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Reflecting the uncertain, tumultuous times in which it was made, the youth music of 1968 was moody, trippy, obtuse -- and, admittedly, confounding to many who worked at LIFE back then. Among the new pop culture heroes the magazine sought to understand was Jim Morrison, the darkly sensual lyricist and lead singer of the Doors. For a LIFE feature titled \"Wicked Go The Doors: An Adult's Education by the Kings of Acid Rock,\" a writer studied Morrison through his lyrics and concerts. . . but perhaps only pictures -- like the ones taken by staff photographer Yale Joel for this assignment -- could truly illuminate the mojo of \"The Lizard King.\" Now, on the 40th anniversary of Morrison's death (July 3, 1971), LIFE.com presents these fascinating color portraits of the 24-year-old rocker/poet, plus a few never-before-published shots of the Doors playing New York's Fillmore East.

Music

Remembering Jim Morrison

On the 40th anniversary of his death, look back at the short life of the legendary Doors frontman.

/ 13 PHOTOS
Reflecting the uncertain, tumultuous times in which it was made, the youth music of 1968 was moody, trippy, obtuse -- and, admittedly, confounding to many who worked at LIFE back then. Among the new pop culture heroes the magazine sought to understand was Jim Morrison, the darkly sensual lyricist and lead singer of the Doors. For a LIFE feature titled \"Wicked Go The Doors: An Adult's Education by the Kings of Acid Rock,\" a writer studied Morrison through his lyrics and concerts. . . but perhaps only pictures -- like the ones taken by staff photographer Yale Joel for this assignment -- could truly illuminate the mojo of \"The Lizard King.\" Now, on the 40th anniversary of Morrison's death (July 3, 1971), LIFE.com presents these fascinating color portraits of the 24-year-old rocker/poet, plus a few never-before-published shots of the Doors playing New York's Fillmore East.

Rise of the Lizard King

Reflecting the uncertain, tumultuous times in which it was made, the youth music of 1968 was moody, trippy, obtuse -- and, admittedly, confounding to many who worked at LIFE back then. Among the new pop culture heroes the magazine sought to understand was Jim Morrison, the darkly sensual lyricist and lead singer of the Doors. For a LIFE feature titled \"Wicked Go The Doors: An Adult's Education by the Kings of Acid Rock,\" a writer studied Morrison through his lyrics and concerts. . . but perhaps only pictures -- like the ones taken by staff photographer Yale Joel for this assignment -- could truly illuminate the mojo of \"The Lizard King.\" Now, on the 40th anniversary of Morrison's death (July 3, 1971), LIFE.com presents these fascinating color portraits of the 24-year-old rocker/poet, plus a few never-before-published shots of the Doors playing New York's Fillmore East.
— Yale Joel
Image: Jim Morrison, 1968 New York portrait session with Yale Joel

'Enchanted in the mind'

At the time of his 1968 New York portrait session with Yale Joel, Morrison and his Doors bandmates had released two albums (featuring hits like \"Light My Fire,\" \"People Are Strange,\" and \"Love Me Two Times\"), and were about to record a third, Waiting for the Sun. As their popularity grew, 33-year-old LIFE writer Fred Powledge, taking a break from his typical beat (race relations), aimed to \"dig,\" in an almost scientific fashion, the weird but compelling music his 9-year-old daughter was into. \"The most satanic thing about The Doors is Jim Morrison, the lead vocalist and author of most of the group's songs,\" Powledge wrote. \"Morrison is 24 years old, out of U.C.L.A., and he appears -- in public and on his records -- to be moody, temperamental, enchanted in the mind and extremely stoned on something.\"
— Yale Joel
Image: Jim Morrison leaps onstage during a Doors concert at New York's Fillmore East

In action

Never-published photo | Jim Morrison leaps onstage during a Doors concert at New York's legendary but short-lived Fillmore East, where everyone from Jimi Hendrix to the Jefferson Airplane performed. \"Our live concerts are totally different from our records,\" Doors drummer John Densmore told the LIFE writer at the time. \"I mean, it's theater.\"
— Yale Joel
Image: The Doors mid-show at the Fillmore East

When the music's over ...

