Jim Morrison & Ben-Fong Torres 1971 Interview
523,216
Publicado 2012-12-03
Interview Location: Diane Gardiner's Apartment - Los Angeles, CA
Publication: Rolling Stone # 77 - March 4th - 1971
Length: 73:43
Info:
Jim Morrison's last known recorded interview is conducted by Rolling Stone journalist Ben Fong-Torres and features Pamela Courson. This tape was made unintentionally after a chance meeting at Diane Gardiner's apartment in Los Angeles. The interview is later used in the March 3rd, 1971 issue of Rolling Stone (Ben-Fong Torres "Jim Morrison's Got The Blues" © Straight Arrow Publishers Inc.1996)
Ben Fong-Torres: - "Working for Rolling Stone, I used to pop into Hollywood on a regular basis. Sometimes I stayed at the apartment of a rock publicist friend, Diane. One of her neighbors was Pamela Courson - Jim Morrison's old lady. One February afternoon in 1971, Jim came around, looking for Pamela. She wasn't there, so he decided to hang out & wait. When Diane introduced us, I asked for an interview. He and I hit it off right away, and got into doing this parody of a TV talk show. I played Dick Cavett; he was a rock star. He told a couple of jokes so risque that they would have gotten Cavett canned, and then, with my cheap cassette recorder running, we settled into a pretty serious chat about the Doors and the blues; the future of rock, and his own future. Despite his reputation as a wild man; despite his busts for obscenity and for exposing himself on stage, Morrison had struck me, in published interviews, as a smart, thoughtful guy. Maybe he wasn't quite the poet and artiste he fancied himself to be, but at least he was playing with the conventions of rock, performance, and theater. He was at home on the edge. Jim was planning to move to Paris within weeks, and this turned out to be his last interview before his departure in March. In July, I was in Hollywood again - visiting with his friends and associates, and writing his obitu."
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JIM MORRISON-By Ben Fong-Torres.
When I bumped into Jim Morrison in West Hollywood in early 1971, I had no idea that we'd wind up doing the last interview he'd ever give to an American publication.
The bump-in took place at an apartment building where a publicist friend, Diane Gardiner, lived. One of her neighbors was Pamela Courson, who, despite Morrison's liaisons with various other women, considered herself his main companion. One February afternoon, Jim came by, looking for Pamela. She wasn't home, so he came downstairs to Gardiner's apartment, where I was visiting.
I hadn't met Morrison before, and soon after Diane introduced us, I asked for an interview. He had nothing better to do, he said, and I grabbed my cassette recorder.
And then things got weird. For some reason, he was feeling playful. Having done no research, and with no questions in mind, I was happy to play along. We decided to pretend as though we were doing a talk show on TV, and he kicked things off with a decidedly lewd riddle or two.
While he joked, I searched through my memory for the latest news on Morrison's never-dull life, and we settled into a pretty serious interview. He got into it enough that when Pamela showed up, he continued with our conversation, one that turned out to be his last with the press before he left, in March, for Paris.
Four months after settling into Paris with Pamela, Jim Morrison died, and I was dispatched to Hollywood to write his obituary. A few non-stop days and nights later, the article was complete, except for a headline. Jim had considered himself as serious a poet as he was a rock musician and stage performer. By and large, his poetic interests had been dismissed. In fact, one reason Morrison gave for going to France was that the people there would give him his poetic due.
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Todos los comentarios (21)
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Jim is the man. He wasn’t just a rock star but poet and philosopher. Most importantly despite his antics and demons he was a good and gentle soul. His voice was so soothing and warm. I truly believe he is one of the greatest frontmen ever and an underrated and under appreciated singer. The Doors may well be America’s greatest rock band too. Zeppelin, The Beatles, Stones and Floyd are all British. There is not a bad Doors song and they cranked out several albums during the Morrison years which amounted to about 6 years. The amount of songs and good songs they produced some bands can’t even do in 20 years. Look at Guns N Roses and how many albums they have. Jim’s lyrics were sublime but his melodies and song writing was genius. Who else has more quoted lyrics? Same with Ray, Robby and John. The sound they created is so unique and timeless. They still have impact today nearly 50 years after Jim’s death. RIP Jim and Ray. You were true icons and John and Robby are living legends.
