History of Jim Morrison in Timeline

Jim Morrison was the lead singer and lyricist of The Doors, an American rock band. Known for his captivating stage presence, poetic lyrics, and distinctive voice, he is considered one of rock's most influential frontmen. Morrison's rebellious persona and untimely death solidified his status as a counterculture icon, symbolizing the generation gap and youth rebellion. His fame has endured since his passing, making him a prominent figure in popular culture.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Legacy & Impact

December 8, 1943: Jim Morrison Born in Melbourne, Florida

On December 8, 1943, James Douglas Morrison was born in Melbourne, Florida, to Clara Virginia and George Stephen Morrison.

December 8, 1943: Jim Morrison Born

On December 8, 1943, James Douglas Morrison was born. He became the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of The Doors, achieving fame for his energetic persona, poetic lyrics, distinctive voice, and unpredictable performances.

1947: Birth of Sister Anne Robin

In 1947, Jim Morrison's younger sister, Anne Robin, was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

1947: Witnessing Car Crash in the Desert

In 1947, at around three or four years old, Morrison allegedly witnessed a car crash in the desert involving injured Native Americans, an event he considered formative and repeatedly referenced in his works.

1948: Birth of Brother Andrew Lee

In 1948, Jim Morrison's younger brother, Andrew Lee, was born in Los Altos, California, adding to the Morrison family.

1952: Attending Elementary School in Kingsville, Texas

In 1952, Jim Morrison attended Charles H. Flato Elementary School in Kingsville, Texas, while his father was stationed at NAS Kingsville.

1957: Attending Alameda High School

In 1957, Jim Morrison began attending Alameda High School in Alameda, California for his freshman year and the first semester of his sophomore year.

1959: Return to Northern Virginia

In 1959, Jim Morrison's family moved back to Northern Virginia, impacting his high school years.

June 1961: Graduation from George Washington High School

In June 1961, Jim Morrison graduated from George Washington High School in Alexandria, Virginia, achieving high grades and demonstrating a high IQ.

1962: Transfer to Florida State University

In 1962, Jim Morrison transferred to Florida State University in Tallahassee, expanding his educational experiences.

1962: Morrison meets Mary Werbelow

In the summer of 1962, Jim Morrison met Mary Werbelow on the beach in Clearwater, Florida, marking the beginning of their relationship when they were teenagers.

September 28, 1963: Arrest at Football Game

On September 28, 1963, Jim Morrison was arrested for disturbing the peace and petty larceny while drunk at a Florida State Seminoles football game, marking a challenging moment in his college years.

August 1964: Admiral Morrison Commands Forces During Gulf of Tonkin Incident

In August 1964, Admiral Morrison, Jim's father, commanded U.S. naval forces during the Gulf of Tonkin incident, a pivotal event in escalating the Vietnam War.

1965: The Doors Founded

In 1965, Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek founded The Doors in Venice, California, marking the beginning of a successful musical career.

1965: Graduation from UCLA Film School

In 1965, Jim Morrison completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA's film school but refused to attend the graduation ceremony, choosing instead to go to Venice Beach, marking a significant milestone in his education and artistic development.

1965: Bohemian Lifestyle in Venice Beach

In 1965, after graduating from UCLA, Jim Morrison lived a bohemian lifestyle in Venice Beach, writing lyrics for early Doors songs and living on canned beans and LSD, according to Ray Manzarek.

1965: Gulf of Tonkin Incident Justifies Vietnam War Engagement

In 1965, the Gulf of Tonkin incident, previously overseen by Jim Morrison's father, became a leading justification for U.S. engagement in the Vietnam War.

1965: Werbelow ends relationship with Morrison

In the summer of 1965, Mary Werbelow ended her relationship with Jim Morrison in Los Angeles, a few months before the Doors began rehearsals.

May 1966: Attending Velvet Underground Concert

In May 1966, Jim Morrison reportedly attended a concert by the Velvet Underground at The Trip in Los Angeles, where he may have been influenced by the "black leather" look of Gerard Malanga.

