This month marks the 51st anniversary of Jim Morrison’s death under unexplained circumstances. On July 3, 1971, one of the most controversial rock stars of her generation was found dead in an apartment in Paris, France.
What can be said about the Lizard King that hasn’t been said before? An icon, a poet, a shaman, a jester, an alcoholic, almost everything was told to him. However, his presence in musical history continues to evoke the same charm as in 1967, when the world learned doors with his legendary first LP. This is where the legend began.
Doors of Perception
But even legends have starting points. It was the summer of 1964. James Douglas Morrison he hung out on Venice Beach in California. He completed his cinematography at University of California at Los Angelesbut he was determined to devote himself to what he had always considered his true calling: poetry.
It was there that he met Ray Manzareka former college classmate to whom he read a few lines from his poem called Moonlight Drive. Suddenly Morrison began to sing it, and Manzarek thought he had discovered something unique and unsettling in that baritone voice. He proposed to create a group and “win a million dollars”. Morrison agreed.
Soon they were joined Robbie Krieger D John Densmorewho were part of a gang called the Psychedelic Rangers. Robbie, trained in flamenco guitar, and Densmore, with elements of jazz in his style, were the pieces that were missing in the group. The band’s name comes from a quote from William Blake: “If the doors of perception were open, all things would appear as they are: infinite.”
oedipal poet
The band got along very well and started working on their first songs and trying to break into the scene. It was not difficult, there was not a single group with a similar sound. In 1966 they began to play in a symbolic Whiskey Go Go, but there was one detail: the extreme shyness of her vocalist, who insisted on singing with her back to the audience. Solution? Alcohol.
One night, when Morrison was drinking particularly heavily, they decided to play a poem from his prescribed music called “End”. With the audience in full musical trance, the vocalist reached the climax of his narration: “Father? / Yes, they are / I want to kill you / Mother … I want to fuck you”Morrison called into the microphone. People went crazy and were automatically banned from this place.
But today everything was different for another reason. Paul A. Rothschildlabel maker Elektra, came to see them and was amazed by the presentation. He offered to record an album for them and make them legendary.
turn on my fire
“The Doors”, the group’s first LP, was released in the middle of the summer of love for 1967. The label, seeking to add new bands to its catalog, spared no expense in advertising. The first single was “Break to the Other Side” which achieved only minor radio success. But everything changed when the stations started playing “Light my fire.”
The song, written by Krieger, is about a couple arriving “Upstairs” passion, although this also hints at the effects of drugs. Despite this, or maybe because of this, he made a splash and reached the top of the charts. The album barely outsold “Sergeant. pepper” from the Beatles.
In front of everyone, Morrison began to turn into an icon, and some voices considered him new Elvis. But best of all, they shone on stage: the vocalist was a theatrical frontman, provocative, unique, and the group was brilliant.
To say that with success came problems for the band would be inaccurate. In fact, the group had every chance of becoming a problem for many. Success only gave them more room to maneuver.
those little blue men
Jim Morrison became the first rock artist to be arrested on stage. It was in Arena New Haven in Connecticut December 9, 1967
“Jim’s addiction to alcohol grew in parallel with our success, so our group members and crew took turns trying to keep him as sober as possible on show nights,” Robbie Krieger recalled the episode in an article for Lithub.
That evening, two hours before the concert, Morrison drank more than usual. The scream made the guitarist run to the vocalist’s dressing room. He found him closing his eyes in pain, and a policeman with him. Apparently the officer sprayed him pepper spray after a quarrel.
Despite the incident, they took the stage. in the middle of the topic “The Back Door Man”, Morrison started talking about what happened to the cop, referring to the little blue man in the blue cap and blue suit who attacked him backstage. At that moment, the officers stepped onto the stage. and they pushed Morrison away. The public went crazy and nearly destroyed the place.
This was only the beginning of many other problems with the police, which went as far as to have every action “guarded” by agents. The worst happened on March 1, 1969 in Dinner Key Audience in Miami. That night, Morrison addressed the audience and encouraged them to do whatever they wanted.
“Now listen to me, I am not talking about any revolution, I am not talking about no demonstrations. I’m talking about fun! I’m talking about dancing! I want to see everyone get up and dance! (…) I want to see how they make noise. I want to see them scream. I want to see fun. I want to see your fun!”, The vocalist was challenged by an audience of more than 6 thousand people.
What happened next is completely unclear, but according to the police report, Jim Morrison showed his genitals to the public and was therefore charged with exhibitionism D amoral behavior. The trial lasted almost 3 years, despite the fact that there was no exact evidence of the prosecution. However, it was devastating for the group.
Many of his performances were canceled and radio stations stopped playing his songs. But this was not only because of his legal problems, but also because Morrison had become something of a public enemy for the country. The one who spoke about the revolution, whose concerts ended in chaos and fights with the police, could not be underestimated in the midst of Nixon and his persecution of “agitators” against Vietnam War.
Mr. Mojo Risin
By the early 1970s, the group had become very exhausted. His 1969 album, “Soft Parade”were criticized, and Jim Morrison’s erratic behavior caused by his drinking made it seem like The Doors had nothing more to offer.
In fact, the one who seemed most determined to confirm this was Morrison himself. He deliberately kept a beard and long hair, in addition to being overweight, which made him far from the image the record company wanted to continue to sell. The label had to use photographs of the band’s early years to illustrate the live album. “Absolutely Alive” and advertising posters.
The ban on TV and radio broadcasts, the success of the next album, “Hotel Morrison”, surprised more than once. The record was full of hits and the band continued to use the bluesy vein that made them sound energetic again.
However, Morrison was no longer emotional. In 1971, when the court was about to uphold his sentence, he decided to go to Paris after he had finished recording his last album with the group. “LA Woman”. During the trip, Morrison intended, now yes, to devote himself entirely to poetry.
But this time, he couldn’t. On July 3, 1971, three months after the album’s release, Morrison was found dead in the bathroom of the apartment he shared with his girlfriend. Pamela Coursonin Paris.
Requiem
Morrison’s death is surrounded by many conjectures and mysteries. According to the death certificate died of a heart attack although no autopsy was performed. In addition, the characteristics of the body, described in the certificate, did not seem to correspond to it.
Versions of an overdose or murder filled the pages of legends with details for every taste. The truth is that Morrison died at the age of 27, just like Janis Joplin D Jimi Hendrixother promising stars of his generation who passed away under similar circumstances.
With admirers and detractors alike, the legacy of his presence will continue to fill the pages of musical history, as will every poet who lived in the fire at the cost of creating his own legend on his own terms.
Source: RPP
I’m Liza Grey, an experienced news writer and author at the Buna Times. I specialize in writing about economic issues, with a focus on uncovering stories that have a positive impact on society. With over seven years of experience in the news industry, I am highly knowledgeable about current events and the ways in which they affect our daily lives.