shortly after him and is also interred there.