Lizardking Essay, Research Paper

jon *censored*in doe

English 111-A

March 13, 2001

The 1960’s were turbulent years in America, and Jim Morrison created an image of himself that stretched the boundaries of popular culture and entertainment. He was the first musician to truly live the creed of the moment, “ sex drugs and rock and roll.” Morrison’s complicated lyrics, wild behavior, and personal charisma attracted many fans that worshipped him as a rock and roll icon. Morrision left them with a lot of great music and some very bad memories. Like Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, he destroyed himself in the process of becoming a star.

Morrison’s childhood gave little indication of the road he would follow. He was born on December 8, 1943 in Melbourne, Florida (Hopkins 30). Morrison’s father was in the Navy so he moved around frequently. Jim started high school in Alameda, California. With his best friend, Ford Fud, he engaged in typical teenage pranks and problems. His sophomore year, Jim moved to Alexandria, Virginia where he attended a segregated, upper middle class school. In school Jim was constantly calling attention to himself. Once he chased an imaginary bee around the classroom (Hopkins 39). He was never content to be normal or average. Jim also had a huge fascination with literature and poetry, and his IQ was listed as 149 in school records.

After finishing school Jim attended the college of UCLA where he studied film. He shortly droped out and moved to Venice beach. He cut off all ties with his family. In 1965, he met Pamela Courson, a pretty California eighteen-year-old. Jim called her his cosmic soul mate. Though their relationship was as strange as the other parts of Morrison’s life, they stayed together until his death (Jones 30). In Venice, Morrison lived on the roof of an apartment for three months. He was heavy into the use of LSD and marijuana. He also used this time to write most of his poems that would later form the basis of his songs.

Morrison’s entry into the music scene was purely accidental. Ray Manzarek, a musician friend, read some of his poems and said it was “the best rock and roll lyrics he’d ever heard” (Jones 40). Manzarek suggested that they form a band and make a million dollars. Jim said that is exactly what he had in mind except that money wasn’t important. He wanted to “ go up like a roman candle, make a bright light and then disappear” (Hopkins 66). They got a couple of guys together and formed a band called The Doors. Morrison chose the name based on a reference to Aldous Huxley’s, The Doors of Perception. Huxley said, “There is the known and there is the unknown and in between is the door” (The Doors).

The Doors first started playing at small clubs in L.A and slowly gained popularity. The band had their first hit in 1967 with ‘Light my Fire”. This song went on to become a rock classic, and it put Jim center stage in the brightest limelight of the era. “ Jim found it easy being a star. Easy for him, difficult for everyone else” (Jones 68).

By January of 1971, Morrison became bored with his music and performing. He was also a serious alcoholic. Jim decided to move to Paris where he would become a poet (Jones 169). To Jim Paris was a city of artist and dreamers. He wondendered the city lost and alone. Friday July 2nd, 1971 Jim Morrsion died. The facts surrounding his death are not clear, but he almost certainly died from a heroin overdose. “ It doesn’t really matter how Jim died because he really died of self-indulgence”(Jones 136).

Jim Morrison was a role model for pop stars. He created a rock and roll blue print for fame and inspired a generation of delinquency (Jones 180). Rock and roll fans don’t want career plans. They want skyrockets and spectacular crashes. Jim gave them what they wanted. “ He continues to be one of youth cultures most revered heroes, a hero dead before his time, a hero who got out just in time” (Jones 10).

Even after his death Jim Morrison continues to influence many bands today. His style of music is immitated by groups such as, Phish, Widespread Panic, and String Cheese. Morrison’s band, The Doors, songs are based on complicated lyrics with deep meanings. The bands above songs are based on the same concepts of Jim Morrison’s lyrics. Also like the Doors these groups can turn their CD version of a song inot a longer improvised instumental version at their live shows. Morrison’s muci was admired in the late 60’s and early 70’s and still is today by exsiting groups and artists.

English 111-A

March 13, 2001

The 1960’s were turbulent years in America, and Jim Morrison created an image of himself that stretched the boundaries of popular culture and entertainment. He was the first musician to truly live the creed of the moment, “ sex drugs and rock and roll.” Morrison’s complicated lyrics, wild behavior, and personal charisma attracted many fans that worshipped him as a rock and roll icon. Morrision left them with a lot of great music and some very bad memories. Like Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, he destroyed himself in the process of becoming a star.

Morrison’s childhood gave little indication of the road he would follow. He was born on December 8, 1943 in Melbourne, Florida (Hopkins 30). Morrison’s father was in the Navy so he moved around frequently. Jim started high school in Alameda, California. With his best friend, Ford Fud, he engaged in typical teenage pranks and problems. His sophomore year, Jim moved to Alexandria, Virginia where he attended a segregated, upper middle class school. In school Jim was constantly calling attention to himself. Once he chased an imaginary bee around the classroom (Hopkins 39). He was never content to be normal or average. Jim also had a huge fascination with literature and poetry, and his IQ was listed as 149 in school records.

After finishing school Jim attended the college of UCLA where he studied film. He shortly droped out and moved to Venice beach. He cut off all ties with his family. In 1965, he met Pamela Courson, a pretty California eighteen-year-old. Jim called her his cosmic soul mate. Though their relationship was as strange as the other parts of Morrison’s life, they stayed together until his death (Jones 30). In Venice, Morrison lived on the roof of an apartment for three months. He was heavy into the use of LSD and marijuana. He also used this time to write most of his poems that would later form the basis of his songs.

Morrison’s entry into the music scene was purely accidental. Ray Manzarek, a musician friend, read some of his poems and said it was “the best rock and roll lyrics he’d ever heard” (Jones 40). Manzarek suggested that they form a band and make a million dollars. Jim said that is exactly what he had in mind except that money wasn’t important. He wanted to “ go up like a roman candle, make a bright light and then disappear” (Hopkins 66). They got a couple of guys together and formed a band called The Doors. Morrison chose the name based on a reference to Aldous Huxley’s, The Doors of Perception. Huxley said, “There is the known and there is the unknown and in between is the door” (The Doors).

The Doors first started playing at small clubs in L.A and slowly gained popularity. The band had their first hit in 1967 with ‘Light my Fire”. This song went on to become a rock classic, and it put Jim center stage in the brightest limelight of the era. “ Jim found it easy being a star. Easy for him, difficult for everyone else” (Jones 68).

By January of 1971, Morrison became bored with his music and performing. He was also a serious alcoholic. Jim decided to move to Paris where he would become a poet (Jones 169). To Jim Paris was a city of artist and dreamers. He wondendered the city lost and alone. Friday July 2nd, 1971 Jim Morrsion died. The facts surrounding his death are not clear, but he almost certainly died from a heroin overdose. “ It doesn’t really matter how Jim died because he really died of self-indulgence”(Jones 136).

Jim Morrison was a role model for pop stars. He created a rock and roll blue print for fame and inspired a generation of delinquency (Jones 180). Rock and roll fans don’t want career plans. They want skyrockets and spectacular crashes. Jim gave them what they wanted. “ He continues to be one of youth cultures most revered heroes, a hero dead before his time, a hero who got out just in time” (Jones 10).

Even after his death Jim Morrison continues to influence many bands today. His style of music is immitated by groups such as, Phish, Widespread Panic, and String Cheese. Morrison’s band, The Doors, songs are based on complicated lyrics with deep meanings. The bands above songs are based on the same concepts of Jim Morrison’s lyrics. Also like the Doors these groups can turn their CD version of a song inot a longer improvised instumental version at their live shows. Morrison’s muci was admired in the late 60’s and early 70’s and still is today by exsiting groups and artists.