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Jim Morrison

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Jim Morrison
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

On 9th Dec 1967, The Doors appeared at the New Haven Arena in New Haven, Connecticut. Before the show, a policeman found singer Jim Morrison making out with an 18-year-old girl in a backstage shower and, after an argument, the policeman sprayed Mace in Morrison’s face.

Once on stage, Morrison told the story of the backstage episode and started taunting the police, who dragged him off the stage and arrested him. The crowd riots, leaving the venue in disarray. Many are arrested. Later, over 100 protestors gathered at the police station in a demonstration and more arrests were made.

The Doors were banned from The Ed Sullivan Show in 1967 after Jim broke his agreement with the show’s producers, who were feeling nervous about drug references in a song’s lyrics. Morrison said before the live performance that he wouldn’t sing the words, “girl, we couldn’t get much higher” from “Light My Fire” but he did anyway. The Doors also performed their new single, “People Are Strange.” You can hear the screams from the control room! Major sponsors pulling out of advertising spots! I shouldn’t laugh (I recommend you see this on Youtube). The song hit number 1.

Other well-documented incidents include Morrison being arrested and charged with public drunkenness after harassing a security guard at a Las Vegas adult movie theatre in 1968. I think the singer was on a bender because the following night, after a gig at The Pussy Cat A Go Go in Vegas, Morrison taunted a security guard in the parking lot by pretending to smoke a joint, resulting in a fight. The police arrived and arrested Morrison and charged him with vagrancy, public drunkenness, and failure to possess sufficient identification.

Later in the year on the band’s first European tour, The Doors were forced to perform as a trio at a concert in Amsterdam after the singer collapsed while dancing during Jefferson Airplane’s performance who were on the same bill.

In 1969, the FBI in Phoenix, Arizona arrested Morrison for drunk and disorderly conduct aboard a plane. Morrison, who was on his way to a Rolling Stones concert with actor Tom Baker, had been drinking and annoying the stewardesses. The pair spent the night in jail and were released on $2,500 bail.

Possibly his most famous onstage incident was in 1969 when he was charged with lewd and lascivious behaviour after showing his penis to the audience during a show in Miami. He was later acquitted on charges of lewd and lascivious behaviour but was found guilty of exposing himself during the concert. At his trial at the Dade County Courthouse in Miami, the judge sentenced Morrison to six months hard labor and a $500 (£270) fine for public exposure and 60 days hard labor for profanity. The sentence was appealed, but Morrison was never brought to trial, as he would die in Paris France on July 3, 1971.

Morrison had developed a severe alcohol and drug dependency, which culminated in his untimely death. In March 1971, to get away from the court cases, Morrison flew with his girlfriend to Paris where they took up residence in the city in a rented apartment on the Rue Beautreillis (on the Right Bank).

Morrison died on July 3, 1971, at age 27. In the official account of his death, he was found in a Paris apartment bathtub by his girlfriend Pam Courson. Pursuant to French law, no autopsy was performed because the medical examiner stated that there was no evidence of foul play. The absence of an official autopsy has left many questions regarding Morrison’s cause of death.

Morrison, who didn’t write songs using an instrument, would come up with melodies for his own lyrics, with the other band members contributing chords and rhythm. He didn’t play any instrument live (except for maracas on a few occasions) or in the studio. Morrison was the perfect rock and roll frontman — wild, sexy, and unpredictable.

Important Dates In The Life Of The Doors:

