THE DOORS - LIVE AT THE ISLE OF WIGHT 1970 rem 1997.
The story :
On March 1, 1969 in Miami, Florida, The Doors gave what might be their most infamous concert. Playing to an overcrowded venue lacking seats and air conditioning and with a very drunken Jim Morrison who arrived over an hour late, The Doors had a situation on their hands. By all accounts Morrison was in total shambles as he slurred his words, forgot lyrics, and engaged in drunken rambling, tirades, and insults between and during songs. Somehow they all got through it. A few days later, a warrant was issued for Morrison’s arrest. He was charged with a felony count of lewd and lascivious behavior and three misdemeanor counts including indecent exposure (i.e., pulling his penis out onstage), open profanity, and drunkenness. Touring opportunities all but evaporated as a twenty-city tour was cancelled when every city backed out. He pled innocent, and the trial began August 17 continuing for weeks. The judge scheduled recesses around several appearances The Doors had previously committed to that had not been pulled. One of those was the Isle of Wight Festival in late August.
The whole “Miami Incident,” as it is referred to, came to a conclusion in late September when a jury deliberated and let Morrison off for lewd behavior and public drunkenness, but found him guilty of profanity and exposure despite no reliable witness testimony and no photographic evidence. On October 30 he was sentenced to pay a $500 fine and serve six months and sixty days of hard labor with several years of probation to follow, but the real punishment was the falling apart of The Doors and the loss of Jim Morrison. You don’t read to read much about Morrison to realize he had numerous issues going on before Miami and court sentencing, but the thought of serving hard time in the Dade County jail might have been the final nail in his coffin.
Free on appeal, Morrison recorded some of his poetry. Encouraged by the experience, he agreed to perform in Dallas on December 11 and in New Orleans the next night. The Dallas show was a triumph with a strong performance including the title track from the upcoming L.A. Woman album. New Orleans was the opposite with Morrison unravelling mid-show and destroying the stage after the last song.
Morrison left for Paris in March of 1971 and died there on July 3.
On December 9, 2010, the day after Morrison’s birthday, then Florida Governor Charlie Crist read a statement to the clemency board laying out the details of the case and asking for Morrison’s pardon. It was unanimously granted.
WE MISS YOU JIM
TOO OLD
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