Joriki
Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 5:26 am Post subject: Vince, you're doing us all a great service, I wonder.....
What you felt was the source of Jim's disturbing and self destructive behavior? I imagine with the time you spent with him, you must've developed your own feelings for what the roots of his troubles were. Obviously his alcoholism was born of other problems. It's like Jerry Garcia said of Heroin, "you start doing it to deal with your problems, then it becomes your only problem." From what you've said so far, it sounds like Jim was isolated, lonely and didn't really know how to relate to people except on his own terms. This all sounds like pretty standard narcicisism. But what was your feeling about Jim's troubles? Why do you think he was so self destructive and hurtful to himself and those around him? I'd also like to thank you because there is so much Mythology about Morrison, to hear someone talk about him as a human being with human flaws despite his large talents(largely wasted) and intelligence is indescribably refreshing and informative.
vince
Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 10:41 am Post subject: Jim's little "Problem"
Joriki
Thank you for a searching question. The strangeness of Jim and his path to his untimely death was strange and devious. It was, in hidsight,almost predictable.
I would remind everyone who read my responses and observations. I did not socialize with any of the group exceptby their invitation. That was rare, indeed. My comments and opinions about each and everyoneof the Boysare based on my associations in the Rehearsal studios, Occasional quiet talks on an individual basis, stage performances and the recording studios.
they were all very private people and lived, in general, separate and distinct lives.Because Jim frequently spent the night in the office recovering from thenight before,Ihad far more opportunity to converse with him. As a result of these interesting moments, and other information, I have drawn some conclusionsabout what happened and why.
What caused it. Jims mother smothered him. He did not wish any association or conversation with her. I was told by Bill, when I first started with the group, that if Jim was sitting on my lap when his mother called, I did not know where he was, how he could be reached or when he would return. That was mandate #1.
Jim's father was a Rear Admiralinthe U.S. Navy. As such, Jim lived the "Military style" life. I am sure he was instilled with the formalities of Military etiquet and precedures and a great measure of discipline - yes sir, no sir, 3 bags full.
Jim was the youngest of 3 children, Hewas remote from his father and because he often moved, had few friends and experiences that one could say was lasting. His life was expecially nomadic during those young years when personalities are formed through associations with the people around you. For Jim, that was an ever changind scenario.
It has beens aid that in High School, Jim was always calling attention to himself by outrageous behavior and outlandish pronouncements. This latter practice followed him through his life. In fact we now are the readersof the documentation - called poems - of hisattention getting verbiage.
Iwrote,and it was posted, about the shock that Jim got when he went to sea on board the Carrier that was the centerpieceof his fatherstask force. He heardhis father uttera fwsimple wordsand at hisbehest, this one single human being set in motion a war machine with the destructive ppower to wipe alarge piece of real estate off the face of the earth. Jim saw first hand the absolute power over other people that his father had. When he spke in a calm and quiet voice, people - other humans just like him, snapped to attention and instantly carried out his every wish. Jim saw whole groups of men, some who were his father's physical superiors by a long sight, snap to attention and salute when his father enteredacompartment or a room where other were present.
His father, like mine, was a career Naval Officer. He earned his rankand the incredible responsibilty for life and property that went with it. His authority was not handed to him lightly. But a young fellow seeing this first hand might not understand the years of training and promotions that brought his father to that lofty rank. What he did understand was that a mere man controlled the lives and well being of every man-jack in that fleet and, under certain conditions had the power to unleash hell on earth on people he would never even see.
Suppose you were standing next to this guy. Suppose you looked at him and said, Daddy, Sir! What would you mental state be knowing or imagining what kind of God your father was... and you were his son. This would be further aggravated by the situation for the Sailors and other officers on board that ship or the base. They would be "Friendly" to you and grant you request as long as it was not too much, like - how about dropping a nuke on Coral Gables... But there would also be, in their treatment of you, the Admirals Son, a deference, and delicasy but a distance in how the treated you. You were Different - because you were the Admiral's Son.
Put all these factors together. He was always a stranger in the schools he attended. Hardly had he settled in than off they went. He was sort of an outcast. When War was unpopular, he could and maybe did take some comments that were not so considerate because of his Father's position.
Would all of this mold a lonely, isolated young guy who was smothered by his mother as her youngest and last child? think of the situation that would lead to Jim not wanting to talk to his mother even if he was sitting by the phone. By the way, in the office when alone, Kathy, our substitute mother not yet in, Jim would Never answer the phone. Someone else would answer and if it was not Jim's mother, he would then take the call.
Jim experimented with drugs early on. But in those days that was the national sport. He also dropped acid. According to Bill it was something like 20 "Caps", though I think this might have been an exaggeration. I have no personal knowledge of this stuff but I think that had he ingested that much he might have been a blithering idiot from that day forth. But he did take enough to miss the Whiskey second show and when they finally found him he was cowering under a bed in the Alta Cieniga Motel.
As Amsterdam was a turning point in Jims attitude and behavior in performances, So I believe that the Acid incident short circuited Jim's creative mind. It would seem, where careful time studies undertaken, that his original Doors style music (Called Acid Roack) stopped after that time and the later writings were far more mundane and commonplace in concept and content. As time went on the tunes became tuneless and the words words more redundant and repetitive. In some cases it was reduced to such profound utterances as "Yeah!!" and another classic 'Allright!!"
When not with the group rehearsing or performing, with whom, except Ray and Dorothy, did Jim spend his time? He stayed alone. As he became more the image he gather people who were friendly only as long as he was paying for the party. When the money ran out, so did they.
I think he knew thisand what more hurtwouldthis bring. The only reason people come tome is for a good time at my expence.
Yes, He drank.to forget, to cover hurt and in theend perhaps to forget.
Did my dissertation help? I hope so. It isa sad story isn't it.
_________________
Vince
Road Manager
The Doors