Better late than never ! After 40 years of speculation on whether or not Jim Morrison showed a Miami audience his “lizard king”, Florida’s Board of Executive Clemency has pardoned the late Doors singer Jim Morrison for an indecent exposure conviction stemming from a March 1969 show in Miami. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist who is on his way out of office has long expressed doubts about the conviction.
Morrison died in 1971, but his bandmates and many fans who were in attendance at the concert denied that the singer exposed himself that night.
“Nobody would like to have that charge hanging over their head, even if they are dead,” Doors guitarist Robby Krieger told the Associated Press. “I’m sure his family would be happy to see that go, especially since it never happened.”
At the infamous concert in question, the singer was said to be so drunk that it wasn’t clear that he’d be able to perform. The show went on, but it was a mess: a live lamb reportedly was brought onstage at one point, and Morrison followed up a profane rant by throwing a policeman’s cap into the audience.
According to accounts over the years, Morrison then — depending on the source — either feigned exposing himself or actually did the deed. Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek called it “mass hypnosis” and “a mind trip,” insisting that Morrison was innocent of the charges.
I’m sure Jim, wherever he is, is laughing himself to death because either way, for 40 year people still couldn’t figure him out. It’s just the way he would have wanted it; shrouded in mystery.
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