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FAQ
***********************************************
THE DOORS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) List
Version 2.7 (Last updated: April 11, 1998)
For the newsgroup
alt.music.the-doors
AUTHORS: Dave Thompson and Victoria Ridley
***********************************************
INTRODUCTION
This FAQ was compiled for the usenet newsgroup, alt.music.the-doors, where
discussion of The Doors and their music is welcome. This FAQ will be posted
to alt.music.the-doors once per month. Suggestions for the FAQ are welcome
and can be made by sending e-mail to Dave Thompson at:
ar025@freenet.carleton.ca.
A very big thank you is due to Kerry Humpherys of the Doors Collectors
Magazine for his assistance in verifying information and ensuring everything
contained herein is as accurate as possible. Check out the DCM on the World
Wide Web at: http://www.doors.com
We wish to thank the following people for their contributions to the FAQ:
Brian Davies, David Taylor.
DISCLAIMER
This document may be distributed freely as long the contents remain unaltered.
This document may not be used for profit, monetary or otherwise. No part of
this document may be excerpted for profit without the expressed written or
e-mail consent of the authors.
Copyright 1994 - 1998
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Changes since version 2.6
#7 Box set added to list of Elektra releases.
Table of Contents
-----------------
1. History behind alt.music.the-doors.
2. Who was in The Doors?
3. How did The Doors get their name?
4. When and where were The Doors formed?
5. What instruments did The Doors use?
6. What studio albums were released on the Elektra label?
7. What other Elektra albums were released?
8. What studio albums were recorded after Jim's death?
9. What is their number one selling album and single?
10. What books are available on The Doors?
11. What books of poetry did Jim write?
12. What offical videos have been released?
13. Are there any Doors fan clubs?
14. Are there any Doors tribute bands?
15. Where can I get Doors files on-line?
16. Are there any Doors sites on the World Wide Web?
17. Who was Pamela Courson?
18. What is the official cause of Jim's death?
19. Where is Jim buried and is he to be moved?
20. What are the strange letters on the headstone?
21. How and when did Pamela Courson die?
22. Who is Patricia Kennealy and was she married to Jim?
23. Why was Jim arrested in New Haven, Conneticut.
24. What happened in Miami, Florida?
25. Who was `Mr. Mojo'?
26. Whats that phrase at the end of `Touch Me'?
27. Where did the Doors (with Jim) perform their last concert?
28. Was the movie `The Doors' accurate?
29. What are the remaining Doors doing today?
30. Whats this about a Jim Morrison postage stamp?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. History behind alt.music.the-doors.
The newsgroup alt.music.the-doors was created by Dave Thompson in
February 1994, after observing people asking the same question every
week about his favourite band. "Is there a newsgroup for The Doors?"
The purpose of alt.music.the-doors is to provide a forum for
discussion and exchange of questions, ideas, views, and information
about anything to do with Jim Morrison and the musical group, The
Doors. Everyone is invited to take part in this discussion by sharing
their views, ideas, opinions, experience and information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Who was in The Doors?
James Douglas Morrison (b. December 8 1943 in Melbourne, Florida
- lead singer d. July 3 1971 in Paris, France)
Raymond Daniel Manzarek (b. February 12 1939 in Chicago, Illinois)
- keyboards
John Paul Densmore (b. December 1 1944 in Santa Monica, California)
- percussion
Robert Alan Krieger (b. January 8 1946 in Los Angeles, California)
- guitar
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. How did The Doors get their name?
The name `The Doors' was Jim's idea and it was inspired by a quote from
William Blake, "If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would
appear as it is, infinite." Jim himself was fond of saying, "there are things
known and things unknown and in between are The Doors."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. When and where were The Doors formed?
The Doors were formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California. Jim Morrison and
Ray Manzarek had known each other at UCLA where they majored in film. In
the summer of 1965, Manzarek was on the beach in Venice when Morrison came
walking toward him. Jim sat down and the two them started talking about what
they had been doing during the summer. Jim said he had been writing some songs.
Ray asked him to sing one of them. Jim sang a few lines from Moonlight Drive.
Ray was very impressed with the lyrics and suggested the two of them form a
rock band. Jim said that that was his idea all along.
The very first line-up of the band consisted of Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek,
along with Ray's two brothers, Rick and Jim. There was no bass player or
regular drummer. They just hired whomever they could whenever they landed a
gig. Then Ray met John Densmore at the Third Street Meditation center in Los
Angeles. Ray and John were both disciples of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who opened
the center in 1965. Ray invited John to join the group and be their regular
drummer. In late 1965, Rick and Jim Manzarek quit the band as they seemed to
be on a fast road to nowhere. They had shopped a demo tape around with little
interest until Billy James at Columbia Records signed them to a deal.
However once signed, Columbia did not show much interest in actually developing
the band. On top of all this, they now had to replace Rick Manzarek who had
been their guitar player.
Ray remembered another guy at the Meditation center who was a guitar player. He
was a friend of John Densmore, named Robby Krieger. When Robby went to audition
for The Doors he fit right in. Like the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle, the
band was now complete. Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, Robby Krieger and Jim
Morrison were now, The Doors.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. What instruments did The Doors use?
Ray Manzarek started off using a Wurlitzer electric keyboard. He then
switched to a Vox Continental organ. He put a Fender Rhodes Piano Bass on
top of the Vox. He used the Vox for about two and a half albums and then
started using a Gibson Kalamazoo.
Robby Kreiger started with a 1964 Gibson Melody Maker. This guitar was stolen
so he then used a Gibson SG Special. For bottleneck playing, he used a Gibson
Les Paul.
