Jim Morrison's Dad Breaks Silence

ROCK 103 Memphis ^ | November 9, 2006 | AP

[mcg2000]

"The fact that he's dead is unfortunate but looking back on his life it's a very pleasant thought."

The father of late The Doors singer Jim Morrison has branded the death of his estranged son "unfortunate," despite the rocker often singing about his family's imagined demise.

George Morrison, a retired Navy admiral, insists memories of his rocker son are "pleasant" - even though he once joked his parents were dead and used Oedipal rant "The End" to imagine killing his dad and sleeping with his mother.

However, in a new memoir of the band, George remains positive about his child.

Contributing to "The Doors by The Doors" he says, "We look back on him with great delight.

"The fact that he's dead is unfortunate but looking back on his life it's a very pleasant thought.

"I had the feeling that he felt we'd just as soon not be associated with his career. He knew I didn't think rock music was the best goal for him. Maybe he was trying to protect us."

Morrison died in Paris, France of a heart attack in 1971.

[mcg2000]

[mcg2000]

Craig Garner ©Stars and Stripes

Aboard the USS Hancock off South Korea, December 3, 1968:
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Il Kwon is flanked by his hosts, Rear Adm. George S. Morrison, left, commander of Carrier Division Nine, and Vice Adm. William F. Bringle, commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet in the Pacific, as he watches jets from Air Wing 21 take off and land on the deck of the carrier USS Hancock. Morrison, father of singer Jim Morrison of The Doors, later served as commander of U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas, before retiring in August, 1975. In January of that year, an Australian humanitarian group dealing with Vietnamese refugees on Guam praised "the high degree of compassion and respect accorded to every single refugee, the fine example set by (Rear) Adm. G.S. Morrison being followed by each American serviceman and servicewoman."

[Long Island Pete]

I had no idea his father was an officer in the Navy. Very interesting.

[Long Island Pete]

I had no idea his father was an officer in the Navy. Very interesting.

[johnny7]

“even though he once joked his parents were dead and used Oedipal rant "The End" to imagine killing his dad and sleeping with his mother.”

Sounds like pop has no hard feelings... even though he just may have dodged a bullet given his spawns early demise.

[Chi-townChief]

Man, that apple fell REAL FAR from the tree!!!!!!

[Clovis_Skeptic]

Not a big fan of "The End", but big fan of "Light my Fire", "Riders on the Storm" and the lighter side of The Doors.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Jims best career move was taking a dirt nap. Daddy sure wasn't too proud of his son.

[ichabod1]

If he'd lived he and John McCain would have had a lot to talk about these days.

[Tribune7]

Judge George Greer, who ok'd the slow killing of Terri Schiavo. was Jim Morrison' housemate in college.

[mcg2000]

What a more than odd thing to say? Anyway ...

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/09/books.doors.reut/index.html?eref=rss_mostpopular

"George Morrison, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, is one of the contributors to "The Doors by the Doors," an authorized memoir released this week. The book's author, rock journalist Ben Fong-Torres, also interviewed the band's three surviving members and Jim's younger brother and sister, among others.

Jim Morrison, a difficult teen who rebelled against his father's military lifestyle, went on to become one of the most magnetic performers in rock 'n' roll.

But he disowned his family, and once made a throwaway comment that they were dead. He also referenced his parents in the Oedipal rant "The End," singing that he wanted to kill his father and sleep with his mother.

Andy Morrison recalls that his mother, Clara, who died last year, took him to a Doors concert in Washington, D.C., and asked to see Jim, but he refused to meet with her, and she drove home in tears.

The Morrisons surmise that Jim's hostility was really designed to shield them from too much attention.

"I had the feeling that he felt we'd just as soon not be associated with his career," George Morrison says. "He knew I didn't think rock music was the best goal for him. Maybe he was trying to protect us."

Adds his sister, Anne, "He liked mystique, too. He didn't want to be from somewhere."

Jim Morrison died of a heart attack in Paris in 1971, and his grave at the Pere Lachaise cemetery is one of the city's top tourist attractions. His family pays the authorities to take care of the site.

George Morrison said it was "quite an honor ... for the family" to have his son buried near cultural giants like Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf and Frederic Chopin."

[Moonman62]

Not really. Jim Morrison was an incredible talent who expressed it in a different way than his father. He was also an alcoholic, drug addict, and belligerent a**hole.

Of course, when you're famous and make a lot of money they refer to it as having demons.

[mcg2000]

Doesn't sound like they had much in common. lol

[johnny7]

I doubt that Samuel Elliot Morrison... would have been so gracious.

[Aquinasfan]

Instructive photo in #1

[x_plus_one]

He's not dead. HE faked his death and is a rancher in montana or wyoming. He talked about his past to someone who relayed it on coast to coast am. The picture they posted of him (now aged) was a perfect match. His father is protecting his son the best way he can - by spreading disinformation - a military specialty.

[abb]

Of course, when you're famous and make a lot of money they refer to it as having demons.

Lol. Incisive comment. It seems some demons are more equal than others...

[cajungirl]

Me either. I had no idea. His death was "unfortunate",,and unfortunate choice of words if you ask me.

[mcg2000]

Someone Claiming To Be Jim Morrison

[martin gibson]

Man, that apple fell REAL FAR from the tree!!!!!!

with all due respect, I don't think so. I see a family of goal oriented achievers, and a father who taught his son to succeed at the highest level of his chosen career. "Breeding will tell..."

I think the old man was at some level very proud of his son (and maybe even more than a little proud of his notoriety too...).

now, if only the same discipline had applied in all areas of his (Jim's) life...