Another famous chapter in rock n’ roll history has been brought to a close with today’s announcement of the posthumous pardon of Jim Morrison. The famed singer of the Doors was arrested for indecent exposure following a controversial performance which would later become known only as ‘The Miami Incident’. Exact details of what occurred that night have been the subject of years of debate with critics and fans each claiming to know the ‘real truth’ of Morrison’s actions on the evening in question. Regardless of the truth, Larry Mahoney of the Miami Herald went on to write that Morrison was abusive and intoxicated “appearing to masturbate in front of the audience and exposing himself”. Three days later a warrant was issued for Jim Morrison’s arrest. These charges were denied by both Morrison and his band with keyboardist Ray Manzarek stating over the years that the event was an incident of ‘mass hypnosis’ with Morrison simply ‘doing a mind trip’ with the audience.
Regardless of the truth behind events of that night, the incident went on to haunt The Doors for the remainder of their time as band, nearly derailing one of their biggest tours and resulting in several radio stations dropping the band entirely. Morrison would later go on to be convicted by a Florida court but died prior to serving time. Morrison’s pardon essentially wipes his 40-year-old conviction clean in the eyes of the law and perhaps means that Florida has learned to embrace it’s rocky history with The Doors. Whatever the case, I’m sure the Lizard King is smiling down on us all today.
“I am interested in anything about revolt, disorder, chaos-especially activity that seems to have no meaning. It seems to me to be the road toward freedom… Rather than starting inside, I start outside and reach the mental through the physical.” – Jim Morrison.
Source: NY Times ArtsBeat
excellent josh