John Densmore started off with Gretsch drums. One tom-tom on the bass, one
floor tom and a snare. He then switched to Ludwig for the third album. He used
a basic four-piece setup of snare, bass, and two tom-toms. He used Zildjian
cymbals for the first three albums and then switched to Paiste 605s.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. What studio albums were released on the Elektra label?
THE DOORS
(January 1967, available on CD)
Break On Through (To The Other Side) / Soul Kitchen / The Crystal Ship /
Twentieth Century Fox / Alabama Song (Whisky Bar) / Light My Fire / Back
Door Man / I Looked At You / End Of The Night / Take It As It Comes / The
End
STRANGE DAYS
(October 1967, available on CD)
Strange Days / You're Lost Little Girl / Love Me Two Times / Unhappy Girl /
Horse Latitudes / Moonlight Drive / People Are Strange / My Eyes Have Seen
You / I Can't See Your Face In My Mind / When The Music's Over
WAITING FOR THE SUN
(July 1968, available on CD)
Hello, I Love You / Love Street / Not To Touch The Earth / Summer's Almost
Gone / Wintertime Love / The Unknown Soldier / Spanish Caravan / My Wild
Love / We Could Be So Good Together / Yes, The River Knows / Five To One
THE SOFT PARADE
(July 1969, available on CD)
Tell All The People / Touch Me / Shaman's Blues / Do It / Easy Ride /
Wild Child / Runnin' Blue / Wishful Sinful / The Soft Parade
MORRISON HOTEL
(February 1970, available on CD)
Roadhouse Blues / Waiting For The Sun / You Make Me Real / Peace Frog /
Blue Sunday / Ship Of Fools / Land Ho! / The Spy / Queen Of The Highway /
Indian Summer / Maggie M'Gill
L. A. WOMAN
(April 1971, available on CD)
The Changeling / Love Her Madly / Been Down So Long / Cars Hiss By My
Window / L. A. Woman / L'America / Hyacinth House / Crawling King Snake /
The Wasp (Texas Radio And The Big Beat) / Riders On The Storm
AN AMERICAN PRAYER
(November 1979, available on CD)
Awake / Ghost Song / Dawn's Highway / To Come of Age / Black Polished
Chrome Latino Chrome / Angels and Sailors / The Movie / Curses
Invocations / American Night / Roadhouse Blues / Lament / The
Hitchhiker / An American Prayer / + 3 bonus tracks on CD version,
Babylon Fading / Bird of Prey / The Ghost Song
This album is Jim's spoken poetry with newly recorded music by The Doors
playing in the background.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. What other Elektra albums were released?
ABSOLUTELY LIVE
(July 1970, available on CD)
Who Do You Love / Medley: < Alabama Song (Whisky Bar) / Back Door Man /
Love Hides / Five To One > / Build Me A Woman / When The Music's Over /
Close To You / Universal Mind / Break On Through #2 / The Celebration Of
The Lizard / Soul Kitchen
The liner notes say this album was recorded in New York and Philadelphia.
Based on Jim's conversations with the audience, the New York material is
almost certainly from the shows on January 17 & 18, 1970 at the Felt Forum.
The Philadelphia show was either the one in the summer of '69 or the one
at the Spectrum in April 1970. Hopkins & Sugerman's book No One Here Gets
Out Alive, however, claims that this recording of The Celebration Of The
Lizard was from the Aquarius Theatre in Hollywood. Who Do You Love is
definitely from Philadelphia, and When The Music's Over is definitely from
New York.
All the songs on this album are available on the In Concert 2-CD set.
ALIVE SHE CRIED
(November 1983, available on CD)
Gloria / Light My Fire (including Graveyard Poem) / You Make Me Real /
Texas Radio And The Big Beat / Love Me Two Times / Little Red Rooster /
Moonlight Drive (including Horse Latitudes)
The liner notes say these songs were recorded between 68-70 in Los
Angeles, New York, Detriot, Boston and Copenhagen. The Copenhagen tracks
are Texas Radio And The Big Beat and Love Me Two Times, which were recorded
for a TV show in Denmark in 1968. Gloria was the sound check for one of
the two Monday night performances at the Aquarius Theatre in Hollywood,
July 1969. The presence of John Sebastian marks Little Red Rooster as
coming from the Felt Forum, New York shows on January 17 and 18, 1970. The
only concerts in Detroit and Boston that I know of are the April 9, 1970
Boston show and the 1970 Cobo Hall show in Detroit.
All the songs on this album are available on the In Concert 2-CD set.
LIVE AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL
(June 1987, available on CD)
Wake Up / Light My Fire / Unknown Soldier / A Little Game / The Hill
Dwellers / Spanish Caravan / Light My Fire (edit) [CD only]
These songs were recorded on July 5th, 1969 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los
Angeles, California.
IN CONCERT
(May 1990, available on CD)
House Announcer / Who Do You Love / Medley: < Alabama Song (Whisky Bar) /
Back Door Man / Love Hides / Five To One > / Build Me A Woman / When The
Music's Over / Universal Mind / Medley: < Dead Cats, Dead Rats / Break On
Through #2 > / The Celebration Of The Lizard: < Lions In The Street / Wake
Up / A Little Game / The Hill Dwellers / Not To Touch The Earth / Names Of
The Kingdom / The Palace Of Exile > / Soul Kitchen / Roadhouse Blues /
Gloria / Light My Fire (including Graveyard Poem) / You Make Me Real /
Texas Radio And The Big Beat / Love Me Two Times / Little Red Rooster /
Moonlight Drive (including Horse Latitudes) / Close To You / The Unknown
Soldier / The End
This album is an encapsulation of all the material from Absolutely Live
and Alive She Cried, with the live Roadhouse Blues that was issued as a
single in 1979, the version of The Unknown Soldier from Live At The
Hollywood Bowl, and the previously unreleased The End, also from the
Hollywood Bowl concert.
