Remembering Legendary Doors Lead Singer Jim Morrison
- by Annabelle Steffes-Halmer
ROCK LEGEND, POET, SEX SYMBOL: 50 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH, PEOPLE ARE STILL FASCINATED BY JIM MORRISON, LEAD SINGER OF THE DOORS. BUT WHO WAS THE MAN BEHIND THE LEGEND?
Multi-talented artist, charismatic frontman, coveted lover: at the height of his career, Jim Morrison completely lived up to the image of the proverbial rock star. His style was unconventional, sent shockwaves through straight-laced America but fascinated the younger generation.
But the real man behind this success story was often depressed, withdrawn and rebellious. His excessive use of drugs and alcohol is likely one of the reasons why the singer died at the young age of only 27. To this day, numerous legends surround his death on July 3, 1971.
"Wild child full of grace, Savior of the human race"
The extroverted performer on stage had little in common with the introverted boy he grew up as. Born James Douglas Morrison on December 8, 1943 in Melbourne, Florida as the son of a Navy Admiral, Jim was used to moving homes—by the time he was 16, he had already moved 18 times and had lived with his family in nine different states. He was close to his younger siblings, Anne and Andy, and the three always had each other's backs.
