Wednesday, March 16, 2011

The Lizard King

Jim Morrison was a musician, song/poetry writer, actor, and filmmaker. He is best known as the frontman of '60s and early '70s rock band, the Doors. He was born December 8, 1943 and when he was 4, he witnessed a car accident involving a Native American family. This is said to have scarred him for life. He attended college at FSU and then UCLA, and met his longtime girlfriend, Pamela Courson, in 1965. After he graduated, he started writing poetry and songs (with the help of psychedelics) and created a band, the Doors, with Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, and Robbie Krieger. Morrison and Krieger wrote most of the music. They gained recognition and had a debut album out in 1967. Jim became an idol to the generation with his crazy stage persona and good looks, featuring hip long hair and iconic leather pants. He defied authority by using the forbidden line "Girl we couldn't get much higher" on national TV. Soon though, fame got to him. He was having multiple affairs with women such as Nico, Janis Joplin, and Grace Slick, yet stayed with Pam. Alcohol made him gain weight and he grew a beard. He went too far with a stage performance in 1969 ("indecent exposure"), and married another woman, Patricia Kennealy, in a Pagan ceremony in '70. The Doors made one more album with him, L.A. Woman, before he went to live in Paris with Pamela in 1971. He died on July 3, 1971, at age 27 for unknown causes, most likely drugs. His death is surrounded in mystery, and Pam died 3 years after.
He continues to influence rock performers/singers today.






























I love Mr. Mojo Risin'. Now I feel like doing a Pamela post... Hmm.