Jim Morrison's Ghost Turns 40 Years Old

Jim Morrison's ghost has allegedly been hanging around Paris for decades. Since Morrison died on July 3, 1971, his ghost and his legend have only grown in status. In fact, journalist Brett Meisner even claimed that he took a photo of The Doors' lead singer standing at his grave years ago, as apparent proof that he did "break on through to the other side." If he did, then he has officially been there for 40 years, since today is the 40th anniversary of his death.

It is fitting that stories about his ghost has persisted for years, to add to the bizarre, psychedelic legend of Morrison. In life, he was the most out of control rock star in the business, which was quite a feat in the 1960s. He pushed the envelope with his lyrics and behavior on stage- which crossed the line into the leud one night in Miami and got him arrested.

With that kind of on and off-stage persona, it was inevitable that he would flame out when it was all over. Finally, he did on July 3, 1971, as he died in a hotel bathtub in Paris. It may not have been the wild, over the top death that may have been expected from him, yet it did silence one of the era's most distinctive voices- at least temporarily.

After Morrison died, his fame and that of The Doors slowly became bigger than ever. Sales for Doors records went up every year, as death proved to be the best thing that ever happened to Morrison's catalog. The same would later happen to other dead icons like Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson years later.

Found the same to be true of the Les Paul.

Les Pauls are the guitars that are famous for being heavy, heavy, heavy. In fact, Gibson started "weight-relieving" them a couple of years ago by drilling huge holes in the core of the body, which is covered by the back and top veneer. And lot of purists think the weight-relief changes the tone and don't like it. Gibson sells some weight-relieved models and some that aren't. Those that aren't weigh ten to twelve pounds (the Custom Shop Les Pauls are notoriously heavy).

When Les Paul himself died there was a thread on FR.

One poster said that Les Paul was the reason that the poster had walked around for the last thirty years with his right shoulder four inches lower than his right.

Another poster talked about the time he sold his Les Paul. Claimed that he missed it so much that he bolted a guitar strap to a railroad tie and wore it until he could afford to buy another Les Paul, just to remember the feel.

Some guitarists will play a Les Paul in the studio, when they can sit down - but there's no way they are going to sling 9-1/2 to 10 pounds around their neck for a couple of hours in concert every night.

Telecasters and Stratocasters average 7.0 pounds.

Some Les Paul Custom Shops weight 12 pounds. Mine is a dainty 11 pounds, 4 ounces. I think non-chambered (non-weight-relieved) Les Paul Customs are 10 to 10-1/2 pounds. Those three extra pounds feel like a ton after a two-hour set. Five extra pounds (from a Tele to a 12-pound Les Paul) feels like a pickup truck after a two-hour set.

Most of the guys I played with kept to Strats and Teles, those Les Pauls were expensive. Good friend of mine had a sunburst color Strat. This was years ago, when I was, well, younger than I am now. I always remember the feel of the ol’ Fender Stratocaster. With that cut-away body, forgive me for being, er, risque, but it felt like holding a teen-age girl!

“But at least, unlike most of us, he died in Paris!”

No kidding, just got done reading 3 books on Marie Antoinette, who had more than enough chances to leave the place....

but I think she felt just the same. Dying Queen of France was better than living a live dog in England.

Jim had taste, albeit a bit overindulgent. Dunking your head in the barrel till your lights go out, well...but the lights were...in Paris.

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