Jim Morrison of the Doors would have been 60 today - for some reason that just staggers me. Since he only lived to be 27, he has been dead six years longer than he was alive. 27 just seems preposterously young to me - I have t-shirts older than 27. How hard would you have to try to drink yourself to death by 27? Really, really hard.…
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— go to most recent comments26 - ClubhouseCancer
Eric:
I said "almost all."
"Daydream Believer" is sublime, of course.
27 - Eric Olsen
Well okay then, but the Monkees still aren't the Doors.
28 - frank mc donnell
monkees fans must be subversive bores who cant see the joys of experimentation
29 - HW Saxton Jr.
Or maybe they're just experimental bores
who can't see the joys of subversion???
30 - ClubhouseCancer
I count myself a boring experimentalist dedicated to the subversion of joy.
31 - mark
First off, the monkies were a hollywood spin off of what was really happening in the 1960's ( Actors ).....those morons can be compared to britney spears or janet jackson for all i care. Secondly, the doors were an original sound in their time, playing their own instruments and the music they wrote. Jim morrison regrettably may never be accepted as among the great poets in history but, thats only because of the path he chose to vent his writings....otherwise he would be taken as seriously as any other living or past poet. The drugs? the alcoholism?...vices unrelated to his talent! They probably neither enhanced or inhibited him.
32 - Al Barger
You may dismiss Janet Jackson and Britney Spears, but if they had Carole King and Neil Diamond and other creme of the Brill Building writing their songs like the Monkees did, they would be the shiznit.
Though in fairness, Nesmith must be given credit for writing "What Am I Doing Hanging Round" and perhaps my favorite Monkees song, "Listen to the Band."
33 - Mark Saleski
Nesmith also get's credit for the movie Tapeheads, a great and screwy sendup of rock, video, artistes and whatever.
34 - Al Barger
Also, not on any Monkees set, his solo song "Cruisin'" circa 1978. MUST HAVE. That's why Rand made Kazaa.
He also had a contemporary video, which I saw on Don Kirchner's Rock Concerts show, even though it was no kind of live performance. Maybe it will pop up on P2P as well.
35 - mark
I still think we should let the monkees free so they can smell each other's butts in the jungle. Remember if you see a video tape of it, its not really thier butts...or noses. Maybe thats what they did with janet jackson's nose :O oooops and britney spear's :O
36 - Eric Olsen
Nesmith's Elephant Parts DVD/video is funny and strange, and he was not without talent as a songwriter and singer. The problem was the sort of rootsy country-rock he was best at didn't really fit the Monkees agenda.
The Monkees were a prefab pop band - they did it really well and I love several of their songs, but you simply can't compare them to the Doors who wre self-contained artists, whether you like their artistry or not.
Morrison was a silly "poet," but he was a great lyricist, singer and performer.
37 - joanne
Jim's voice is pure testosterone. Very few rock singers are baritones. Most are tenors or altos or falsettos (Jimmy Page & Axl Rose). Jim was the first rock singer to carefully enunciate the lyrics; as a poet he believed the words were important, and his phrasing & styling were remniscent of Frank Sinatra. It's really unfair to compare his voice to Hendrix's, Hendrix was an amazing guitarist, but his voice was a little on the wispy side & Jimmy was shy about his singing voice. Jim was also one of the few white rockers who could sing the blues like the original black artists. He will always be missed.
38 - Miss Pamela
Jim a Poet???hahahohoheeheeheehahahhoho!
"I am the Lizard King,I can do anything?
My dog shits out better poetry than that
every morning.Try reading Pound,Rimbaud,
Homer,Dante Alligheri,Verlaine or for
that matter even Raymond Chandler. Poet,
yeah....right.Sure babe,whatever,better
lay off the hippie love weed, me thinks.
RE: "Jim was also one of the few white
rockers who could sing the "BLOOOZ" like
the original black artists". Obviously,
you are a qualified & highly authorative
Bluesophile and your insight is ever so
astute.It is also WRONG.Have you ever,I
mean ever listened to Big Joe Turner or
Howling Wolf, Ray Charles or J.L.Hooker?
