Was Jim Morrison burned out at the time of his death?

Was Jim Morrison burned out at the time of his death? Or could he and the other Doors have recorded several more excellent albums after "L.A. Woman"?

[Rotherhamkid]

He was only 27, so he would've probably had a few good years of stuff ahead of him. Plus I would've thought the Doors would've split over Morrison's personal difficulties over declining quality.

Keeping in mind a lot of what I know about The Doors' history is from the move which I know isn't completely truthful.

I think Jim Morrison still had a more songs left in him...with a mind like his....of course he could of pumped out another classic album or two.

I think (guess) The Doors would of probably put out one or two more albums...

then, I picture them calling it quits.

Kinda like what Creedence did....just without the fighting (at the end).

[Deja Vu]

Woah, I thought this was about Jimi Hendrix for some reason.

Anyway, we'll never know what would have happened. But some things to consider.. The other Doors were already working on a lot of new material, so either they expected Jim to come back very very soon, or they had already given up on him and decided to do the group without him (but would Jim have ever allowed them to do that? It doesn't seem likely to me).

Pam supposedly wanted Jim to lay low and work on poetry. I'm not a big fan of poetry but Jim's stuff is fairly cool. I think it's an interesting potential that Jim could have led The Doors more in the direction of what they would eventually construct into An American Prayer.

As for my personal opinion... Do I think he had more in him? Absolutely. Do I think he would be one of the rare few who can leave the music industry and actually stay out forever? No. At the very least I'd expect new Doors reunion tours in the 90s or 00s, even if The Doors never released another album after LA Woman. But more than that, I think they would have returned to the studio in the mid-70s. Maybe it would have sucked, maybe it would have been great, but do I think they had the potential to make 5 more amazing Doors albums? Absolutely I do. Since LA Woman is their greatest album, I can't imagine the next album they would do being anything lower than par. Although my real fear is what if Ray and Robbie were burned out? 'Cause those post-Jim albums don't seem to be very good.

[dwill123]

I believe he was burnt-out at the time of his death. Morrison was very theatrical in his performances and vision. If you listen to "L.A. Woman" the group had turned decidedly toward a much more commercial sound. While "L.A. Woman" was commercially very successful the sound was not traditional Doors (IMO). I think his move to Paris was an attempt to break free to try to develop his own thing but circumstances proved different.

It's interesting that when I bemoaned Jim Morrison's death on the old forum as one of the most tragic losses to rock music, one of the few replies I got was that Jim was already burned out by then so that further Doors albums thereafter would have been unlikely. That's not the way this poll is going right now, however.

[heyjoe]

I believe that Jim Morrison had come into a bit of a second wind musically and creatively, and his Paris sabbatical was most likely just what he needed; to get out of the states.

On the other hand he was most likely burning out physically and
apparently his drinking habits were taking a wicked toll. If he had
not died, and then gotten a handle on that problem, I believe the Doors would have made great and remarkable comeback, so to speak.

[Deja Vu]

Originally Posted by dwill123

I believe he was burnt-out at the time of his death. Morrison was very theatrical in his performances and vision. If you listen to "L.A. Woman" the group had turned decidedly toward a much more commercial sound. While "L.A. Woman" was commercially very successful the sound was not traditional Doors (IMO). I think his move to Paris was an attempt to break free to try to develop his own thing but circumstances proved different.

I agree with you about it not being a the traditional Doors sound, but I'd say it was the start of a new, equally good sound. It may have been a more traditionally commercail sound, but for The Doors it was less commercail since naturally the buying public would want more of the same trippy stuff as before.

JMO but Strange Days is my least favorite Doors album (although it's great) because to me it's pretty close to the sound of their debut, whereas all their other albums were really unique. LA Woman is a very intense record full of bold statements, expansive musical landscapes and gruff emotional power.

[Mr Moby]

I'd say alcholism was taking it's toll more than being burnt out creatively.

