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, we dig up 15 things you didn’t know about Jim Morrison, which we will be presenting in two parts. Check out part one below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!
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.