I doubt it.Anyway,those are voices babe.
Jim is somewhere between Al Martino and
Julius La fuckin'Rosa in that hallowed
pantheon of BLOOOOZ singers.
"Mr.Mojo Risin'"indeed."Mr.Moron Jism"
is a bit more on the mark.
39 - JOANNE
Hey, since you asked--I have read poetry; Rimbaud in the original French as even a good translation doesn't always capture the original's spirit, Blake, Tennyson, Longfellow, Burns,and Beaudelaire (also in French & English)& Walt Whitman, Dante, & others. I've also read an excellent biography of Rimbaud by Graham Robb--which I highly recommend. I'm looking for a good biography of Baudelaire, can you recommend one?
As for blues artists- I have the Chess collection of John Lee Hooker (excellent) and CDs of Willie Dixon, Robert Johnson, Buddy Guy, Howling Wolf & Charlie Patton, & Muddy Waters. I've loved the blues for a long,long time. Recently I read the "History of the Blues" by Francis Davis. I highly recommend this book also.
Have you read the Lords & the New Creatures? or an American Prayer? They're actually quite good. Even Baudelaire & Rimbaud were not much appreciated until long after their deaths.
I stand by the comments I made about Jim, his voice is aural chocolate,sensous & sexy-listen to his version of Van Morrison's "Gloria"- so lush, so evocative of teen sex!! Also, his version of Willie Dixon's "Little Red Rooster" & "Back Door Man". As good as the originals.
40 - Jimbo M.
"I am the burger king,I can eat anything
41 - Russell
To even mention The Monkees and The Doors in the same sentence is retarded. Get a life bozos. Morrison owns you all.
42 - CDRN
My....my,critics and more critics. Jim was who he was...drunk or not. With drugs or not. He knew how important was to be himself. Not talking, just doing...with the guts to be in a stage. Appreciation of music and lirics is a personal matter, (that is part of the life of a real artist. Same case for Vincent Van Gogh,Edgar Allan Poe and others. But people and generations testimony is what count. And I know that he wasn't sorry of nothing. The message is: have the guts to be yourself, with moral or not, religious ethics or not, drunk or not...be yourself. Don't be afraid to be yourself.
43 - Jim Morrisberg
You chumps still believe that hoax that
I pulled on ya about the death thing and
all that??? Oy Vey! You're bigger fools
than I already thought you were.
I knew that you were all morons when you
bought "Soft Parade" but to believe that
I would expatriate to the land of the
loathsome frog, much less die there...
I just got tired of making music is all
(Although I AM rather proud of my Jose
Feliciano impression).I knew that people
would not always want to hear my amateur
Junior High School level "poetry".But on
the same hand people are always going to
have to eat. Am I right or am I right?
So,I went back to using my own real name
(James Morrisberg)and I opened a deli in
Far Rockaway,Queens: "The Soul Kitchen".
Stop in and say hello sometime OK?
I make a hot pastrami to die for and my
mother is even jealous of my kugel.I kid
you not. Shalom.
44 - a concerned dude
the monkeys didnt even write their own music let alone play their instruments and you say they are more talented than morrison and the doors..for christ sake..if that isnt good enough for you to go on..then go on album sales success..the doors shit on the monkeys and bob dylan worldwide..gees..has rock not taught anyone anything..lol..and dam..jimi hendrix was a very poor vocalist...shit im out of here..lol
45 - Eric Berlin
Even though I'm just 30 now, I've always fixated on the Morrison dead at 27 thing, possibly because I picked up (and obsessed on) The Doors in high school, during which time I latched onto Nirvana, only to have Kurt Cobain self-buy it at... 27, joining the club with Janis, Jimi, Jim...
Anyway, figure if you make it past 27, you're more in the turtle slow-and-steady club.
Different topic: Ray Manzarek wrote a rather nice and interesting novel kind of imagining a fictionalized Jim who faked his death and found peace and enlightenment by heading East and ending up on a remote island in the Indian Ocean. It's called The Poet in Exile, if anyone is interested.