June 1966: Opening Act for Van Morrison's Band Them

In June 1966, Jim Morrison and The Doors were the opening act at the Whisky a Go Go for Van Morrison's band Them, with Van's stagecraft influencing Jim's developing performance style.

November 1966: Production of "Break On Through" Promotional Film

In November 1966, Jim Morrison and The Doors produced a promotional film for "Break On Through (To the Other Side)", their first single release, featuring the band performing the song on a darkened set.

August 1967: "Light My Fire" Reaches Number One

In August 1967, The Doors' single "Light My Fire" spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking a significant achievement in their career.

September 18, 1967: "The Young Lion" Photo Session

On September 18, 1967, photographer Joel Brodsky took iconic black-and-white photos of a shirtless Jim Morrison in a photo shoot known as "The Young Lion", creating images frequently used for Morrison and Doors memorabilia.

December 9, 1967: Arrest Onstage in New Haven

On the evening of December 9, 1967, Jim Morrison was arrested onstage during a concert in New Haven, Connecticut, for indecency and public obscenity after an incident with a police officer backstage, adding to his rebellious image.

1967: Morrison considered Wild Honey one of his favorite albums

According to record producer David Anderle, in 1967 Jim Morrison considered Brian Wilson "his favorite musician" and the Beach Boys' album Wild Honey "one of his favorite albums".

1967: Morrison's Music Ascends Charts and Claims Family is Dead

In 1967, as Jim Morrison's music ascended to the top of the charts, he had not been in contact with his family for over a year and falsely claimed that his immediate family was dead.

1968: Morrison Expresses Appreciation for Rimbaud Translation

In 1968, Jim Morrison wrote a fan letter to Wallace Fowlie, thanking him for his translation of Rimbaud's verse into English, stating that the book "travels around with me."

1968: First European Performances and Growing Alcohol Dependency

In 1968, The Doors played their first European shows in London, while Jim Morrison's alcohol dependency began to affect his performances and studio recordings.

1968: Release of 'Waiting for the Sun'

In 1968, the Doors released their third studio album, 'Waiting for the Sun', marking another milestone in their musical career.

March 1, 1969: Miami Concert Incident

On March 1, 1969, during a concert at the Dinner Key Auditorium in Miami, an intoxicated Jim Morrison attempted to incite a riot and was later charged with indecent exposure, causing numerous cancellations of upcoming Doors' concerts.

March 1969: Morrison Records Poetry in Los Angeles

In March 1969, Jim Morrison recorded his poetry in a professional sound studio in Los Angeles.

1969: Morrison starts HWY: An American Pastoral

In 1969 Jim Morrison started the cinematic endeavor HWY: An American Pastoral. Morrison financed the venture and formed his own production company in order to maintain complete control of the project.

1969: Morrison explains distancing from family to Rolling Stone

In 1969 Jim Morrison told Hopkins during an interview for Rolling Stone magazine, that he falsely claimed his family was dead to protect them from the influence of his musical career.

1969: Alleged encounter between Morrison and Joplin

In 1969 there was an alleged alcohol-fueled encounter between Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin. David Crosby stated many years later that Morrison treated Joplin cruelly at a party at the Calabasas, California, home of John Davidson while Davidson was out of town. She reportedly hit him over the head with a bottle of whiskey during a fight in front of witnesses, and thereafter referred to Morrison as "that asshole" whenever his name was brought up in conversation.

1969: The Soft Parade Album Release and Morrison's Physical Changes

In 1969, Jim Morrison had gained weight and changed his style, and the Doors released "The Soft Parade", their fourth album, where each band member received individual songwriting credit for the first time.

1969: Morrison Self-Publishes Two Volumes of Poetry

In 1969, Jim Morrison self-published two volumes of poetry, titled The Lords / Notes on Vision and The New Creatures, which were later combined into a single volume.

