Jim Morrison- The Original Florida Man

Jim Morrison was an original Florida Man.

Forget the self-aggrandizement and baller ego of being the so called “Lizard King.” Likewise, ignore the too tight leather pants as well as the shimmering silver concho belts.

Morrison, the beloved frontman of the 1960’s pretentious literary band “The Doors,” remains a Florida Man par excellence.

Morrison might wear the Florida Man crown.

Jim Morrison was a total creature of Florida, and under close scrutiny his entire life oozes the total Florida Man experience as well as attitude.

To start, James Douglas Morrison was born in Melbourne Florida in 1943. His father was a rear admiral in the United States Navy.

By name alone Morrison reeks of Florida, with James Douglas Morrison easily a southern swampy drawl into a “Big Jim,” a straight up “Jimmy,” a “J.D.,” or a “Jay Douglas.” Say these names out loud a few times and feel the sun too hot and the humidity flypaper tacky against your skin.

There it is.

You hear it.

As a newborn and a toddler Morrison marinated in the high heat and conservative ethos of 1950’s Florida, his family above yet part of the social world of ever day, working class Floria.

As a military brat (a definite Florida experience) Jim bounced from school to school and friends to friends, with his high school graduation eventually occurring in Virginia in 1961.

Upon graduation a bookish and highly literate Morrison immediately returned to Florida to live with his grandparents in Clearwater, the paternal side of his family happy to host him while he enrolled at St. Petersburg Junior College.

In 1962 Morrison transferred to Florida State University in Tallahassee, a total Florida Man move. Here Morrison did well, and by choice he appeared in an FSU recruitment film.

In September of 1963 Morrison continued to fulfill his destiny as a Florida Man as he was arrested at an FSU Seminoles football game. His charges were very Florida, drunk and disorderly, petty larceny, and disturbing the peace. Legend states that Morrison swiped a police officer’s patrol helmet.

Temporarily tamed by his run in with the law Morrison moved to Los Angeles where he attended film school and began his musical career, with his high concept band The Doors starting to book gigs in and around LA in 1965.

Like most bands The Doors developed slowly, the group eventually achieving fame in 1967 as Morrison cultivated his charismatic front man style, his demeanor one of mystic poet, his song lyrics cryptically banal towards shockingly juvenile.

On stage Morrison was a show man, his persona blow hard philosopher, his lithe form suggesting sexuality and danger.

While on tour in Miami in 1969 a wildly drunk Morrison berated his audience, attempted to provoke a riot, and threatened to expose his genitals. A few days later Dade County Public Safety issued a warrant for Morrison and he was arrested.

Charged with indecent exposure as well as profanity Morrison was found guilt by a jury of six, his punishment a fine $500 and a six month sentence.

For the rest of his days Morrison would continue to get excessively intoxicated and behave poorly, his premature death occurring in 1971 in Paris, with his official cause of mortality labeled by the French authorities as heart failure.

Jimmy Doug Morrison dies a rock legend, yet he also dies as a Florida Man, his life one of drunken, petty antics coupled to outlandish and unnecessary drama.

In ultimate tribute to Morrison’s status as a true Florida Man Morrison was when he was granted a full pardon for his actions by Florida governor Charlie Christ in 2010, this relief coming a full 67 years after Morrison’s original Miami arrest.

Morrison as Florida Man can’t be topped, his self-importance, alcoholism, reckless regard for safety and needless drama forever etched into his legend and into the sinews of rock music.

Jim Morrison was a classic Florida Man, the singer just like any other self-aggrandizing blowhard you might find in a bar in Palm City or a biker luncheon in Daytona.

Go on and look around the streets of Orlando or darker corners of Gainesville and you’ll find a Jim Morrison type right there right now.

He might even be singing Whisky Bar or Riders on the Storm on Karaoke.