On this day in music
18 Jan 2015
American session drummer Dallas Taylor died of complications from viral pneumonia and kidney disease, aged 66. He is best known as the drummer on Crosby, Stills and Nash's debut album, Crosby, Stills & Nash (1969) and their follow-up with Neil Young, Déjà Vu (1970) as well as appearing on Stephen Stills' eponymous first solo album in 1970. Taylor was the drummer for Stills' group Manassas in 1972 and 1973. In 1970, Dallas sat in with The Doors accompanying John Densmore on drums. Jim Morrison acknowledges him on The Doors Live in New York album.
20 May 2013
Ray Manzarek, keyboard player and founder member of the The Doors died aged 74. Manzarek, who had suffered from bile duct cancer for many years, died in a clinic in Rosenheim, Germany, with his wife and brothers at his bedside. He formed The Doors with lead singer Jim Morrison in 1965 after a chance meeting in Venice Beach, Los Angeles.
20 Aug 2009
American keyboard player and bassist Larry Knechtel died at the age of 69 of an apparent heart attack. He is best known as a member of the Wrecking Crew who worked with such artists as Simon And Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, The Beach Boys, (The Doors, Jerry Garcia, Elvis Presley, and as a member of the 1970s band Bread.
14 Jul 2009
Michael Jackson fans from all over the world congregated at London's O2 arena, where the star had been due to begin his run of 50 concerts. Fans who left messages to a wall of tributes and conducted Jackson sing-a-longs, held a minute's silence at 1830 BST to mark the time when the doors to the concert would have opened.
1 Nov 2008
US drummer and singer Jimmy Carl Black died. He was a member of The Keys, The Soul Giants, The Mothers Of Invention and Jimmy Carl Black And The Mannish Boys. Also worked with Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Doors, Joe Cocker, Grateful Dead and The Turtles.
31 Jan 2007
Jim Morrison was enlisted to help fight global warming more than 35 years after his death. 'Woman in the Window', a previously unreleased poem written and recorded by The Doors frontman shortly before he died in 1971 was being set to music and used to publicise the Global Cool campaign.
1 Nov 2004
A man who allegedly stalked Australian pop star Natalie Imbruglia, was deemed too mentally ill to be interviewed by police. The 44-year-old fan was arrested after turning up on the doorstep of the singer's £2m home in Berkshire after flying to London from Australia.
12 Feb 2003
Former Doors drummer John Densmore took out legal action against The Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger for breach of contract, trademark infringement and unfair competition. The band had reformed with Ex- Cult singer Ian Astbury and former Police drummer Stewart Copeland. Densmore said "It shouldn't be called The Doors if it's someone other than Jim Morrison singing."
22 Nov 2002
The surviving members of The Doors Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger, announced they would record and tour again with a new line up including ex- Cult singer Ian Astbury and former Police drummer Stewart Copeland. Original drummer John Densmore was not able to take part because he was suffering from severe tinnitus.
21 Jun 2001
John Lee Hooker, American blues singer and guitarist died in his sleep aged 83. Had hits with 'Boom Boom', 'Dimples' and 'I'm In The Mood'. His songs have been covered by many artists including Cream, AC/DC, ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Van Morrison, The Yardbirds, The Doors and The White Stripes. He appeared and sang in the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers.
29 Jan 2001
A New York based data company issued a chart listing sales of posthumous albums. The idea came about after radio stations wanted to distinguish between proper recordings when the artists were alive and CD's released after they died. Mike Shalett founder of SoundScan said there was only one problem. What to call the chart. The Top 5 chart had The Doors at No.5, Eva Cassidy at 4, Jimi Hendrix at 3, Bob Marley at 2 and 2Pac at No.1.
12 Feb 1977
Blondie, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and the Ramones all appeared at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, California. The Whisky played an important role in many musical careers. During the 60s The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and Love were regulars and The Doors were the house band for a while.
25 Apr 1974
Pamela Courson the long-term companion of the late Jim Morrison died of a drugs overdose. It was Courson who found The Doors singer dead on July 3, 1971 in the bathtub of their apartment in Paris, France.
3 Jul 1973
Laurens Hammond the inventor of the Hammond organ died aged 73. Many rock artists including Procol Harum, Keith Emerson, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, The Allman Brothers Band and the Faces featured the sound of the Hammond. He also invented a silent spring-driven clock and during the second world war he helped design guided missile systems.
13 Jul 1972
During a North American tour The Rolling Stones played the first of two nights at the Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan. The Doors, Aerosmith, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Bruce Springsteen and Kiss have all appeared here.
21 May 1972
The Doors, Pink Floyd, the Faces, Family, Curved Air, Atomic Rooster, The Kinks, Rory Gallagher, Uriah Heep, Country Joe McDonald, Buddy Miles, Status Quo, Brinsley Schwarz, Spencer Davis, The Strawbs and Humble Pie all appeared at the 2nd British Rock Meeting, Insel Grun, Germersheim, West Germany. The festival was due to take place in Mannheim, West Germany, but after protests from the locals, the concert actually took place in nearby Germersheim.
3 Jul 1971
