"STRANGE DAYS": JIM MORRISON HAS 2 ARRESTS BEHIND HIM AND THE THIRD IS ON THE WAY

 

Jim Morrison was arrested several times between 1963 and 1970 for breaking the law in the United States (in more than four states).

There are at least six officially documented cases, other stories of arrests exist and are told in interviews conducted over time with the three remaining band members.

By the time The Doors' second album, "Strange Days," was released on September 25, 1967, the singer was 23 years and 10 months old and had already been arrested at least twice.

The first time he was arrested and taken to a Florida jail was on September 28, 1963. It happened in Tallahassee and the arrest was for public drunkenness, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

He was 19 years and 10 months old and was still a college student. He was watching a football game and it was his alcohol-fueled behavior that led to the arrival of local police.

Just about two years later, in November 1965, at the age of 21 years and 11 months, Morrison was arrested for the second time.

According to an interview with the band's guitarist Robby Krieger (min. 0:55), this was the day of The Doors' third rehearsal. The quartet had just reached its final lineup with the addition of Krieger himself.

The rehearsal was to be held in the garage of Krieger's family home, and when the other three members did not see Morrison arrive, they discovered that he had been arrested.

In fact, Morrison had been involved in a fight during a trip to Arizona with some friends.

The arrest took place in a small town on the California-Arizona border, on the road to the trip's destination.

These early troubles with the justice system underscore a side of the singer's character that would emerge with increasing strength in the upcoming years: his most turbulent and rule-breaking side.

The rebellious nature demonstrated here would soon be channeled by the singer into his artistic vein, turning into unrepeatable musical performances that were sublime in their transgression of socially accepted norms.

This would change the history of music, but would not prevent Morrison from being arrested again, the next time shortly after the release of the LP "Strange Days".

On this occasion, during the concert on December 9, 1967, he was taken into custody directly on stage by New Haven police officers.

So, at the age of 24 and a few days, Jim Morrison did put the third arrest in his pocket.

Some more would follow, making the frontman an immortal rock icon and a fascinating symbol of freedom and transgression.

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