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Doors legend Jim Morrison may finally be pardoned for 'exposing himself' on stage 41 years ago
By David Gardner
Last updated at 11:26 AM on 10th November 2010
Iconic star: Jim Morrison, on stage in LA in 1968, was certainly not a favourite of the authorities at the time
Doors legend Jim Morrison may get a pardon for an indecent exposure conviction - nearly 40 years after his death. The rock star was found guilty of exposing himself on stage at the Dinner Key Auditorium in Miami in 1969, and was appealing the conviction when he was found dead in a Paris bathtub two years later. Now Florida Governor Charlie Crist says he is seriously considering a pardon for the flamboyant rock icon.
‘He died when he was 27. That’s really a kid, when you think about it, and obviously he was having some challenges,’ said the governor. ‘There’s some dispute about how solid the case really was,’ he added. Mr Crist, who lost out in his Senate bid in last week’s mid-term elections and is coming to the end of his term in the governor’s mansion, said his legal team is determining the procedure for granting a pardon.
Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek hailed the move, saying: ‘You know what would really be nice? Florida is Jim's home state. He's a Florida boy. Wouldn't it great if Florida could finally say, "Hey, native son, your name is cleared. We recognise you as a young American poet".' Manzarek said he never saw the Doors frontman expose himself and none of the more than 100 photos entered into evidence in court show any conclusive proof.
Manzarek said: ‘He taunted the audience, "I'm going to show you! I'm going to show it to you". Then he took his shirt off, held it in front of him like a bullfighter's cape, wiggled it around as if there was something going on behind it.' The governor made his remarks after attending a rally against global warming with singer Sheryl Crow. He said the issue was brought to his attention by Doors fan Dave Diamond, from Ohio, who wrote to the Florida governor last month.
Indecent exposure: Morrison's 1970 mugshot in relation to the 1969 'exposure' incident. He was still appealing the conviction when he died in Paris in 1971