The liner notes list Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Philadelphia,
Pittsburgh, Detroit and Copenhagen as being recording sites for this
compilation. The material from Absolutely Live (the entire first disc and
Close To You) was recorded in is from New York and Philadelphia. The
tracks from Alive She Cried (from Gloria through Moonlight Drive/Horse
Latitudes on the second disc) are from Los Angeles, New York, Detriot,
Boston and Copenhagen. The Hollywood Bowl is in Los Angeles, so the two
tracks from that concert are accounted for. Only Roadhouse Blues and
Pittsburgh remain, so it is probably safe to assume that track is from that
location.
13
(November 1970, not available on CD)
Light My Fire / People Are Strange / Back Door Man / Moonlight Drive / The
Crystal Ship / Roadhouse Blues / Touch Me / Love Me Two Times / You're Lost
Little Girl / Hello, I Love You / Wild Child / The Unknown Soldier
WEIRD SCENES INSIDE THE GOLDMINE
(January 1972, not available on CD)
Break On Through (To The Other Side) / Strange Days / Shaman's Blues / Love
Street / Peace Frog / Blue Sunday / The Wasp / End Of The Night / Love Her
Madly / Spanish Caravan / Ship Of Fools / The Spy / The End / Take It As It
Comes / Runnin' Blue / L. A. Woman / Five To One / Who Scared You / Don't
Go No Farther / Riders On The Storm / Maggie McGill / Horse Latitudes /
When The Music's Over
This is the only collection to include the two b-side only tracks the
Doors released: Who Scared You and Don't Go No Farther.
BEST OF THE DOORS
(August 1973, not available on CD)
Who Do You Love [live] / Soul Kitchen / Hello, I Love You / People Are
Strange / Riders On The Storm / Touch Me / Love Her Madly / Love Me Two
Times / Take It As It Comes / Moonlight Drive / Light My Fire
GREATEST HITS
(October 1980, available on CD)
Hello, I Love You / Light My Fire / People Are Strange / Love Me Two Times /
Riders On The Storm / Break On Through (To The Other Side) / Roadhouse
Blues / Not To Touch The Earth / Touch Me / L. A. Woman / + 2 bonus tracks
on CD, Ghost Song / The End (from Apocolypse Now) * Not To Touch The Earth
dropped from CD.
CLASSICS
(May 1985, not available on CD)
Strange Days / Love Her Madly / Waiting For The Sun / My Eyes Have Seen You
/ Wild Child / The Crystal Ship / Five To One / Roadhouse Blues [live] /
Land Ho! / I Can't See You Face In My Mind / Peace Frog / The Wasp (Texas
Radio And The Big Beat) / The Unknown Soldier
THE BEST OF THE DOORS
(June 1987, available on CD)
Break On Through (To The Other Side) / Light My Fire / The Crystal Ship /
People Are Strange / Strange Days / Love Me Two Times / Alabama Song
[CD/tape only] / Five To One / Waiting For The Sun / Spanish Caravan / When
The Music's Over / Hello, I Love You / Roadhouse Blues / L. A. Woman /
Riders On The Storm / Touch Me / Love Her Madly / The Unknown Soldier / The
End
This is the only proper greatest hits collection available on CD.
THE DOORS: ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK RECORDING
(March 1991, available on CD)
The Movie / Riders On The Storm / Love Street / Break On Through / The End
/ Light My Fire / Ghost Song / Roadhouse Blues [live] / Heroin [Lou Reed,
performed by the Velvet Underground] / Carmina Burana: Introduction [Carl
Orff, performed by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra] / Stoned Immaculate /
When The Music's Over / The Severed Garden (Adagio) / L. A. Woman
THE DOORS BOX SET (October 1997)
DISC 1 (Without A Safety Net)
Five To One / Queen of The Highway / Hyacinth House / My Eyes Have Seen
You / Who Scare You / Black Train Song / End of The Night / Whiskey, Mystics
And Men / I Will Never Be Untrue / Moonlight Drive (Demo) / Moonlight
Drive (Sunset Sound) / Rock is Dead / Albinoni's Adagio in G Minor
DISC 2 (Live in New York)
Roadhouse Blues / Ship of Fools / Peace Frog / Blue Sunday / The Celebration
of The Lizard / Gloria / Crawling King Snake / Money / Poontang Blues / Build
Me A Woman / Sunday Trucker / The End
DISC 3 (The Future Ain't What It Used To Be)
Hello To The Cities / Break On Through / Rock Me / Money / Someday Soon /
Go Insane / Mental Floss / Summer's Almost Gone / Adolph Hitler / Hello, I
Love You / The Crystal Ship / I Can't See Your Face In My Mind / The Soft
Parade / Tightrope Ride / Orange County Suite
DISC 4 (Band Favourites)
Light My Fire / Peace Frog / Wishful Sinful / Take It As It Comes / L.A.
Woman / I Can't See Your Face In My Mind / Land Ho! / Yes, The River Knows
/ Shaman's Blues / You're Lost Little Girl / Love Me Two Times / When The
Music's Over / The Unknown Soldier / Wild Child / Riders On The Storm
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. What studio albums were recorded after Jim's death?
Other Voices (November 1971, not available on CD)
In The Eye Of The Sun / Variety Is The Spice Of Life / Ships w/ Sails /
Tightrope Ride / Down On The Farm / I'm Horny, I'm Stoned / Wandering
Musician / Hang On To Your Life
Full Circle (July 1972, not available on CD)
Get Up And Dance / 4 Billion Souls / Verdilac / Hardwood Floor / Good Rockin
/ The Mosquito / The Piano Bird / It Slipped My Mind / The Peking King And The
New York Queen
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. What is their number one selling album and single?