Without being there, no one knows for sure, but I would suspect that L.A. Woman was more the other three doing the bulk of the decision making, and just trying to get Jim to lay down the vocals.

I really think the big if, is not wether Jim had more in him, but what if he had got an early handle on his self destructive behavior.

[Deja Vu]

Well... there were 2 Doors albums plus one album featuring Morrison/Manzarek/Kreiger/Densmore after that...

But anyone who thinks you're a troll is on some hardcore bud and can't see straight.

[Harold]

All careers have ebbs and flows. He could have been very productive in the coming year. I think he hadn't reached his peak as a songwriter.

[the roser]

I've always maintained that Morrison went to Paris not so much for creative or restoritive reasons, but legal ones. He was facing trial in Florida on indecency charges and it is pretty well assummed that he was going to do time. Maybe not much, but I don't think Morrison had any intention to go to jail. I think one way or another, he wasn't planning on coming back. Now that doesn't mean the Doors couldn't have made more records, they have recording studios in France too, but he would have done it in exile. Maybe at some point he would have come back and faced the music, but I don't think that was in his plans.

^Kinda off topic, but I gotta say to the roser...

I'm not too sure Morrison would of done time....

first they had to prove him guilty...

and it wasn't a slam dunk case against Morrison.

There were tons of pictures, brought in as evidence, none showing Morrison's penis.

As far as him whipping out his penis on stage at that Miami concert back in 1969?...

I doubt it happened.

There were tons of police there that night, (it's well documented) and if Morrison actually 'whipped it out', he would of been arrested right there on stage, like he was arrested on stage in New Haven, Connecticut in 1967. (or was it '68)

The police were even hanging out with The Doors back stage after the Miami concert, getting autographs from the band.

There were no charges filed against Morrison, until two or three days later, after the news media printed the story of Morrison exposing himself on stage to young girls. This story outraged the public. Then local politicians who were trying to make names for themselves, pressed charges against Jim Morrison, without too much evidence.

I think Morrison feared he might be framed, or made an example, fled to France to getaway for awhile.

There's really more a lot to this story, besides the Miami incident and why Morrison went to France. Some of it might bring into question if Morrison really died in France or if he faked his own death.

Morrison's probably dead...but the stories of him faking his death and maybe still being alive always fascinated me...and also makes a lot of people wonder too?..lots of strange stories, almost believable...

but yeah....Morrison's most likely dead...I'm 90% sure of it.

[the roser]

Oh yeah, the case was shakey, but The DA was out for blood. This was the south and the 60's (well, early '70's)after all. I've read stories somewhere that some of the DA's proposed witnesses weren't even at the show, but planned to testify that they had been. As far as Morrison still being alive, it's always tempting to beleive something like that but I think it would be hard to pull off for all these years. Not impossible though

[Reverend Rock]

Yeah, I was just about to re-arrange the question to say, "Did Morrison die at the time of his burn-out???"

Seriously, I would answer the question with a qualified yes. He was burnt out, but that doesn't mean he couldn't have made a creative comeback.

Originally Posted by Reverend Rock

Yeah, I was just about to re-arrange the question to say, "Did Morrison die at the time of his burn-out???"

Seriously, I would answer the question with a qualified yes. He was burnt out, but that doesn't mean he couldn't have made a creative comeback.

I agree ...

Deja Vu:

Woah, I thought this was about Jimi Hendrix for some reason.

A good idea anyway. I'll leave it up to you to start the thread.

Mr. Moby:

...but I would suspect that L.A. Woman was more the other three doing the bulk of the decision making, and just trying to get Jim to lay down the vocals.

Personally I would have had no problem with another couple of albums like "L.A. Woman".

[moonshadowsman]

I believe that he was pretty burned out at the time of his death the music business was pretty harsh then and still is today so it would'nt be a surprise that Jim Morrison was pretty burnt out at the time so I would have to say yes.