46 - Al Barger
Concerned Dude- The Monkees didn't write most of their own songs, and only played some of the instruments. Nonetheless, they made better music than the Doors. You can divvy up the credit amongst the songwriters and producers if you want, but SOMEBODY made some heller records.
And Dude, don't be picking the Doors over Dylan- you'll really end up looking silly.
47 - Eric Berlin
Al - I like the Monkees a lot, they put out some really nice records.
But Monkees over Doors? If you don't dig on The Doors, that's cool -- many people don't -- but that's kind of a weird comparison to try and make, isn't it?
48 - Al Barger
They're both white pop groups from the 60s. The Monkees are a fun group to put up against something like the Doors that just screams with pomposity. The manufactured boy band made better records than the Profound Philosopher Morrison.
Which is not to totally disregard the Doors. They were a decent singles band, and you could about put together one really good CD out of their career. Nothing wrong with that, just don't be ascribing them major league status like the Stones or Dylan or Prince.
49 - HW Saxton
Does seem like a useless comparison,now
that is mentioned. But I do understand
where Al is coming from and to that end,
he could've used any old band for that
purpose and it would've been about the
same difference.
Although in thinking about it,both of
these bands(Doors & The Monkees)were as
equally influential on Punk Rock as the
other.Monkees jams like "Stepping Stone"
(Paul Revere & The Raiders did it first)
"I'm A Believer" and "Mary,Mary" turned
up in many Punk Bands set lists and on
record as well. The Doors influence is
obvious enough w/o any explanation,so I
won't.
50 - Al Barger
The comparison works to place the Doors in the foodchain. That is, they were a midlevel pop act with several good hits. They compare to the Monkees or the Association, rather than the Beatles or the Kinks.
51 - Eric Olsen
as expressed n earlier lifetimes, I disagree. The Doors were "pop" only to the extent they had some hits on "pop" radio, but of those I would only describe "Touch Me" as pop, and it is pop of the strangest and most skewed kind, so over the top in production as to transcend mere "pop" into the rococo of "MacArthur Park."
As others have said, there are no rules that say anyone has to like th eDoors but to reduce their status and importance to the inconsequential is just willful perversity
52 - SFC SKI
Like so many other bands, a lot of the Doors best material is not heard on the radio, ever! That which is played is frankly, overplayed, I honestly never have to hear, "Touch ME", "Light My Fire" or "Roadhouse Blues" again, though "Riders on the Storm" always draws me in.
I can take or leave the Doors, as long as I can have "The Wasp (Texas Radio)".
53 - Eric Berlin
You bring up a great point, SFC Ski, which I think speaks especially to The Doors, a band which produced a great variety of strange and wonderful music.
Many years ago, I wrote several thousand words tracking my life along with the lyrics to The Wasp. There's outstanding poetry in there. In fact, I currently have a column on my blog called Notes from the Perimeter which is based upon the line, "Out here on the Perimeter... we is stoned, immaculate."
Commercial radio has really helped to resign many bands to the dust bin of history. For example, I think I never caught the Rolling Stones bug because I heard "Satisfaction" and "Jumping Jack Flash" about 700 times, thus compelling me to shut my ears at the very mention of the band.
54 - Eric Olsen
whoa, now THAT's willfully perverse (smile)
55 - Eric Berlin
Don't blame me, blame the system, man!
(BTW - I had the thought re the Stones the other day as Paint It Black kicked up in my iPod and I thought, "Why the hell didn't I ever seriously get into these guys -- this is a great f'n song...")
56 - Eric Olsen
they have many, really
57 - godoggo
Ah, the good ol' days, when I was "David."
Anyways, I remember read ing that "Hello I Love You" was considered a scandalously mersh bit of teenybopper fluff at the time. Strange days indeed.
58 - lizardking
The Doors were one of the most influential bands of all time. They werent hippies, while everyone else at that time was into love and life, the Doors explored death and sex. The combination of three enormously talented musicians with the bluesy voice and poetic lyrics of Jim Morrison resulted in one of the greatest and most unique bands of all time. I strongly suggest that people stay away from the 'greatest hits' and 'best of' albums and buy the studio recordings to see what the band was really about.
lizardking
http://devoted.to/doorslife
59 - Bob A. Booey
I never thought I'd agree with the Senator, but The Doors were possibly the worst band in human history and certainly influenced more terrible bands than anyone in rock history. The Monkees weren't pretentious pseudo-poets and were enjoyable pop tripe.