The number one selling single is really no surprise. It is `Light My Fire'.
It was the #1 song on the National Top 40 for three weeks and in the National
Top 40 for a total of fourteen weeks.
Sources point to L.A. Woman as being their best selling album. If anyone can
find proof that this is true, please let us know the source of the information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. What books are available on The Doors?
Clarke, Ross. "The Doors. Dance On Fire". Chesington, Surrey:
Castle Communications PLC, 1993.
Dalton, David. "Mr. Mojo Risin', Jim Morrison The Last Holy Fool". London:
Spade & Archer, 1990.
Densmore, John. "Riders On The Storm". New York: Delacorte Press, 1990.
Doe, Andrew, and John Tobler. "The Doors in Their Own Words". London:
Omnibus Press, 1988.
Hopkins, Jerry. "The Lizard King, The Essential Jim Morrison". New York:
Macmillan/Collier Books, 1993.
Hopkins, Jerry and Danny Sugerman. "No One Here Gets Out Alive". New York:
Warner Books, 1980.
(Also available on CD and cassette. Warner Bros. Audio Video Entertainment
Copyright 1995)
Huddleston, Judy. "This Is The End, My Only Friend/Living and Dying With
Jim Morrison". New York: Shapolsky Publishers, 1991.
Jahn, Mike. "Jim Morrison And The Doors". New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1969.
Jones, Dylan. "Dark Star". London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 1990 (American
edition, New York: Viking, 1991)
Kennealy, Patricia. "Strange Days, My Life With and Without Jim Morrison".
New York: Dutton, 1992.
Lisciandro, Frank. "An Hour for Magic". New York: Delilah Books, 1982.
Lisciandro, Frank. "Morrison, A Feast of Friends". New York:
Warner Books, Inc. 1991.
Lisciandro, Frank, ed. "Wilderness: The Lost Writing of Jim Morrison,
Volume 1". New York: Random House and Vintage Books, 1988.
Mooney, Jim, ed. "Light My Fire". New York: Zepplin, 1978.
Riordan, James and Jerry Prochnicky. "Break on Through, The Life and
Death of Jim Morrison". New York: William Morrow/Quill, 1991.
Ruhlmann, William. "The Doors". London: Bison Books Ltd. 1991.
Seymore, Bob. "The End. The Death of Jim Morrison. London:
Omnibus Press, 1990.
Sugerman, Danny. "The Doors: The Illustrated History". New York: William
Morrow & Co./Quill, 1983.
Sugerman, Danny. "Wonderland Avenue". New York: William Morrow & Co., 1989.
Taylor, Derek. "It Was Twenty Years Ago Today". New York: Fireside
Books, 1987.
Tobler, John and Andrew Doe. "The Doors In Their Own Words". London:
Omnibus Press, 1988.
Fowlie, Wallace. "Rimbaud and Jim Morrison". Duke University Press, 1994.
Crisafulli, Chuck. "Moonlight Drive". Carlton Books Limited, 1995
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. What books of poetry did Jim write?
Morrison, James Douglas. "The Lords". Los Angeles: Western Lithographers,
1969. Private publishing of 100 copies.
Morrison, James Douglas. "The New Creatures". Los Angeles: Western
Lithographers, 1969. Private publishing of 100 copies.
Morrison, James Douglas. "An American Prayer". Los Angeles: Western
Lithographers, 1970. Private publishing of 100 copies.
Morrison, James Douglas. "An American Prayer". New York: Zepplin, 1983.
Morrison, James Douglas. "The Lords & The New Creatures". New York:
Simon and Schuster, 1971.
Morrison, Jim. "The American Night". New York: Villard Books, 1990.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. What offical videos have been released?
Forbes, Gorden, dir. "The Doors: A Tribute To Jim Morrison". Hollywood:
Warner Home Video, 1981. Mono sound, 60 minutes.
Justman, Paul and Ray Manzarek, dirs. "The Doors Live in Europe 1968".
New York: HBO Video, 1988. Mono sound, 58 minutes.
Leo, Malcolm, dir. "Rolling Stone Presents Twenty Years Of Rock And Roll"
Hollywood: MGM/UA Home Video, 1987. VHS Hi-Fi Stereo, 97 minutes.
Manzarek, Ray, dir. "The Doors Dance On Fire Classic Performances And
Greatest Hits" Universal City: MCA Universal Home Video, 1985. VHS Hi-Fi
Stereo, 65 minutes.
Manzarek, Ray, dir. "The Doors Live At The Hollywood Bowl" MCA Home Video,
1990. 65 minutes.
Manzarek, Ray, dir. "The Doors The Soft Parade A Retrospective"
Universal City: MCA Universal Home Video, 1991. VHS Hi-Fi Stereo, 50
minutes.
Sheppard, John, dir. "Live #2 The Doors The Doors Are Open" Hollywood:
Warner Reprise Video, 1968. VHS Hi-Fi Stereo, 60 minutes.
Stone, Oliver, dir. "The Doors". Hollywood: 1991, 135 minutes.
Schmidlin, Rick, dir. "The Doors Collection".
MCA Home Video Inc. 1995. Laserdisc Digital Stereo, 3 hours 38 minutes.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. Are there any Doors fan-clubs?
The Doors Collectors Club ( WWW site: http://www.doors.com )
c/o TDM Inc.
P.O. Box 1441
Orem, Utah
84059-1441
United States
Membership fees are $20.00 in the US, $25.00 in Canada and $30.00 for overseas.
