Jim Morrison
There have been stories lately about Jim Morrison being alive and well, it reminded me of a time that seems so long ago and yet just like yesterday…this is one of the shortest interviews I ever did! It was just three years after Morrison's Death, I lived in New Orleans.
The "Real" Jim Morrison
I was Music Director and Midday jock at an album rock station, the call letters were WRNO "The Rock of New Orleans". The station was owned by Joe Costello and he came into the control room one day when I was on the air. He said "You'll never guess who is out in the lobby! Jim Morrison of the Doors that's who"! I could tell he really believed it so I held back my grin. "I want you to interview him…Now"! I knew I had to bust his bubble, because back then disc jockeys had some say as to what was played and who was interviewed during their shift. I had to think of my credibility. Everyone knew Morrison was dead (a heart attack at 27, right?) ok, so there where some questions, but this guy whoever he was wouldn't have the answers. I asked Joe if the rigor mortis was very bad! "If you don't interview him…your replacement will". Okay so this guy has sold Joe on the fact that he is the real Jim Morrison, I had to think of some way of saving myself. I couldn't come across as if I believed this was Jim Morrison. I told Joe to give me five minutes and I would come out and get Jim for the interview. I got everything ready that I thought I would need for the Media event of the year! I went out to the lobby to bring Jim back to the control room. The last three or so years had not been kind to the late Mr. Morrison, he had gained quite a bit of weight, had somehow damaged his left leg (he now walks with a Cain), his mannerisms said that he was now playing for the other team! Oh yeah he was also much uglier in person than in pictures and album covers. The truth is this guy looks like a bad picture of Jim Morrison on the back of the Doors 13 Album. I brought him into the control room and we talked for a few minutes before going on the air. I never let on that I thought he was a fraud. The song ended and we went on the air. I did introduce him as Jim Morrison and we would clear up any questions about Paris in 1971.
Mitch: So tell me Jim, what happened in Paris?
Jim: My double died.
Mitch: Oh, you had a double?
Jim: Yeah, my Management Company and Record Company had a guy who looked and sounded like me. I was doing a lot of morphine at the time and didn't always make it to the shows. So my double would fill in for me. Anyway he died and I took the opportunity to go underground.
Mitch: So you're telling me that they had a guy who looked like you, sounded like you and was more dependable than you?
Jim: That's right.
Mitch: What did they need with you?
Jim: Hey, I'm a song writer.
Mitch: So is Neil Sedaka.
(Silence for a few seconds)
Mitch: Well I tell you what Jim, I've got "Riders on the Storm" cued up on the turntable here, why don't you sing along.
Jim: I didn't come here to sing today.
Mitch: (as record rolls) it's one song, and this will end any doubt as to if you are Jim Morrison or NOT. (by the way he did have California Drivers License that read James Douglas Morrison)
Jim: I'm NOT singing.
Mitch: Then I would have to say you are NOT Jim Morrison.
(As the vocal of the song approaches "Jim" gets up and limps out of the control room.)
Mitch: So I guess your double would have come in handy today uh, Jim?
Footnote: about a year later when I was between radio jobs I saw an ad in the paper for a Manager of a record shop in the French Quarter about a block from where I lived. The only problem was the interview would have to take place in Baton Rouge. So I drove up to do the interview with a man named Billy Casselberry. I walked into the office and looked across the desk at Mr. Casselberry and said "Why, its Jim isn't it"? He just looked down and said "to some people". I got the job and Billy was later sentenced to prison for fraud and embezzlement not related to the late Mr Morrison.
Thanks for listening...uh, reading!