American singer, songwriter and poet, Jim Morrison of The Doors was found dead in a bathtub in Paris, France, the cause of death was given as a heart attack. He co-wrote some of the group's biggest hits, including ‘Light My Fire’, ‘Love Me Two Times’, and ‘Love Her Madly.’ On the 25th anniversary of his death an estimated 15,000 fans gathered at Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France to pay their respects.
11 Mar 1971
Jim Morrison of The Doors arrived in Paris booking into The Hotel George's. The following week he moved into an apartment at 17 Rue Beautreillis in Paris. Morrison lived in Paris until his death on July 3rd 1971, (two years to the day after the death of the Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones, and approximately nine months after the deaths of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin).
12 Dec 1970
The Doors played what would be their last ever live show with Jim Morrison when they played at the Warehouse in New Orleans.
30 Oct 1970
Jim Morrison of The Doors was fined and sentenced to six months in jail after being found guilty of exposing himself during a gig in Miami.
20 Sep 1970
Jim Morrison of The Doors was acquitted on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior, but was found guilty of exposing himself during a concert at The Dinner Key Auditorium in Coconut Grove a year and a half earlier. At his trial at the Dade County Courthouse in Miami, Judge Goodman sentenced Morrison to six months hard labor and a $500 (£270), fine for public exposure and sixty days hard labor for profanity. The sentence was appealed, but Morrison was never brought to trial, as he would die in Paris France on July 3, 1971.
26 Aug 1970
Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, (his last ever UK appearance), Donovan, Jethro Tull, Miles Davis, Arrival, Cactus, Family, Taste, Mungo Jerry, ELP, The Doors, The Who, Spirit, The Moody Blues, Chicago, Procol Harum, Sly and the Family Stone and Free all appeared over three days at the third  Isle Of Wight Festival. Weekend tickets, £3.
17 Jan 1970
The Doors played the first of four shows at the Felt Forum in New York City. The shows were recorded for the band's forthcoming Absolutely Live album. The Doors' producer Paul A. Rothchild claimed to have painstakingly edited the album from many different shows to create one cohesive concert. According to Rothchild, the best part of a song from one performance may have been spliced together with another part of the same song from another performance, in an attempt to create "the ultimate concert". He stated that there must be 2,000 edits on the album.
11 Nov 1969
The FBI in Phoenix, Arizona arrested Jim Morrison for drunk and disorderly conduct aboard a plane. The Doors singer who was on his way to a Rolling Stones concert with actor Tom Baker had been drinking and annoying the stewardesses. The pair spent the night in jail and were released on $2,500 bail.
13 Sep 1969
John Lennon & Yoko Ono flew to Canada to perform at the Rock & Roll Revival Show in Toronto, Canada. The band members Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann and drummer Alan White were put together so late that they had to rehearse on the plane from England. Also making an appearance at the concert were Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent, Bo Diddley, The Doors and Alice Cooper. Lennon later released his performance as the Live Peace in Toronto 1969 album.
25 Jul 1969
The Seattle Pop Festival took place at the Gold Creek Park, Woodinville, Washington. Acts who appeared over three days included, Chuck Berry, Tim Buckley, The Byrds, Chicago Transit Authority, Albert Collins, Bo Diddley, The Doors, The Flock, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Guess Who, It's A Beautiful Day, Led Zeppelin, Santana, Spirit, Ten Years After, Ike & Tina Turner, Vanilla Fudge, Alice Cooper and The Youngbloods.
3 Apr 1969
The Doors' Jim Morrison turned himself in to the FBI in Los Angeles. He was charged on six charges of lewd behavior and public exposure at a concert in Miami on March 2nd, 1969. He was later released on $2000 bail.
1 Mar 1969
Jim Morrison of The Doors was charged with lewd and lascivious behaviour after showing his penis to the audience during a show in Miami. He was found guilty and sentenced to eight months hard labour. Morrison died in Paris while the sentence was on appeal.
24 Jan 1969
The Doors appeared at Madison Square Garden, New York City, They were paid over $50,000 for the gig making them one of the highest paid acts this year.
23 Sep 1968
Working on new songs for their forthcoming 'White Album' The Doors came to visit The Beatles in the studio and watched them recording.
15 Sep 1968
The Doors were forced to perform as a trio at a concert in Amsterdam after singer Jim Morrison collapsed while dancing during the Jefferson Airplane's performance.
7 Sep 1968
The Doors played the first of two nights at The Roundhouse, London, playing 2 shows a night on their first UK visit. Granada TV filmed the sold out gigs (later shown as "The Doors Are Open"), which were attended by members of The Rolling Stones and Traffic.
5 Sep 1968
On their first ever visit to the UK The Doors appeared on Top Of The Pops performing 'Hello I Love You' live on the TV show.
17 Aug 1968
The Doors started a four-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Waiting For The Sun. The group's third album spawned their second US No.1 single, 'Hello, I Love You'.
3 Aug 1968
The Doors started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Hello I Love You', the group's second US No.1. 'Hello I Love You', was also in the Top 5 at the same time as Jose Feliciano's version of 'Light My Fire', giving The Doors two songs, written by the group, simultaneously in the Top 5.
2 Aug 1968
The Doors started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Hello I Love You', the group's second US No.1. The Doors scored 8 top 40 US hits from 67-71.
8 Jul 1968
Pink Floyd kicked off their first 20-date North American tour at the Kinetic Playground in Chicago. The club became a driving force in the music business, hosting famous rock acts such as The Doors, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Byrds, Janis Joplin, The Mothers of Invention, Grateful Dead, MC5, Jethro Tull, Deep Purple, Iron Butterfly, Fleetwood Mac, Vanilla Fudge, Muddy Waters and Jefferson Airplane.