All fees are payable in US funds and entitle you to a one year membership which
includes four issues of the Doors Collectors Magazine, personal membership card
and a quarterly list of rare and unusual Doors memorabilia.
The Doors Appreciation Society
c/o Richard Bond
11 Telford Way
High Wycombe
Bucks HP13 5EB
England
Membership includes publication of `The Soft Parade', published quarterly.
Send one IRC for information or $18.00 US for a one year subscription.
Doors Quarterly Magazine
Am Oelvebach 5
D. 4150 Krefeld-Stratum 12
Germany
Subscription rates, BRD 25 DM; Europe 30 DM; Overseas 35 DM.
(DM= deutsch mark)
The Doors Fan Club of Italy
HWY
c/o Antonio Romanazzi
Via Agucchi N 18
40131 Bologna Italy
Phone/FAX: (011) 39-5138-2680
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
14. Are there any Doors tribute bands?
Yes. Look for the following bands in your area.
(All information is compiled quarterly from The Doors Collector Magazine
and is subject to change.)
Soft Parade (Featuring Joe Russo)
For information call: (212) 255-0800
Wild Child (Featuring Dave Brock)
For information call: (714) 520-4801
Back Doors (Featuring Jim Hakim)
For information call: (301) 854-0888
Moonlight Drive (Featuring Bill Pettijohn)
For information call: (216) 251-5542
Riders On The Storm (Featuring Eamon Cronin)
For information call/fax: (860) 257-7500
Morrison Hotel (Featuring Ron Speck)
For information call: (216) 882-8176
Ancient Lunatics (Featuring Mike Fox)
For information write: 9737 E. 33rd, Suite 923, Tulsa, OK 74146
Morrison (Featuring Ron Montanaro)
For information write: 1750 Kala Kaua Ave, #821, Honolulu, HI 96826
Break On Through (Featuring Ed Coloracci)
For information call: (516) 360-7878
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
15. Where can I get Doors files on-line?
Doors lyrics are available at the following site:
Mojo Risin'
http://www.mojorisin.net
Doors guitar chords are available by anonymous ftp at the following sites:
host ftp.nevada.edu
/pub/guitar/d/doors
host cs.uwp.edu (this is a mirror site of animal-farm.nevada.edu)
/pub/music/guitar/d/doors
Doors pictures are available by anonymous ftp at the following site:
host ftp.sunet.se
/pub/music/pictures/d/doors
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
16. Are there any Doors sites on the World Wide Web?
There are several sites on the World Wide Web. These sites have been
compiled from postings to alt.music.the-doors. There are dozens of sites
cropping up all the time making it difficult to track and list them all.
The best way to find sites is to use a WWW search engine and type in 'Doors'
Many sites offer links to other sites on the Web as well.
The Official Doors Homepage:
http://www.thedoors.com/
The Doors Collector Magazine:
http://www.doors.com
The Doors Homepage:
http://www.vis.colostate.edu/~user1209/doors/
Images of Jim's grave can be found at the following:
http://antics.com/doors/jim.html
All of Jim's poetry can be found at:
http://www.mojorisin.net/poet.html
Elektra records can be found at:
http://www.elektra.com
Morrison Hotel:
http://alfa.di.uminho.pt/rufbin/home
Lyrics, some poetry and miscellanious items:
http://www.aleph.it/andre/doors/Soulkitchen.html
Poetry and miscellanious items:
http://www.helsinki.fi/~palotie/Doors.html
Whiskey Bar: The Complete Doors Page:
http://www.ki.net/~adrenlin/thedoors/
Dawn's HWY:
http://www.nwmissouri.edu/~0211170/doors.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
17. Who was Pamela Courson?
Pamela Susan Courson was born December 22, 1946 in Weed, California. She met
Jim at Gazzarri's Club in L.A. while an art student at Los Angeles City
College.
At the time of their meeting she was nineteen years old. She would become Jim's
steady companion for the next five years until his death in 1971. Their
relationship could be described as love-hate. They loved each other deeply, but
they also fought often and abused each other. She was the one woman who could
and did stand up to Jim. She could dish it out to him as well as he could to
her. They both had flings on the side with other people but they always came
back to each other in the end. Pamela was to take the name Morrison later on
in their relationship even though she never actually married Jim.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
18. What is the official cause of Jim's death?
Jim Morrison was found dead in the bathtub at approximately 5:00 am on
July 3, 1971. On July 2, Jim had accompanied Pamela Courson to see a movie.
After watching the movie they returned to their apartment, and he went to bed.
He awoke some time later coughing and complaining of chest pains. He decided
to take a bath. On the morning of July 3, Pamela awoke to see Jim still in
the bathtub. She went into the bathroom and discovered he was dead. The death
certificate simply stated he died as a result of heart failure. It was
speculated that a blood clot from a respiratory illness made its way through
his bloodstream where it stopped his heart, while he took his bath. There has
since been speculation that Jim died of a drug overdose, possibly taking heroin
thinking that it was cocaine. However there is no proof and no autopsy was
ever performed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
19. Where is Jim buried and is his body to be moved?
Jim was buried July 8, 1971 at Pere-Lachaise cemetary in Paris, France.
Pere-Lachaise is one of Paris' oldest, most prestigious cemetaries. Many
famous people are buried here including, Chopin and Oscar Wilde.
Jim's plot was originally leased for a thirty year period, due to expire in
2001. This has fueled the rumour that his body is going to be removed from
Pere-Lachaise during that year. This is because the relatives of the
deceased at Pere-Lachaise have petitioned to have his body removed. The
reason given is that many people who call themselves fans have desecrated
tombs and headstones with graffiti and left behind much litter after visiting
the cemetary. Recent information has come to light indicating that the French
government has designated Jim's grave as a cultural heritage site and that he
is staying put. I am awaiting confirmation on this information.
