Jim & Kurt
Jim Morrison was the enigmatic front man of The Doors who is widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in rock music. His song writing, poetry, and onstage antics coupled with his strange personal life made him a celebrity who was the voice of a generation. His affect on popular culture in the 1960's are undeniable and the music he created with The Doors is timeless.
He exemplified the counter-culture movement of the 1960's and the excesses of the stereotypical rock 'n' roll lifestyle. Morrison was heavily into psychedelic drugs and mind altering substances. His hard-living ways eventually caught up to him when he was found dead in a bathtub in Paris at age 27, making him one of the most famous members of "the 27 Club".
This group includes a few of Morrison's contemporaries such as singer Janis Joplin, founding member of The Rolling Stone's Brian Jones, and rock legend Jimi Hendrix. It also includes other celebrities such as Johnathan Brandis, Anton Yelchin, and singer Amy Winehouse.
23 years after Jim passed away, a voice of another generation joined the club. In 1994, lead singer, song writer, and guitarist Kurt Cobain was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gun shot.
Much like Morrison before him, Cobain struggled with drug addiction and had difficulty adjusting to fame. Both artists became wildly popular and influential by changing the direction of popular music while focusing on darker, personal lyrics in their song writing. Both of them were known for their onstage antics and become the subjects for numerous books and films.
Every now and then we get an artistic talent that becomes more than a person and is anointed as a legendary pop culture icon. However, this quick rise to fame can become detrimental for them and their stars burn bright before being extinguished too soon. But their music lives on and becomes the timeless soundtrack to so many of our lives.
Be sure to check out this week's episode of the NLN Movie Podcast where we examine the 1991 film "The Doors" which further highlights the life of Jim Morrison.
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