While nobody denies that Morrison dabbled in drugs, his real downfall was booze. In a period of less than 5 short years he went from chiseled rock sex symbol to fat, bloated alcoholic. In the later years, he was often too drunk to even perform live. He'd show up late, mumble a few bars incoherently and pass out on stage, urinating himself on more than one occasion.
The Doors should have soldiered on without him. There was some real musical talent amongst the other three members and guitarist Robby Krieger knew how to pen hit songs.
I can believe that. Booze and drugs combined with enlightened hedonism make a lethal lifestyle. He wasn’t the first and won’t be the last.
I heartily agree. In the footage of the live concert, they, or at least some of them, look stoned. But to me they're harmless dope-smokin' working musicians, in the noble tradition of Louis Armstrong. Not drunk, stoned.
Morrison in the footage, on the other hand -- yeah, helium high on one or two or more drugs -- reds, whites, heroin, acid, peyote, maybe, alcohol included. Or maybe even just booze, who knows.
They tried in “Other Voices” and it stopped there. Without Morrison it became a no hope band.