But if Jim is to be moved, it is not known where he would go. The popular
rumour is that he would be moved to Los Angeles.
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20. What do the strange letters on the headstone mean?
The following words are written in Greek on Jim's headstone.
KAWA TON /\AIMONA EAYTOY
--
I have seen more than one translation for these words. I am including more
than one translation since I really don't know for sure if one is more
correct than the other. They seem to have one theme in common though, and
that is demons or the devil.
1. `Burn your own demon'.
2. `Against the devil himself'.
3. `Faithful to his spirit'.
Recently obtained information indicates that Jim's father is responsible for
the Greek inscription. Reports suggest that there was a `better late than
never' reconciliation with his late son. Back in 1991, Jim's father replaced
the original headstone wtih the new one bearing the Greek inscription. It
would seem that translation number 3, `Faithful to his spirit', is the
true translation. When you give it some thought, it does seem appropriate.
I am trying to track down the original source of this information to verify
it myself but until then I'll leave it at this.
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21. How and when did Pamela Courson die?
Pamela Susan Courson Morrison died April 25, 1974 in her Hollywood apartment
of a heroin overdose. Pamela's parents originally intended to have her buried
with Jim at Pere-Lachaise cemetary. Pamela's father listed Pere LaChaise as
the burial place on her death certificate. However, due to the enormous red-
tape involved in transporting a body to a foreign country for burial, her
parents had her cremated remains buried at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa
Ana, California.
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22. Who is Patricia Kennealy and was she married to Jim?
Patricia Kennealy was editor Of "Jazz and Pop" magazine when she met Jim
Morrison in 1969. She met Jim at the Plaza Hotel in New York City
for an interview. Not only was Kennealy a magazine editor, but she was
also a practicing witch. The question of marriage is a thorn in the side
of many fans because she currently goes by the last name of Morrison.
While there is no doubt that she married Jim in a pagan ceremony
(handfasting), the marriage is not recognized as legal. Kennealy has
admitted such but maintains that it was a spiritual committment between
Jim and herself and many fans support and believe her. On the other hand,
the fact that Jim did not mention the ceremony to many of his friends and
that he returned consistently to Pamela Courson until his death, seems to
support the opposing view that Jim participated in the ceremony for kicks and
that he didn't take his relationship with Kennealy seriously.
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23. Why was Jim arrested in New Haven, Conneticut?
On December 9, 1967, the Doors were scheduled to play a concert in
New Haven, Conneticut. Jim Morrison had turned 24 years of age the day
before. His birthday had not been a joyous occasion because the Doors
concert on December 8 in Troy, New York had been a huge disappointment.
The Troy crowd did not respond well to Jim Morrison and the applause after
the concert died quickly. In fact, there was no encore at this concert.
The Doors departed quickly and Jim decided to take a limo all the way back
to New York city instead of taking the plane. Jim was depressed and hoped
that New Haven would be more receptive the next night.
The New Haven crowd seemed to be waiting in anxious anticipation of
something special about to happen. Policemen provided security at the show
and they lined the hallways making sure that no one could get backstage.
Before the show started, Jim met a local college girl. He wanted to talk
to her in private and they located a shower stall near the dressing room.
Shortly after entering the stall, the young couple began making out. At this
point a police officer happened upon the scene. He failed to recognize Jim
as the lead singer of the Doors and ordered him and the girl to clear out.
Jim refused to move. The officer repeated the order and Jim again refused,
telling the officer, "Eat it!" The officer withdrew his can of mace and
offered Jim one last chance. Jim responded, "Last chance to eat it!" The
officer now lost his patience and fired the mace directly into Jim's face.
Jim screamed in pain from the effects of the mace. He stumbled down the
hall to the dressing room with tears streaming down his face. The Doors
manager Bill Siddons informed the police just who it was they maced. The
officer who maced Jim, explained he hadn't known who Jim was but he still
wanted to arrest him. Siddons, fearing a riot if the star attraction was
hauled off to jail, pleaded with the police to let Jim take the stage. The
police relented and Jim and the officer apologized to each other. Before
long the Doors hit the stage. The crowd was very enthusiastic in New Haven.
Jim responded by moving and jumping about the stage. The crowd was going
wild and shouting along with Jim as he screamed the lyrics to "When The
Music's Over." They exictedly applauded Jim's every move onstage. The last
song of the night was "Backdoor Man." During the instrumental break, Jim
started talking to the crowd. Policemen lined the stage and the areas just
offstage. Jim began telling the people how he met a girl prior to the
concert. He continued on...
"We started talking and we wanted some privacy and so we went into this
shower room. We weren't doing anything you know. Just standing there and
talking. And then this little man came in there, this little man in a
litle blue suit and a little blue cap. And he said, "What ya' doin' there?"
"Nothing." But he didn't go away. He stood there. And then he reached
'round behind him and he brought out this little black can of somethin'.
Looked like shaving cream, and then he sprayed it in my eyes. I was
blinded for about thirty minutes."
After this speach, Jim returned to singing the song when the
lights suddenly came on. Jim asked that the lights be turned off. In a
matter of seconds, Jim was flanked by two policemen. Jim offered the
microphone to Lt. Kelly so he could say his thing. At this point, Ray
Manzarek approached Jim. Just then, the officer grabbed the mike and the
two officers started dragging Jim off the stage. The police said the
concert was over and everyone was to go home. On this night, Jim Morrison
had taunted and embarrassed the police. The police weren't going to stand
for it. They chose to flaunt their authority by arresting Jim and making a
scene. Once they had Jim out of the view of the audience, they proceeded
to punch and kick him repeatedly before throwing him into a cruiser and
bringing him to the station.