29 Jan 1968
The Doors appeared at The Pussy Cat A Go Go, Las Vegas. After the show singer Jim Morrison taunts a security guard in the parking lot by pretending to smoke a joint, resulting in a fight. The police arrive who arrest Morrison and charge him with vagrancy, public drunkenness, and failure to possess sufficient identification.
28 Jan 1968
Jim Morrison of The Doors was arrested and charged with public drunkenness after harassing a security guard at a Las Vegas adult movie theatre.
27 Dec 1967
The Doors appeared on the Jonathon Winters Show CBS TV show from Los Angeles, California.
9 Dec 1967
The Doors appeared at the New Haven Arena, New Haven, Connecticut. Before the show a policeman found singer Jim Morrison making out with an 18 year-old girl in a backstage shower and after an argument the policeman sprays mace in Morrison’s face. Once on stage Morrison tells the story of the backstage episode and starts taunting the police who drag him off the stage and arrest him. The crowd riots leaving the venue in disarray and many are arrested. Later over 100 protestors gathered at the police station in demonstration and more arrests were made.
11 Oct 1967
The Doors appeared at Danbury High School, Danbury, Connecticut. Before the group came on stage an announcer told the audience not to leave their seats during the performance or they would be escorted out of the venue. There was also a beauty pageant just prior to The Doors coming on stage.
6 Oct 1967
The Doors appeared at the Cal State Gymnasium, Los Angeles, California. With The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and The Sunshine Company.
5 Oct 1967
The Doors played the final night of a five night run at Steve Paul's Scene in New York City.
22 Sep 1967
The Doors appeared on the Murray the K show on WPIX-TV in New York City performing 'People Are Strange' and 'Light My Fire.'
17 Sep 1967
The Doors were banned from The Ed Sullivan Show after Jim Morrison broke his agreement with the show’s producers. Morrison said before the performance that he wouldn’t sing the words, ‘Girl, we couldn’t get much higher,’ from 'Light My Fire' but did anyway. The Doors also performed their new single 'People Are Strange.'
21 Aug 1967
The Doors started recording their second album at Sunset Sound Studios, Hollywood, California.
29 Jul 1967
The Doors started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with an edited version of 'Light My Fire'. The group's first US No.1, it only reached No.49 on the UK chart. Eventually, many radio stations in the US would start playing the full six minute and fifty second album cut, which features a longer instrumental break.
15 Jul 1967
The Doors and The Jefferson Airplane both played an afternoon and evening show to over 8,000 fans at Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California.
14 Jun 1967
The Doors appeared at Steve Paul's Scene, New York City, Jimi Hendrix was in the audience to see the show.
3 Jun 1967
The Doors 'Light My Fire' was released in the US, where it went on to be No.1 on the singles chart two months later. When The Doors were booked to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show they were asked to change the line "girl, we couldn't get much higher", as the sponsors were uncomfortable with the possible reference to drug-taking. The band agreed to do so, and did a rehearsal using the amended lyrics; however, during the live performance, lead singer Jim Morrison sang the original lyric, after which they were informed they would never appear on the Ed Sullivan show again.
9 Apr 1967
The Doors and The Jefferson Airplane appeared at Cheetah, Santa Monica Pier, Venice, California. This was the largest show The Doors had played to date with a crowd of over 3,000
4 Jan 1967
The Doors released their self-titled debut album The Doors. The album features their breakthrough single 'Light My Fire' and the lengthy song 'The End' with its Oedipal spoken word section. The album was recorded at Sunset Sound Studios in Hollywood, California over six days and unique packaging of the album included each band members bio.
1 Jan 1967
The Doors made their first live television appearance lip-synching their first single 'Break on Through' on Shebang, KTLA-TV Channel 5 in Los Angeles. The single peaked No. 126 on the US chart mainly due to lack of airplay after censors objected to the drug use implied by the line "she gets high", which is repeated in the middle section of the song.
1 Nov 1966
The Doors played the first night of a month long residency at the Ondine Discotheque, Midtown Manhattan, New York City.
24 Aug 1966
The Doors started recording their first album at Sunset Sound Recording Studios, West Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California.
18 Aug 1966
The Doors officially signed with Elektra Records in a deal for the band to produce seven albums. The band also reluctantly agreed to release ‘Break On Through’ as their first single. The lyric "She gets high/she gets high/she gets high" was changed to ‘She gets/she gets/she gets" in order to secure radio play.
24 May 1966
Captain Beefheart appeared at the Whisky a Go Go. West Hollywood, California. Supported by Buffalo Springfield and The Doors.
9 May 1966
The Doors played at the Whisky A Go Go, West Hollywood, California auditioning for the position of the venue's house band.
2 Sep 1965
The Doors recorded their first demos at World Pacific Jazz Studios in Los Angeles, California, where they cut six Jim Morrison songs.
5 Aug 1957
American Bandstand first aired on US TV. Dick Clark had replaced Bob Horn the previous year when the show was still called Bandstand, Clark went on to host the show until 1989. Countless acts appeared on the show over the years, including ABBA, The Doors, Talking Heads, Madonna, Otis Redding, R.E.M. and Pink Floyd.
7 Comments

