The King of Orgasmic Rock: Jim Morrison
- M.E.
- Aug 27, 2017
- 3 min read
"My personal belief is that Jim Morrison was a god. To some of you, that may sound extravagant; to others, at least eccentric. Of course, Morrison insisted we were all gods and our destiny was of our own making. I just wanted to say I think Jim Morrison was a modern-day god. Oh hell, at least a lord." (Sugerman, 1980).
The lizard king. Bold. Psychedelic. The American poet. Charming. Romantic but disloyal. Instantaneous. Honest and dishonest. A shy, creative soul who tested the bounds of reality. Morrison IS the most intriguing human to walk this earth.
Morrison was the son of a well respected United States naval force commander, consequently Jim spent most of his childhood moving from state to state. "Jimmy's family moved four times before he was four years old, and this lack of stability may have engendered a physical restlessness and a sense of profound alienation that stayed with Jim Morrison for the rest of his life." (Davis, 2001, pg.11) Jim was very academic during his childhood and even through to his young adulthood, Morrison's intelligence was never ignored. He would recite poetry to pretty girls and stick his head in any of Fredrick Nietzsche's books; but always remaining independent from his parents. "Several ideas taken from the fields of psychology and child development might help to illuminate Jim Morrison's behaviour later in life. "Attachment Theory", for instance, suggests that children who receive insensitive, neglectful, or inconsistent care can develop difficulties with controlling their emotions." (Davis, 2001, pg.13). Therefore drug and alcohol consumption was inevitable.
It's a form of escapism, something to take you away from reality and into a world of your own. Except for Jim it wasn't just 'a little something', eventually this whirling and twirling portal of hallucination became his haven. Inside this bubble he didn't have to address his emotions and responsibilities. To other people he was seduced into a world of hell, but Jim liked dancing with the devil.
Morrison is regarded by music critics as one of the most iconic and influential frontmen in rock music history. In the summer of 1965, after graduating from UCLA film school, Morrison was still the same maverick lingering on Venice beach and sleeping on friends rooftops - his diet, canned beans and LSD. It was during this time that he began writing lyrics to songs that would later become 'Moonlight Drive' and 'Hello I Love You'. After an encounter between fellow film student, Ray Manzarek later that year on Venice beach, The Doors were born.
The Doors achieved their first number one single with 'Light My Fire'. Later that year, the band appeared on the Ed Sullivan show. This was a popular Sunday Night television show which had introduced the United States to The Beatles. The Doors were to play 'People Are Strange' and 'Light My Fire' but due to censorship Sullivan's crew asked for the band to replace the word "higher" in the song, as it was clearly a drug reference. However Morrison stuck to the original lyric and the crew were mortified. After being told they would never play the Ed Sullivan show again; Morrison replied "Hey man. We just did the Sullivan Show".
"Pamela was a redhead only eighteen years old. She had freckles on the backs of her hands, smeared across her pale, delicate, fawnlike face, sprinkled like cinnamon on the body the length of a rope." (Sugerman, 1980, pg. 68). Pamela Courson was Jim's star girl. He told her everything. He told her about the universe and Nietzsche, things he would never open up to just anyone. She put up with his drunk and disloyal behaviour because she loved him. The small times when he was sober is what she lived for because Jim was a romantic and he was caring towards her.
The Doors later released Strange Days, which had the singles 'People Are Strange' and 'Love Me Two Times'. In 1968 with the third album underway there was growing tension between the band members due to Morrison's increasing dependence on alcohol and drugs. No one wanted to hire the band because Jim encouraged destruction and committed nudity stunts. However the band continued releasing music into the late 60's. In 1971 he died in his apartment in Paris.
Jim Morrison is the definition of rock star: sexy, scandalous and enchanting. His tight leather pants, uncut hair and beads are iconic. However, it is his voice that sends shivers with his sensual growls and groans, there is only one king of orgasmic rock.
Bibliography:
Davis, S. (2001). Jim Morrison: Life, Death, Legend. London: Ebury Press.
Hopkins, J. Sugerman, D. (1980). No On Here Gets Out Alive. London.
Sullivan, E. (2010). http://www.edsullivan.com/artists/the-doors. SOFA ENTERTAINMENT