Young Jonathan, I have a song for you to look into/download. It's by an ancient group called Pearl Jam whom you might have heard of:
http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Pearl-Jam/Against-The-Seventies.html
Pearl Jam - Against The Seventies Lyrics
(Mike Watt - "Ballhog or Tugboat")
I asked him if he knew what time he had
He said he wasn't sure maybe a quarter past
The kids of today should defend themselves against the seventies
Appeared in his eyes as we stood in line just to have a look
But the pages I found looked like an unbound coloring book
The kids of today should defend themselves against the seventies
(2x)
It's not reality, just someone else's sentimentality...
It won't work for you...
Baby boomers selling you rumors of their history
Forcing youth away from the truth of what's real today
The kids of today should defend themselves against the seventies
Stadium minds with stadium lies gotta make you laugh
Garbage bandits 'gainst true defenders of the crowds
The kids of today should defend themselves against the seventies
(2x)
It's not reality, just someone else's sentimentality...
Look what it did to us...
Speakin' as a child of the seventies...
The kids against the seventies
Kids against the seventies
The kids of today should defend themselves against the seventies
(12x)
That is all.
60 - Eric Olsen
hence your cataclysmic misunderstanding of the Doors, BAB: they were quintessential '60s all the way. Absolutely Live and Morrison Hotel were '70, and LA Woman was '71, but that was still '60s-postlude time anyway.
You and the senator are just plain wrongo re Jimmy and the Portals
61 - Jak Colton
The Drug addicts of the sixties can say whatever about their pathetic Whimp bands of the sixties. The only true American Rock n Roll clear stand out in your face leader is "Three Dog Night" no one and I mean no group can even come close to touching the number of Rock and Roll Hits pumped out by THREE DOG NIGHT. I rest my case and in your face dead heads! Once again No other group put out more hits songs between 1969 and 1974 NO ONE! So with out a Doubt Three Dog Night is the Greatest Rock Group of All time. Take a hard look at Billboards charts.
They don't lie. Those stats don't lie. More number 1's, more top tens, and other songs than any other group in that period. They are compared to other bands like the Beatles.
And basically you could take the combined songs put out by the Who, Doors, and Led Zeppelin and they still would have as many hits as THREE DOG NIGHT. That's a fact jack!
62 - Jak Colton
Yeah I heard some idiot talking about Led Zepplin's 7 Great Albums is that the best they could do is just 7 albums?
Hey try 19 going on 20 albums for Three Dog Night; then you'll know the difference between a flash in the pan group and a real rock band is ok! As a matter of fact, You could take combined songs from groups like the Doors, The Who, and Led Zeppelin and they still would Not come close to the number of Rock and Roll Hits "Three Dog Night" has put out. So where do you derelicts get off thinking any of those bands can even be considered a great rock band. Let me answer your question they can't! Furthermore,
along with The Beatles and Three Dog Night other Greatest All time Rock bands include: CCR, Chicago, Eric Clapton, Genesis, U2, Huey Lewis and the News, Beach Boys could all be considered much higher bands than the Trash groups that were mentioned. If your someone that likes experimenting with drugs I guess you'll think the doors are great. Yuck I want to vomit when I hear that. Last point the record books don't lie and the number of albums sold don't lie. So get a life old and new druggies alike.
63 - Jak Colton
You can't even mention the Who, The Doors, or Led Zeppelin in the same sentence with a Real "Classic Rock Band" that defined an entire generation like "Three DOG Night" or the Beatles, or CCR you just can not.
Those bands are even worthy to be grouped even remotely with them. the Who, The Doors, and Led Zeppelin were simply fly by night musical acts in comparison to Great Bands. They (these insignificant bands) were a typical flash in the pan type groups that got hot with a few hit songs before each of them quickly faded back into oblivion and were soon forgotten about-accept with the drug culture. That is How America will always remember those idiots. James Morrisson like most druggies OD and that was end of him.
