HE'S the Lizard King. Some call him Mr Mojo Rising.
It has been exactly 37 years since
Jim Morrison (pic- second from left) of The Doors was found dead in a bathtub in a hotel room in Paris.
While a cloud of doubt still surrounds his death, Morrison who would otherwise be 65 today, is still an influential figure in the music scene.
Born James Douglas Morrison, is best remembered for his songs The End, Unknown Soldier, Touch Me and Alabama Song.
As a tribute to the legendary singer cum poet, below is an article written by
Malay Mail Sports Editor
Mustapha Kamaruddin (aka
El Loco) who was fortunate to visit Morrison's grave last year.
PARIS (FRANCE): It was freezing with the temperature at almost zerodegree centigrade.
On top of that, it was also raining continuously thatSaturday morning on Dec 8. These conditions, however, failed to stop me and my two friends, Azahar Hamid and Belgian Cristel Gernay, plus my wife and daughter, Azie andTzarina.
Azahar and me were adamant about locating the grave of rock legend,poet and filmmaker, Jim Morrison, at Pere-Lachaise, a world famous118-acre cemetery in east Paris where some of the most famous people wereburied. Among the 300,000-plus bodies interned there were Irish novelist, poet and playwright Oscar Wilde, Polish composer Frederic Chopin, Frenchsinger Edith Piaf and 19th century French novelist Honore de Balzac.
But our only obsessive mission was to locate American Jim Morrison's grave. We are huge fans and did not want to miss the chance of visiting his resting place, apparently the fourth biggest tourist attraction in Paris. Coincidentally, it was also Morrison's birthday on that day as The Doors' frontman was born on Dec 8, 1943, in Florida.
It wasn't an easy task locating his grave, even though we were armedwith a map of the cemetery! We had to walk and walk the burial groundsunder chilly and windy conditions. After about half an hour, we managed to locate a grave with the epitaphs, "We love you...Jim" and "Hail to the Lizard King". But itturned out to be somebody else's plot. The epitaphs were the work of mischievous souls out to mislead fans of the icon.
Still, we persevered and finally, after walking for 45 minutes, we found Morrison's grave. We had no doubts this time as the tombstone borehis full name - James Douglas Morrison. There was also a small photo of him on it. I could see Azahar's eyes twinkle with joy! He said: "I'm finallyhere... Jim!"
We saw fresh wreaths on Morrison's grave, placed there by earlier visitors. On one of the wreaths, it was written, 'We love you Lizard King'. The `Lizard King' is one of Morrison's nicknames due to the wild man's fascination for reptiles. Excited by the tribute on the wreath, we promptly grabbed the chance to snap pictures at the grave. Eleven-year-old Tzarina, though, seemed terrified by the spooky surroundings and refused to have her picture taken.
Too bad.
Despite her tender age, she is no stranger to Morrison. She has heard hits of TheDoors like LA Woman and Roadhouse Blues, thanks to her dad, of course. While we got busy with our `photography session', we suddenly realisedthere was already a queue behind us - camera-armed devotees anxiously waiting their moments to get close to the grave. Among them was an English guy, about 25, who brought along a CD player blaring Riders on the Storm, and passionately stressing to us that he was a huge Doors fan.
More and more people then started to join us at the grave, even though the rain got heavier. Some also related their laborious search beforearriving at their `destination'. One even told us how much more exciting the spectacle would be if wecame on July 3 - where many more fans from all walks of life and ages would congregate for an electrifying and emotional occasion. Well, that figures as it is the anniversary of Morrison's death as he breathed hislast on July 3, 1971.
After about an hour at the grave, we decided to leave as a big and still increasing turnout was forming. We stopped at a cafe just outside the cemetery and were surprised tosee most of the customers in their 20s and 30s wearing T-shirts sporting Morrison's image. I happened to have two Morrison T-shirts with me but somehow I did notwear it that day, as they probably weren't thick enough to cover me from the cold. Some of the fans at the cafe asked us where were we from. "Malaysia... very far away. You come here all the way from there to see the grave?" "Yes," Azahar replied.
Of course, The Doors' songs were on the air as we sipped our hot drinks after spending two hours in the cold and wet conditions. It was, nevertheless, a great and memorable experience, especially for me and Azahar, who has already this plan to come on July 3 next year. Morisson's coffin was brought to Pere-Lachaise on July 7, 1971. This was the cemetery which Morrison himself would spend hours looking for the graves of famous people like Piaf, Wilde, Balzac and Chopin. His coffin was to be opened on July 6, 2001, and he was going to berelocated to California when his lease expired. Both events have yet to occur. Events which may have led Morisson to go to Paris? On March 1, 1969, Morrison got himself arrested after exposing himself on stage and using profanity during a concert in Miami, the US.
He was brought to trial and acquitted of the charges of lewd andlascivious behaviour, but was guilty of indecent exposure and profanity, and sentenced to eight months in jail. The verdict was appealed and he was freed on bail. Tired of the whole scene and the prospects of going to prison, he and girlfriend Pamela Courson moved to Paris. He started drinking heavily, loving the wine bistros and cafes in Paris.
Morrison was found dead in a bathtub on July 3, 1971, with no conclusive reasons as to what led to his demise. He was 27.
(ED: The writer is The Malay Mail sports editor - and obviously, a die-hard Jim Morrison fan)
CUT out the middle men. Go direct!
WELL if it makes them happy, why not? 
