How Jim Morrison Shaped the Future: A Legacy Timeline

How the contributions of Jim Morrison continue to shape the world today.

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

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 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.

1971: Alice Cooper Tribute to Morrison

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

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.

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: 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.

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.