Jim Morrison

Jim Morrison was the lead singer and lyricist for the band The Doors from 1965 until his death in 1971. Morrison was also a poet, writer and film director. Morrison's alcohol and drug abuse were well known. He died in Paris, France at the age 27. The cause of his death was listed as heart failure, but there were rumors that he may have actually died from a drug overdose.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6316743.stm http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jim-morrison/bio/157086

Morrison was involved in several controversial events during his life, including being banned from The Ed Sullivan Show after failing to censor the lyrics from the song Light My Fire.http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jim-morrison/bio/157086 Despite Morrison's death, existing Doors albums have continued to sell.http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/the-doors/news/artists/14845/93173/93174 A 1980 headline in Rolling Stone Magazine stated, "He's Hot, He's Sexy, He's Dead." http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/the-doors/news/artists/14845/93173/93174

In 2010, a documentary titled When You're Strange was released. The documentary is about The Doors. The title is taken from a Doors song by the same name. Narrated by Johnny Depp, the 90-minute documentary features original footage that had not been aired previously. Included are scenes from rehearsals, recording sessions and clips from a film made by Morrison while at the UCLA film school. It covers the span of The Doors' time together from 1965 through Jim Morrison's death in 1971.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1333667/

"When You're Strange" was written and directed by Tom DiCillo and co-produced by Wolf Films/Strange Pictures and Rhino Entertainment. There was a limited theatrical release in major cities starting April 9, 2010. PBS American Masters showed the documentary on May 12, 2010.http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118015269.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

On December 9, 2010, Morrison received a posthumous pardon from the Florida Clemency Board for his conviction for indecent exposure in 1969. Outgoing Florida Governor Charlie Crist had made the appeal to the panel, who unanimously approved the plea for clemency. Crist agreed to review the case at the request of a reporter. Crist stated he agreed because of Morrison being an alumnus of Crist's alma mater, Florida State University.http://www.marconews.com/news/2010/dec/12/jim-morrison-doors-pardon-charlie-crist/ http://www.nationalpost.com/news/world/years+after+fact+Florida+finally+pardons+Morrison/3954794/story.html

There had been doubt that Morrison had actually done anything wrong, and Morrison continued to protest his innocence. He was sentenced to six months hard labor. Morrison appealed his conviction, but fled to Paris, France out of fear of going to prison. Morrison remained in Paris until his death and his appeal was never heard. The pardon is not a statement of innocence, but rather a restoration of a convicted person's rights.http://www.marconews.com/news/2010/dec/12/jim-morrison-doors-pardon-charlie-crist/ http://www.nationalpost.com/news/world/years+after+fact+Florida+finally+pardons+Morrison/3954794/story.html