by 40 years ago today, iconic rock star Jim Morrison died in Paris, France, contributing to the premature final chapter of an era of social, political and musical growth.
In an age where true poetic singers/songwriters are in VERY short supply, Morrison, an Irish/Scottish whiskey-drinkin’ buffoon, remains an enigmatic figure, admired for his ability to combine avant-garde lyricism with the persona of a pop-psychedelic sex symbol.
While a fan of The Doors, the CD I listen to the most is still “An American Prayer,” a collection of Morrison’s poetry put to music by the remaining members of his band years after his death. At times, The Doors compromised Morrison’s surrealism for the sake of a catchier pop song that younger kids could relate to. “An American Prayer” has nothing to prove, and the writer’s influences (Nietzsche, UCLA, and generous amounts of LSD) bleed onto the disc.
Listen to “A Feast of Friends,” a short glimpse into Morrison’s soul, here!
While “The Lizard King” had no problem immersing himself into the psychedelia of late-60s Los Angeles, labeling him as a “rock hippie” is somewhat misleading. Others of the era such as The Mamas and the Papas and Jefferson Airplane were born of the culture; Morrison was a separate creation formed in the desert and then thrown into the sea of flowers, revolution, drugs and musical experimentation.
While the hippie culture loved LSD as recreation, Morrison preferred his alcohol, using LSD as a “tool” to “enhance” his poetry (and his mind). In an age where dabbling in Satanic arts was explored and taken seriously, Morrison showed up drunk and joked throughout his own pagan commitment ceremony to a rock journalist.
What he did leave behind in an amazingly short span of time is an impressive array of albums, books, iconic photographs, and an indelible mark on the fragile thread connecting pop music to TRUE artistry. One only has to listen to “The End” or “Not to Touch the Earth” to be reminded how deep and mystical the work truly was.
Morrison’s death completed the tragic trilogy of “what could have been” alongside the deaths of Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. While all three died while still only in their 20s (strangely enough, all three died at the age of 27), the legacy they left behind is something modern music icons are sadly lacking.
“Death makes angels of us all and gives us wings where we had shoulders, smooth as raven’s claws.” Jim Morrison
Wow agreed!
While these 3 died of their rock and roll excesses, it is too bad the great Duane Allman killed in a motorcycle accident Oct. 29, 1971, doesn’t get the acclaim Jim, Jimi, & Janis get. Jim was already burned out by the time he died. Jimi had more to give us. Janis got more fame in death than she would have had if she were still with us today. Duane was just reaching his audience when he was taken from us. Rock and Roll is a dangerous Amusement Park ride; Those willing to push its bounderies sometimes don’t have the chance to come back.
Well said, Mark! I agree that Morrison was burned out, BUT if you look at how many performers also get to that point, and then bounce back to put out more great stuff-Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Dave Gahan, Johnny Cash, and, most noteworthy, Brian Wilson-it makes you wonder what could have been.