The Doors Break On Through

Mark Hinson: What would have happened if the Lizard King had lived?

Some fans still believe that Morrison — a Florida boy, former Florida State University student, lead singer for The Doors, self-appointed Lizard King, puffed-up poet, one-time fugitive from Sunshine State justice — faked his death in 1971 so he could escape the hassles of fame. You know, because riches and privilege are such a drag. Plus, there is just no way Morrison, who was the cursed rock-star age of 27 when he hit Paris, could have died after a bender that included enough beer, hard liquor and heroin to kill a rugby team of Rasputins. According to the book "Break on Through: The Life and Death of Jim Morrison," Morrison roomed with five fellow students in a house near the FSU campus at Palm Court off Macomb Street. The roomies booted Morrison out after one term because he was too loud and too much of a hell-raiser. The San Francisco classical pianist Daniell Revenaugh, who owns rental property in Tallahassee, said he still has the front door from that old house. It's the Doors' door — get it? "(Morrison) hung around with a bohemian crowd — people who liked to wear pants with holes in them. Jim posed as a model for the art department, and they would all sell blood to the Red Cross to get a few bucks," Morrison classmate Gerry McClain said in an interview with the "American Legends" website. "Once, I saw Jim go around the college coffee shop eating scraps off tables. I felt he and the others were living an image (of) the starving young artist." The future crooner of "Horse Latitudes" and "Crawling King Snake" also liked to taunt the campus jocks. Morrison got arrested on Sept. 28, 1963 — and had his iconic Tallahassee mug shot taken — after he allegedly got blotto at an FSU football game, jeered at the players, mocked fans, stole an umbrella and swiped a police helmet from a parked cruiser. Go 'Noles! His grave in Division 6 of Pere-Lachaise Cemetery is one of the top (and unofficial) tourist attractions in Paris. The Lizard King began his dirt nap alongside other famous folks such as warbling French icon Edith Piaf, long-winded scribbler Marcel Proust, Karl Marx's suicidal daughter, one-legged actress Sarah Bernhardt and snarky ol' Oscar Wilde. As soon as he was put in the ground, Doors fans from around the world began showing up at his final resting place to party like rock stars.

The Doors, Break On Through (To The Other Side) Willie Simpson

Part 92 of my youtube countdown tears you into another dimension with the Doors, “Break On Through (To the Other Side).”  This is one of the greatest psychedelic pop singles you’ll ever hear.  It’s got an iconic pulsing keyboard bass intro played by the genius Ray Manzarek, propulsive drumming by John Densmore, stunning pickless riffs by Robby Krieger, and perfect dark lyrics and singing by the immortal Jim Morrison.  This version is actually a special remix featuring the original, “She Gets (high)” lyric that was censored for over 30 years until the 1990s.  The Doors are one of the coolest bands that ever existed for a bunch of reasons.  #1.  The name- In 2011, all amazing rock band names have been taken, and the Doors grabbed that special piece of real-estate all the way back in 1965, bastards.  #2., #3, #4, Manzarek, Densmore, and Krieger-  These 3 were all geniuses of rock and roll.  Manzarek is the greatest psychedelic keyboard player of all time.  Krieger could hold his own with anybody on guitar in the 60s, which says a lot.  Oh, he also wrote “Light My Fire.”  Densmore was a fantastic and exciting drummer who contributed a lot to the bands overall sound.  #5. Jim Morrison-  One of the greatest lead singers of all time.  To me, he is better than all the 70s hard rock bands he inspired, and that includes Led Zepplin’s Robert Plant.  He was an outrageous real rocker with no inhibitions who blazed a comet of artistic unstopability!  One last rock and roll fun fact before I go.  My dad was at the infamous Miami concert when Jim Morrison supposedly pulled his cock out and got himself arrested for indecent exposure.  Well according to my then 19 year old father, Morrison NEVER did it.  He said the cops were on the stage, and he threatened them that he would pull dick out, but he didn’t.  He said the cops just jumped him and dragged him off stage!  Of course we all know what happened next.  Morrison escaped to France to avoid prosecution, and soon died of a heroin overdose in his bathtub at age 27…Seems unfair in light of what really happened, no?  Luckily we have “Break On Through” so Jim can live on.  Enjoy.

The Doors - Break on Through (to the other side)

RIP Jim Morrison 40 years ago today... The Doors - The Doors - Break On Through (To The Other Side)

listening to Break on Through (to the Other Side) by The Doors on :

The Doors - Break On Through

"Break on Through" - the Doors. Today marks the 40th anniversary of Jim Morrison's passing. :(

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Based on extensive research and featuring dozens of rarely published photographs, this is the authoritative portrait of the poet, the grim visionary, the ...

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BREAK ON THROUGH Paris, 1975 It smelled like rain. I had hoped it would storm. Then we wouldn't have had to see his grave. My heartbeat was increasing. ...

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One must marvel at the presumption of the Doors: Break On Through To The Other Side? Hardly, they are firmly ensconced over here. For to break on through to ...

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I was far too young to understand the idea of "doors of perception," I ju.t thought it was a really cool name. Then I heard the .ong "Break On Through. ...