According to the official police report, Jim was arrested when he
began using vile and filthy language while relating a sexually expicit
story. This was totally false information. The police said they arrested
Jim when they began receiving complaints from people in the audience. It
was obvious though that the police were angry and embarrassed, so they
arrested jim on trumped-up charges. It is amazing to compare the official
police report to eye-witness testimony. The police allege that Jim was
arrested for an indecent performance yet it is clear that he was simply
telling a truthful story to the audience. Jim said nothing that was
sexually obscene. The police allege Jim resisted arrest. There are plenty
of witnesses who saw the police beat Jim and yet Jim did not even fight
back. This charge was invented to justify the injuries that were inflicted
upon Jim.
Jim Morrison had become the first rock star to be arrested while
on-stage, yet the police had no grounds upon which to lay charges. They
could not admit in their report that he was arrested because he had
embarrassed them. They clearly invented these charges and it would be
obvious to the most casual observer. The only fabric of truth in their
report was a reference to the girl in the shower stall. Charges were
eventually dropped but it proved to foreshadow trouble yet to come. It
made Jim Morrison noticeable to the authorities and this would become
painfully obvious in Miami.
Jim never forgot the New Haven incident. Recollections of the bust echo
in the song, "Peace Frog" in the line, "Blood in the streets in the town
of New Haven." It would appear that strange days had finally tracked Jim
Morrison down.
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24. What happened in Miami, Florida in 1969?
The Doors were scheduled to play a concert at the Dinner Key Auditorium on
March 1, 1969. The Doors manager, Bill Siddons had made a deal with the
Miami promoter, Ken Collier to accept a flat fee of $25,0000 instead of sixty
percent of the gross receipts. Collier then sold bewteen eight to nine
thousand tickets at more than the agreed price. Collier also removed seats to
allow more people into the auditorium. An auditorium designed to hold seven
thousand people was now packed tight with about thirteen thousand.
Jim Morrison missed his scheduled flight into Miami and spent the time
waiting for the next flight, drinking in the airport lounge. Once he boarded
the plane he continued drinking. During a stopover in New Orleans he missed
his flight again and consumed even more drinks waiting for the next flight.
By the time he reached Miami he was extremely drunk. Once he took the stage
he was almost falling down drunk. He was abusive towards the audience, he
would start a song only to stop it after a few lines, he would bum even more
drinks from members of the audience. At some point in the concert he then
asked the audience, "Do you wanna see my cock?" He allegedly then exposed
himself for a brief instant and continued on with the show.
The next day the Doors started a planned vacation. While out of the country,
the press in Miami had a field day with the alleged exposure incident.
Pressure was put on local officials to do something about it. On March 5
1969, Bob Jennings from the state attorney's office acted as complainant. A
warrant was issued for the arrest of Jim Morrison on one felony count of
lewd and lascivious behaviour and three misdemeanor counts of indecent
exposure, open profanity and drunkenness.
Jim turned himself in to the FBI in Los Angeles on April 4, 1969. On November
9, 1969 he entered a not guilty plea in Miami. The trial did not start until
August 12, 1970. Max Fink was Jim's defence lawyer, the prosecuter was Terrence
McWilliams and Judge Murray Goodman presided over the case. Much evidence was
heard from witnesses for both sides. Most of it was contradictory. On September
20, 1970 the jury found Jim Morrison guilty on the misdemeanor charges of
indecent exposure and profanity. He was found not guilty on the felony charge
and the misdemeanor for drunkenness. He was released on a $50,000 bond and
returned to Miami on October 30, 1970 for sentencing.
Judge Goodman sentenced Jim to six months of hard labor and a $500 fine for
public exposure and sixty days of hard labor for profanity. The sentences
would run concurrently. He would be eligible for release after two months and
would be on probation for two years and four months. His lawyer filed an
immediate appeal. Until the appeal could be heard, Jim would be free on the
$50,000 bond.
Jim Morrison was to die in Paris, France July 3, 1971 before his legal problems
could be resolved.
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25. Who was 'Mr. Mojo'?
Mr. Mojo makes his appearance in the song L.A. Woman. The verse goes
something like this,
Mr. Mojo Risin', Mr. Mojo Risin'
Mr. Mojo Risin', Mr. Mojo Risin'
Got to keep on risin'
Mr. Mojo Risin', Mr. Mojo Risin'
etc,etc
One thing we know for sure is that `Mr. Mojo Risin' is a perfect anagram.
Re-arrange the letters and it spells `Jim Morrison'. The only other thing we
know is from John Densmore's book. In his book, John says, "Since it contained
the black slang word mojo (for sexual prowess), I got the idea to steadily
increase the tempo back up to the orginal speed, a la orgasm."
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26. Whats that phrase at the end of `Touch Me'?
Right at the end of this song, a phrase can be heard that many people do not
quite hear correctly or else wonder where it came from. The phrase is;
"Stronger than dirt". The origin of this is from a television commercial that
was playing on-air in the late 1960's. The line was used as a slogan for the
houshold cleanser, Ajax.
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27. Where did The Doors (with Jim) perform their last concert?
The Doors last public performance was at the Warehouse in New Orleans,
Louisiana on December 12, 1970.
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28. Was the movie `The Doors' accurate?
It is generally agreed upon by Doors purists that Oliver Stone's movie was
not a true representation of Jim Morrison and The Doors. While the movie
had some great music in it and the actors did a fine job, (particularly Val
Kilmer as Jim) it seems that Stone took some liberties with the film.