Never-published photo | From his behind-the-scenes perspective, LIFE's Yale Joel snaps drummer John Densmore, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, and Morrison mid-show at the Fillmore East. \"The words are not what you'd call simple and straightforward,\" writer Powledge explained in his LIFE story on the band. \"You can't listen to the record once or twice and then put it away in the rack. And this is one of the exciting characteristics of the new music in general: you really have to listen to it, repeatedly, preferably at high volume in a room that is otherwise quiet and perhaps darkened. You must throw away all those old music-listening habits that you learned courtesy of the Lucky Strike Hit Parade and Mantovani.\"
— Yale Joel
Image: FILE PHOTOS:  1971: 40 Years Since The Death Of Jim Morrison

Mr. Mojo Risin'

UNSPECIFIED - 1960s: (FILE PHOTO) Jim Morrison performs in the 1960s. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) On July 3, 2011 The 40th Anniversary of the Death of Jim Morrison of The Doors will be Celebrated. Please refer to the following profile on Getty Images Archival for further imagery. http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/Search/Search.aspx?EventId=112123765&EditorialProduct=Archival
— Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives
Image: FILE PHOTOS:  1971: 40 Years Since The Death Of Jim Morrison

The Doors

UNSPECIFIED - JANUARY 01: (L-R) Vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore of the rock group The Doors pose in the 1960s. (Photo by K & K Ulf Kruger OHG/Redferns) On July 3, 2011 The 40th Anniversary of the Death of Jim Morrison of The Doors will be Celebrated. Please refer to the following profile on Getty Images Archival for further imagery. http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/Search/Search.aspx?EventId=112123765&EditorialProduct=Archival
— K K Ulf Kruger Ohg / Redferns
Image: FILE PHOTOS:  1971: 40 Years Since The Death Of Jim Morrison

Long-term companion

HOLLYWOOD - 1969: (FILE PHOTO) Singer Jim Morrison of The Doors poses with girlfriend Pamela Courson during a 1969 photo shoot at Bronson Caves in the Hollywood Hills, California. (Photo by Estate of Edmund Teske/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) On July 3, 2011 The 40th Anniversary of the Death of Jim Morrison of The Doors will be Celebrated. Please refer to the following profile on Getty Images Archival for further imagery. http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/Search/Search.aspx?EventId=112123765&EditorialProduct=Archival
— Estate Of Edmund Teske / Michael Ochs Archives
Image: FILE PHOTOS:  1971: 40 Years Since The Death Of Jim Morrison

Break on through

UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1970: (FILE PHOTO) (R-L) Vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore of the rock group The Doors pose in 1970. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) On July 3, 2011 The 40th Anniversary of the Death of Jim Morrison of The Doors will be Celebrated. Please refer to the following profile on Getty Images Archival for further imagery. http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/Search/Search.aspx?EventId=112123765&EditorialProduct=Archival
— Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives
Image: FILE PHOTOS:  1971: 40 Years Since The Death Of Jim Morrison

Among the greats

UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1970: (FILE PHOTO) Jim Morrison poses in 1970. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) On July 3, 2011 The 40th Anniversary of the Death of Jim Morrison of The Doors will be Celebrated. Please refer to the following profile on Getty Images Archival for further imagery. http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/Search/Search.aspx?EventId=112123765&EditorialProduct=Archival
— Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives
Image:

Last resting place

FILE- This Sept. 7, 1971 file photo shows the grave of Jim Morrison, lead singer of the rock group \"The Doors,\" at the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Joe Marquette,File)
— Joe Marquette / AP
Image: FILE PHOTOS:  1971: 40 Years Since The Death Of Jim Morrison

Singer, songwriter, poet

UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1970: (FILE PHOTO) Jim Morrison poses in 1970. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) On July 3, 2011 The 40th Anniversary of the Death of Jim Morrison of The Doors will be Celebrated. Please refer to the following profile on Getty Images Archival for further imagery. http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/Search/Search.aspx?EventId=112123765&EditorialProduct=Archival
— Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives
Image: Jim Morrison

Mug shot

This Sept. 28, 1963 photo released by the Florida Dept of State archives, shows the arrest mug and record of singer Jim Morrison. Morrison was arrested following a football game at Florida State University. Next Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010 Gov. Charlie Crist, will argue before the state's clemency board to pardon Jim Morrison, who was convicted in 1968 of indecent exposure. (AP Photo/Florida Dept of State)
— Florida Department of State Arch
Image: FILE PHOTOS:  1971: 40 Years Since The Death Of Jim Morrison

Last address

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 08: (FILE PHOTO) A general view of the last address of US rock singer Jim Morrison on May 8, 2011 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/Getty Images) On July 3, 2011 The 40th Anniversary of the Death of Jim Morrison of The Doors will be Celebrated. Please refer to the following profile on Getty Images Archival for further imagery. http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/Search/Search.aspx?EventId=112123765&EditorialProduct=Archival
— Marc Piasecki / Getty Images Europe
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