We already brought you part one of our list of 15 things you didn’t know about Jim Morrison, and now we’re back with part two! Continue reading to learn even more rare and little-known facts about the fascinating and tragic life of The Doors’ frontman.
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: He 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. 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.