7 Comments

  1. Johnny Oaktree

    September 11, 2019 at 12:50 am

    “Morrison was the perfect rock and roll frontman — wild, sexy, and unpredictable.” And more than a little bit stupid judging by the self-destructive, hare-brained stunts he pulled off. Typical of someone trying to be the center of attention.

  2. Brendan mc manus

    November 8, 2019 at 9:16 am

    Kinda reminds me of Liam Gallagher, they would have got on well together.

  3. Beatrizpsanchez260gmail.com

    January 26, 2020 at 2:46 pm

    Legends live forever

  4. Anastazia

    February 26, 2020 at 9:29 am

    This is to brendan mc manus

    Please DONT insult JIM MORRISON by comparing him to a BIG TIME LOSER whats his name umm gallagher the biggest DROP KICK THAT EVER LIVED. A COMPLETE AN UTTER NOBODY NO RELEVANCE TO THE MUSIC INDUSTRY WHO “TRIED” being a somebody BUT , FAILED MISERABLY!!!! DONT EVEN REMEMBER NOT EVEN ONE SONG OF HIS .

  5. Tyrone

    March 31, 2020 at 5:35 pm

    Let praise drug addicts!! Crazy if your rich and famous you can be a crackhead and be accepted and cool, but poor crackhead on street corner is no good! Such a Hypocritical world we live in! I’m gonna drop some acid now and listen to Pink Floyd!

  6. Allison Plays

    June 13, 2020 at 11:48 pm

    Tyrone, you are obviously too young or too old to appreciate a group that made a jazz/rock balance album. As I was in my teens, money was hard to get. I bought two Doors records and paid three days of part-time wages.

    I didn’t look at as a drug frenzy, my exposure was not concerts, but records that were passed from friend to share the music.

    No MTV, no night time appearances, just the beauty of sharing “vinyl” with our friends.

  7. Susan

    September 7, 2020 at 10:58 pm

    I was at the Doors concert in Miami.We paid $7 per ticket, top dollar at that time. Just about every other ticket for a band in warehouses in Miami Beach back then were $3. Our group was on acid, sign of the times. Remember Jim pacing across the stage screaming we don’t want a revolution, then yelling revolution!
    All hell broke lose, police everywhere, everyone scrambling. Don’t remember how we got out of there, or much more of that night. Looking back though it is sad to think that no one will ever experience our years of music and hippie lives again. Now that I am getting ready to retire from the corporate world I intend to spend some of my days piecing the pictures and thoughts together in an album.
    Susan 1950

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