The film only shows the dark, self-destructive side of Jim. He is portrayed
as an out-of-control, abusive drunk. Certainly that was a part of his persona.
But there was much much more to the man as any true Doors fan can tell you.
And Stone for whatever reason chose not to explore the poetic and intellectual
side of Jim. At least not to any great extent. Unfortunately, the movie has
only reinforced the idea among the general populace that Jim Morrison was
nothing but an obnoxious, pathetic rock-and-roll singing alcoholic.
Ray Manzarek has gone on record as saying that several scenes in the movie
never took place. Scenes like the turkey dinner, the closet fire and the
song `Light My Fire' being used in a commercial. Those of you have seen the
movie know which scenes these are, those of you who have yet to see the movie,
keep these scenes in mind.
This writer would recommend that you see the movie for the music and Val
Kilmer's portrayal of Jim. But, for someone who wants to learn more about
The Doors and the `real' Jim Morrison, please read some of the books
mentioned above and get your hands on some of the official video releases.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
29. What are the remaining Doors doing today?
Ray has been working in partnership with poet Michael McClure. During their
performance, McClure recites his poetry and Ray accompanies Michael on
the piano. They have released a CD called `Love Lion'. The CD is on the
Shanachie Records label.
John has been touring with writer Michael Ventura. They do poetry and
dramatic readings.
Robby's most recent band, 'The Robby Kreiger Organization' broke up within
the last few months. Their last release was a CD released on One Way
Records called 'RKO Live!'
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30. Whats this about a Jim Morrison postage stamp?
I was contacted by the co-chair of the Morrison Commemorative Postage
Stamp committee and asked to include in the FAQ information about how
you can support the campaign to get a stamp issued. This subject has created
controversy in the newsgroup, dividing people into two opposing sides. Some
people are against the idea saying Jim himself would not stand for it,
some people think its a great idea and say Jim would get a kick out of it.
I am not taking a position either way. I am just presenting the following
information and people can decide for themselves if they want to support it
or not.
IF ELVIS GETS A STAMP, WHY NOT JIM?
Doors fans arise! We need your help in our international effort to put Jim
Morrison on a commemorative U.S. postage stamp.
How do we accomplish that? A little background. A group called the Citizens
Stamp Advisory Committee comprising 12 members appointed by the U.S.
Postmaster General meets four times a year to consider nominations for
commemorative postage stamps. As you well know, Elvis Presley passed the
Committee's muster some time ago and is featured on a stamp issued in January
1993, the first of a "Legends of American Music" series that has since
included a wide range of other American musicians.
Certainly no "Legends of American Music" series would be complete without the
Doors. And Jim Morrison fits the other prerequisite for getting on a
stamp--he's been dead for at least 10 years. Or at least we think he has
been.
So here's how you can help: Write to the individual members of the Citizens
Stamp Advisory Committee (names and address follow). Tell them in your own
words what the music of the Doors has meant to you and why Jim Morrison
should be put on a stamp. They're there to listen to you, and a
representative of the Committee told us they've heard from a lot of Doors
fans already. They need to hear from a lot more. Remember--they've got the
guns but we've still got the numbers!
Jim Morrison would have been 50 years old on December 8, 1993. On that day
the Morrison Commemorative Stamp Committee formally petitioned the Citizens
Stamp Advisory Committee to put the real king--the Lizard King--on a stamp.
With your help and letters it can happen.
We want a stamp and we want it now. Tell all the people.
The Morrison Commemorative Stamp Committee is trying to recover its
out-of-pocket expenses for this modest effort through the sale of classy
commemorative T-shirts featuring a brilliant red lizard w/gold crown crawlin'
across a black tee. To get your own limited edition, high-quality shirt
(sizes L and XL), and to help defray the costs of our campaign, send $15 in
check or money order to: Morrison Commemorative Stamp Committee, PO Box
14985, Minneapolis, MN 55414. All proceeds are plowed back into postage and
other expenses--so far we're still in the hole!
FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CITIZENS' STAMP ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
Dr. Virginia Noelke, San Angelo, TX, historian and professor of history,
Angelo State University. (Chairwoman)
Dr. C. Douglas Lewis, Washington, DC, curator of sculpture, National Gallery
of Art. (Vice-chairman)
David Lewis Eynon, Bryn Mawr, PA, executive vice president, Amichetti, Lewis
and Associates Inc.
Karl Malden, Beverly Hills, CA, actor & president of Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences.
Stephen T. McLin, San Francisco, CA, president, American First Financial
Corp.
Mary Ann Owens, Brooklyn, NY, international stamp show judge and topical
stamp collector.
Richard "Digger" Phelps, Notre Dame, IN, former head basketball coach, Notre
Dame, and stamp colector.
John Sawyer III, Laguna Niguel, CA, area market manager, Jostens Learning
Corp.
Ron Robinson, Little Rock, AR, chairman and CEO, Cranford Johnson Robinson
Woods.
Barbara Gardner Proctor, Chicago, IL, president, Proctor and Gardner
Advertising Inc.
Michael Brock, Los Angeles, CA, designer.
Meredith Davis, Raleigh, NC, graphic design professor, North Carolina State
University School of Design.
SEND ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO:
(NAME OF MEMBER)
CITIZENS STAMP ADVISORY COMMITTEE
C/O STAMP MANAGEMENT
475 L'ENFANT PLAZA SW, ROOM 5301
WASHINGTON, DC 20260-2420
COPY THIS LIST AND PASS ALONG TO OTHER DOORS FANS!
Let's put the real King--the Lizard King--on a stamp!
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"This is the end, beautiful friend".
JDM