September 20, 1970: Conviction in Miami Trial

On September 20, 1970, Jim Morrison was convicted of indecent exposure and profanity in Miami, receiving a sentence of six months in prison and a $500 fine, though he remained free on bond while appealing the verdict.

October 2, 1970: Admiral Morrison Acknowledges Breakdown in Family Communications

On October 2, 1970, Admiral Morrison acknowledged the breakdown in family communications as the result of an argument over his assessment of his son's musical talents. He said he could not blame his son for being reluctant to initiate contact and that he was proud of him.

October 1970: The Doors reconvened to record final album with Morrison

In October 1970, after a break, the Doors reconvened to record their final album with Jim Morrison, titled L.A. Woman. During these sessions, producer Paul A. Rothchild left the project, and engineer Bruce Botnick took over as producer.

December 8, 1970: Morrison Records Poetry

On December 8, 1970, Jim Morrison recorded his poetry in a professional sound studio with his personal friends in attendance.

December 1970: Interview with Los Angeles Free Press

In December 1970, Jim Morrison conducted an in-depth interview with Bob Chorush and Andy Kent of the Los Angeles Free Press, showcasing his involvement with counterculture media.

December 1970: Unreleased Poetry from Morrison's Session

In December 1970, poetry was recorded from Jim Morrison's session, which remains unreleased to this day and is in the possession of the Courson family.

1970: Handfasting Ceremony with Patricia Kennealy

In 1970, Jim Morrison allegedly participated in a neopagan handfasting ceremony with Patricia Kennealy, though no legal paperwork was filed. Kennealy later speculated that Morrison did not take the ceremony as seriously as she did and showed up unexpectedly in Miami during Morrison's trial, during which time Morrison was curt with her.

1970: Release of Morrison Hotel Album

In 1970, the Doors released the album "Morrison Hotel", which included the song "Peace Frog", containing references to the car crash Morrison witnessed in his childhood.

March 1971: Morrison takes leave and moves to Paris

In March 1971, Jim Morrison took a leave of absence from The Doors and joined his girlfriend Pamela Courson in Paris. During this time, he went on long walks, shaved his beard, lost weight, and called John Densmore to inquire about the commercial success of L.A. Woman. This was the last time Morrison spoke to a band member.

July 3, 1971: Jim Morrison's Death

On July 3, 1971, Jim Morrison died unexpectedly in a Paris apartment at the age of 27, amid conflicting reports and without an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

1971: The Lost Paris Tapes

In 1971 (well before his time in Paris), Jim Morrison with friend Michael McClure and producer Paul Rothchild were jamming in Los Angeles, which was later falsely promoted as Morrison's final recording made with busking Parisian musicians.

1971: Alice Cooper Tribute to Morrison

In 1971, Alice Cooper's song "Desperado", from the album Killer, was a tribute to Jim Morrison.

1971: Morrison's Death in Paris

In 1971, Jim Morrison died unexpectedly in a Paris apartment at the age of 27, amid conflicting witness reports, with the cause of his death remaining disputed due to the lack of an autopsy.

1971: Planned Visit Before Paris

In 1971, Jim Morrison was planning to visit the headquarters of the Los Angeles Free Press shortly before leaving for Paris, highlighting his continued support for the publication.

1973: Grave Marker Stolen

In 1973, the official shield placed as a grave marker for Jim Morrison was stolen from his grave in Père Lachaise Cemetery.

1974: Courson's Burial and Inheritance Dispute

In 1974, Pamela Courson was buried as Pamela Susan Morrison. Her parents petitioned the court for inheritance of Jim Morrison's estate, and the court judged their relationship as a common-law marriage, with Morrison's will naming Courson as the sole heir.

1978: An American Prayer album released

In 1978, the Doors' An American Prayer album was released, featuring segments from the 1969 recording session, and reached No. 54 on the music charts.

1978: Posthumous Release of An American Prayer

In 1978, the album "An American Prayer" was released posthumously, featuring Morrison's spoken word performances, including "Dawn's Highway" and "Ghost Song", which referenced the childhood car crash incident.