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Jim Morrison was a great man don't let society fool you into thinking otherwise
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Something strange about the fact that Morrison's calm, thoughtfulness and at some points astute anticipation of the culture to come, completely contrasts the story we are told about his 'demise'. Some of the concerts The Doors did in 70 also put the lie on the 'downfall' narrative. It's sad that he drank so much and it probably took him out, but he was not the crazed buffoon the film and the press-cutting say he was. Just a mercurial artist who should have stayed off the drink a little bit, but in his everyday life was a smart, self-deprecating and inventive human being Sad loss for the culture. We could do with him now, with all the phony sarcastic, sneering hipsters thinking are the new counterculture. He would have put them all to rights, I reckon.
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at 1:00:38 "poets usually become heroes after they're long gone" ...If only Jim could see all that he's inspired and how we still speak of him regularly 50 years after his passing
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his voice is so soothing
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This interview is a real peak into the world of Jim Morrison. He's calm, composed, polite, articulate, broad minded on and on...The movie The Doors does no justice to this man. Jim the poet, the musician, the kind soul.
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So vintage man!!! I feel like I went back in time to 1971 and eavesdropped on my neighbors, one who happened to be Jim Morrison.
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I now understand why people were upset with the portrayal of Jim Morrison's 'The Doors" movie in 1991. They never showed this side of him. The intelligent, witty, fun and engaging Jim Morrison. I'm glad I came across this interview. How I would of loved to hang with him and pick his brain. There is something about him that also reminds me of another genius "Brian Wilson". Why is that?
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Jim seemed to be comfortable and happy during this interview.
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So nice to hear the sober Jim Morrison and to get a taste of what he was really like.
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Jim was such an intelligent and gracious host......
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I think about Jim here and he’s what, 27? It’s 2020 and I don’t know many 27 yr olds that sound like this guy. Jim is/was exactly my dads age. Class of 61’. Amazing how much wisdom he has at this age compared to millennials now. My mom is 72 and had me at 22. I think people were more mature at this age back then. Weird times we live in....
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It’s sad to think that in less than 7 months after this interview was given, Morrison will have left this mortal coil. This is a lucid, intelligent, charming and thoughtful young man. To think he was only 27 years of age. This was the Jim that wrote all those timeless lyrics, that had the conviction to see through on his personal visions/dreams and touched the world through his talent. This man and his impact will never be forgotten. R.I.P JDM.🙏♥️🎼.x
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This certainly shows what a respectful and patient guy he could be when not messed up.
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This is my first time hearing Pam speak. I think her voice is really sweet.
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At 54:30 Jim shows his real intelligence. He steers the conversation into an area which forces the interviewer to level with him to some degree. Not so much to appease him, but to express what in the hell the media is really about in 1971. Anyone who listens to this and can't get past the beer and chips is missing the real show. Jim took in more in his 27 years than most people take in in 70 or 80! And Jim wherever you are now, thanks for reminding me to think. It's a great life!
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Blows me away. I personally have been a doors fan for over thirty years and I am just now getting to hear this much of Jim talk. Love it.
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Great to hear Jim speak. He sounded like a thoughtful, intelligent man.
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Thanks to whoever uploaded this. Wow. First time hearing this. Who here saw ‘Almost Famous’? This interviewer is legendary. Ben inspired me to become a writer and Jim is such an icon. It’s really a trip hearing this. I’m curious about the music playing in the background. This was 8 years before I was born… RIP Jim. He died so young. Think of all the music and poetry he would’ve continued to write had he lived to be an old man. He was an old soul for sure. 🌹
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Such intelligence and perspective and to think he was only in his twenties...Oh what the future could have held for Mr. Morrison.