The Who, The Doors, and Led Zeppelin did not dominate the charts EVER!
They did not dominate the charts the way Real Rock Bands did. Even 80's Rock Bands had many more hit songs per band than they did such as: Van Halen, Asia, Journey, Huey Lewis and the News, Genesis, and U2.
You can't get any bigger than U2! But my point is all of these groups had one thing in common that each had many more albums, sold many more albums, and many more hits than any of the late 60's drug culture bands that died off because they OD on Narcotics!
Care to dispute that I don't think so you'll lose badly.
64 - Eric Berlin
Three Dog Night?
65 - Jak Colton
One note to Eric Olsen. You obviously don't know Rock N Roll my friend. I had a friend in college that went through every band that was in existence. First of all. Your Top Ten Rock Groups that you selected don't equate with Reality except your own!
The only 2 groups that you mention as Great are factually correct. Numero Uno without a doubt " The Beatles" by sheer number of Hits and Albums they had. No Band can touch them. Can't be compared to anyone else. And secondly U2 the Irish Rock Group. So I agree with you on both counts.
But every other group you mentioned was either a click rock band or they did'nt pass muster with most folks because they were just plain weird!
The Rolling Stone Honestly most people would say they lasted very long but in terms of age old music they were'nt that good. I can't no satisfaction was ok. And big deal they have a magazine names after them. I am sure the Beatles could have gone into publishing business too if they so chose!
Every other group you mentioned here is garbage and while each had their moment (and that is exactly what it was a very small moment in time) can be thrown in the old circular file by most people. I don't know why MSN chose a moron to choose who was the best, but if I had your resume it would go there too. and you'd be fired if you worked for me! Because you don't know what your talking about! Period. Your biased thoughts on music you can keep them.
66 - Jak Colton
Eric if you have to throw a question up like that over Great Rock Groups; then you are obviously in the dark or have led a sheltered existence.
In either case, I suggest a reality show might be good but you'll want to do your homework go to the Library and look up who the biggest all time bands are. And I assure you they are'nt the ones Mr Olsen has mentioned with the exception of 2 if you go to his Top ten.
67 - Mark the Sane and Sensible
"Most are tenors or altos or falsettos (Jimmy Page & Axl Rose)."
Sweetie, go back and watch the Doodlebops. Jimmy Page wasn't a singer.
The Doors as a group were only second rate. After a good first album, each subsequent one was worst than the last.
I know, I've heard them all ad nauseam in the 60s/70s (because I lived through them, reluctantly so, kiddies).
Morrison was the classic "drunken poet." (yawn) I'd rather read a sober poet.
68 - Eric Olsen
I feel pressed between two extremely eccentric bookends
69 - Eric Olsen
and yes, "eccentric" is, in truth, a euphemism
70 - Eric Berlin
"special"
71 - Bob A. Booey
I wish I could remember that monologue about Huey Lewis and the News from Americn Psycho right now.
That is all.
72 - Eric Olsen
I always liked Three Dog Night, lots of good (cover) songs and three good singers, but they had artistic and the cultural import of the Partridge Family
73 - Bob A. Booey
I've always thought the worst social euphemism is "interesting." If anyone tells you you or your friends are "interesting," it means they think you're a total weirdo and hate your guts.
I try my best not to use "interesting," but even I catch myself doing it on occasion. It's so evasive yet implies so much, especially when preceded by an akward moment of hesitation or an "um."
That is all.
74 - Eric Olsen
that is true, but I genuinely try to use "interesting" when I am actually interested in something or someone - but I often swim against the lexicographical stream
75 - Bob A. Booey
One variant of dismissive social euphemisms I've caught onto now is "random," as in the following sentence. "Oh, we just hung out with some random people last night at this party."
It's another example of an evasive social put-down. What exactly makes a person random? It implies irrelevance, boredom and unimportance in a far more cruel way than any other more direct word ever could.
I think it's even more insulting than "interesting" because there's no possible positive connotation for its use, unless you're a statistician.
I find myself struggling not to use this word as well.
That is all.