30 interesting facts about Jim Morrison
- Jim Morrison was born on December 8, 1943 in Melbourne, Florida.
- Jim is of Irish descent.
- Riders on the Storm was the last song recorded by Jim Morrison.
- Had an IQ of 146.
- Jim was the son of Admiral George Stephen Morrison.
- Jim Morrison is the only performer in rock history to have been arrested on stage during a performance (in New Haven, Connecticut, Dec. 10, 1967).
- Jim's favorite singer was Frank Sinatra.
- Before The Doors made their first album, Jim wanted to use a stage name: "James Phoenix." Keyboardist Ray Manzarek told him, "No way".
- Jim Morrison was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 along with the other band members from The Doors.
- Even though the band was making money Jim Morrison preferred to call a cheap motel on La Cienega Blvd in Las Angeles his home.
- Jim married Patricia Kennealy on June 24, 1970 and stayed married until his death in 1971.
- Is portrayed by Val Kilmer in Oliver Stone's biopic The Doors (1991). Not only did Kilmer look a lot like Morrison, he did his own singing in the film, and The Doors surviving band members reportedly were so impressed by Kilmer's vocal similarities to Morrison's that they could not distinguish Kilmer's singing voice from Morrison's singing voice (close-up shots use Kilmer's voice, while long-distance shots use Morrison's).
- The band decided to call itself The Doors and Jim was the lead singer. They were playing on Sunset Strip in 1966.
- Jim Morrison always carried his notebook of poetry around with him and one day he ran into an old buddy on the beach., Ray Manzarek. Ray played the keyboards and was in a band which was not going anywhere. When Jim showed Ray his poetry Ray convinced Jim to put his words to music and that how the band got started.
- Jim Morrison attended and graduated from UCLA where he studied film production. He dreamed of being like French poet Rimbaud.
- The Doors were voted the 41st Greatest Artists in Rock'n Roll by Rolling Stone.
- Jim Morrison became estranged from his parents due to a difference of life style that in later years Jim would claim his parents were not alive any longer.
- While on stage he had an outlandish and charismatic persona, offstage he was a very quiet and shy person. In fact, according to Ray Manzarek, Morrison once told him he never really felt comfortable at a party unless Ray or another member of the band were with him.
- Jim's father was a U.S. Naval officer. He fought in WWII.
- In bare feet Jim Morrison stood 5’11” tall.
- Ranked #7 on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists.
- Jim had several nicknames in his time some of which were The Lizard King, Erotic Politician, American Poet, Dianysus and Mr. Mojo Risin’.
- Longtime girlfriend Pamela Courson died of a heroin overdose in 1974.
- Jim was born with the name of James Douglas Morrison.
- Many times Jim work is credited as Jim Morrison but he is also credited under the Doors.
- The rumors of Jim Morrison death is thought to be due to a drug overdose.
- Died three years to the day after The Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones.
- Jim untimely death took place on July 3, 1971 in Paris, France from a heart attack.
- Jim Morrison was buried at Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
- Morrison's grave in Paris, France, is reportedly the city's 4th most popular attraction after the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the Louvre.