1981: Marble Bust Placed at Grave

In 1981, Croatian sculptor Mladen Mikulin placed a marble bust and new gravestone at Jim Morrison's grave to commemorate the tenth anniversary of his death.

1981: Rothchild compares Morrison to Bing Crosby in Documentary

In the 1981 documentary The Doors: A Tribute to Jim Morrison, Rothchild related his first impression of Jim Morrison as being a "Rock and Roll Bing Crosby".

1988: Wilderness Released

In 1988, The Lost Writings of Jim Morrison Volume I, titled Wilderness, was released and became a New York Times Bestseller.

1988: Marble Bust Stolen

In 1988, the marble bust of Jim Morrison, placed at his grave in 1981, was stolen after being defaced by vandals.

1989: Another Bust of Morrison Made

In 1989, Mladen Mikulin created another bust of Jim Morrison, following the theft of the original from the gravesite.

1990: Flat Stone Placed on Grave

In 1990, Jim Morrison's father, George Stephen Morrison, placed a flat stone with a Greek inscription on Jim's grave.

1990: The American Night Released

In 1990, The Lost Writings of Jim Morrison Volume II, titled The American Night, was released and was a success.

1991: Oliver Stone's Morrison Biopic

In 1991, Oliver Stone directed a biopic film about Jim Morrison, with Val Kilmer portraying him. The film was met with criticism from those who knew Morrison personally for its portrayal.

1993: Induction into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

In 1993, Jim Morrison was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Doors, with the other band members dedicating their induction to him.

2001: Bronze Portrait of Morrison Created

In 2001, Mladen Mikulin created a bronze "death mask" portrait of Jim Morrison; however, this piece was not placed at the gravesite.

2005: Death of Clara Virginia Morrison

In 2005, Clara Virginia Morrison, Jim Morrison's mother, passed away, marking the end of an era for the Morrison family.

2005: Mary Werbelow Discusses Relationship with Morrison

In 2005, Mary Werbelow discussed her relationship with Jim Morrison in an interview, stating that Morrison told her that the first three Doors albums were about her and that she was not a fan of the band.

2007: Walk Hard References to Morrison

In 2007, the film Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story included numerous references to Jim Morrison.

2008: Death of George Stephen Morrison

In 2008, George Stephen Morrison, Jim Morrison's father, passed away, marking the end of an era for the Morrison family.

December 8, 2010: Posthumous Pardon by Florida Governor

On December 8, 2010, which was the 67th anniversary of Jim Morrison's birth, Florida governor Charlie Crist and the state clemency board unanimously signed a complete posthumous pardon for Morrison regarding the alleged indecent exposure incident.

2011: Rolling Stone Readers' Pick: Best Lead Singers of All Time

In 2011, a Rolling Stone readers' poll placed Jim Morrison in fifth place on the magazine's "Best Lead Singers of All Time" list.

2011: Rockstar Inspired by Morrison

In 2011, the lead character of the Bollywood film, Rockstar starring Ranbir Kapoor, was inspired by Jim Morrison.

2012: Skrillex Released Breakn' a Sweat

In 2012, electronic music producer Skrillex released "Breakn' a Sweat", which contained vocals from an interview with Jim Morrison.

2013: Morrison's Paris Notebook Sold at Auction

In 2013, one of Jim Morrison's notebooks from Paris, found in the "127 Fascination box", was sold for $250,000 at auction. This box also contained a home movie of Pamela Courson and other journals.

2016: Morrison's Celtic Ancestry Revealed

In 2016, Celtic Family Magazine revealed that Jim Morrison's Morrison clan was originally from the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, and the Clelland clan (his Irish side) were from County Down in Northern Ireland.

2019: Agnès Varda Confirms Hiding Morrison's Death

In 2019, shortly before her death, film director Agnès Varda admitted she was responsible for hiding Jim Morrison's death to the public and was one of only four mourners to attend Morrison's burial.