The Doors’ frontman Jim Morrison was an elusive person while he was alive, so it’s no surprise that there were some facts that got buried with him when he died. Here, PPcorn dig up 15 interesting facts you didn’t know about Jim Morrison.
Number Fifteen: He Was a Genius
Morrison’s IQ was a staggering 149, and many people were aware of his hyper-intelligence. He graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts, and he also made two films in college, titled First Love and Obscura.
Number Fourteen: He Was Banned From The Ed Sullivan Show
Before appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show, Morrison agreed to change the lyrics of “Light My Fire” from “Girl we couldn’t get much higher,” to “Girl we couldn’t get much better.” However, he either forgot or deliberately did not make the change while performing, and he was forever banned from the show.
Number Thirteen: He Was Arrested on Stage
Morrison has the “honor” of being the first musician ever arrested on stage, which happened in 1967. He was arrested for saying too many obscenities was charged with indecency, but he was later released.
Number Twelve: He Belongs to the 27 Club
The 27 Club is a group of prominent and precocious musicians who died at the age of 27. Morrison was found in a bathtub at the age of 27. Other musicians who belong to the 27 Club include Amy Winehouse and Jimi Hendrix.
Number Eleven: His Grave Is a Popular Tourist Attraction
Located in Paris, many tourists (Parisian or otherwise) flock to his grave to leave gifts for him. His grave has also been covered in graffiti.
Number Ten: His Asthma Could Have Killed Him
Morrison’s asthma was quite serious, and he was prescribed a drug called Marax to treat it, which he ingested via an inhaler. The drug was later banned in the United States because, in conjunction with alcohol, it can apparently cause death. So, Morrison’s asthma could have killed him if he took his medicine at the wrong time.
Number Nine: He Was Kind of a Pervert
Apparently, one of Morrison’s favorite hangout spots was a go-go club. The club was called The Phone Booth, and he liked to go there with friends and lift up strippers’ skirts.
Number Eight: He Was Rescued by Nuns
During The Doors’ 1968 European tour, Morrison didn’t actually take the stage. Instead, he was given a powerful bit of hash by Bob Hite, singer for Canned Heat, which rendered him unconscious. He was found by a group of nuns and taken to the hospital, where he recovered.
Number Seven: Jim Morrison Hated Parties
Morrison loved bars much more than he enjoyed going to parties. One occasion that supports this happened in 1968 when Jim chose to go to the Alta Cienega Motel (his usual spot) after The Doors played the Hollywood Bowl, rather than go to the Chateau Marmont where the party was.
Number Six: His Dog Was Named Thor
Morrison had three dogs, named Sage, Stoner and Thor. His dog named Sage outlived both Morrison and his long-term girlfriend.
Number Five: He Didn’t Like Festivals
Rather than embrace the collective energy so lauded at the time, Morrison is said to have described Woodstock as “half a million people wallowing in limbo.” According to The Door’s publicist Leon Barnard, Morrison didn’t see festivals as an experience to enjoy or celebrate.
Number Four: He Liked Blues More Than Rock and Roll
Though The Doors are often billed as a rock band, Morrison actually preferred artists like Elvis and Peggy Lee to Led Zeppelin. He also enjoyed classical music.
Number Three: He Was a Thrill Seeker
Apparently, anyone who agreed to get in the passenger seat of Morrison’s Ford Mustang soon regretted it. Morrison liked to freak people out by driving the wrong way down streets and wrecking his car on purpose.
Number Two: He Was an Avid Sketcher
While in college at UCLA, Morrison liked to sketch bizarre, morbid and often macabre figures. He would often draw sketches depicting sexuality, violence, and even sometimes pedophilia. He gave his sketching up to start his band.
Number One: The Lizard King
Jim Morrison earned his popular nickname after he wrote a poem called “The Celebration of the Lizard” which had a line that said, “I am the Lizard King, I can do anything.” He loved reptiles.