JIM MORRISON: Remembering a rock 'n roll icon
Doors frontman Jim Morrison remains one of the rock and roll's most intriguing figures. "The Lizard King" was a rebel, a poet and a hero to millions. The songs he brought to life, from "Light My Fire" to "Riders on the Storm," remains classics. And his death in July 1971, at the young age of 27, remains a mystery.
On what would have been his 74th birthday, late bandmate Ray Manzarek recalled the lifestyle excesses that brought Jim down as being all too similar to those which beset Elvis Presley.
"No one ever says no to them. You say no to you, say no to you -- not to Jim Morrison. You didn't say no to Jim Morrison, he's the lead singer, he's the star, you know. He wants to do this, he wants to do that. You kind of go along with them. He wants to drink. How do you stop him from drinking? I think the same thing happened to Elvis. No one said, 'Get the bottle out of your hand!' Knocked it right out of his hand. No pills, bam! You couldn't do that to Elvis Presley. You'd do that to anybody else. You'd do that to the drummer in the band or the guitar player. But you don't do that to the lead singer."