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 and was Music Director and Mid-day jock at an album rock station, 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 and I want you to interview him right 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.
This guy had sold Joe on the fact that he is the real Jim Morrison; Joe saw this as a worldwide exclusive. I had to think of some way of saving myself. I couldn’t come across as if I believed this was really Jim Morrison. I looked at Joe and said “Just give me a few minutes before bringing Jim back for the interview.“ I got everything ready I would need for the Media event of the year. I was careful to not let on that I thought he was a fraud. The song ended and we went on the air.
“That was Eric Clapton with “Motherless Children” from his latest album 461 Ocean Boulevard. We have a special guest with us this morning, Jim Morrison of the Doors. Jim tells me that the rumors of his death are a bit premature. So tell me Jim, what happened in Paris?”
“Well, Mitch, it wasn’t me but my double that died.”
“Oh you had a double?”
“Yeah, my Management 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.”
“So you’re telling me that they had a guy who looked like you, sounded like you and was more dependable than you?”
“Well yeah, as bad as that sounds, that’s right.”
I started to turn the heat up a bit to see what his reaction would be. I looked him right in the eye and asked “So tell me Jim, what did they need with you?” His demeanor turned from pleasant to shock; he was insulted and got a little defensive. The real Jim Morrison would never allow a question like that. His attitude, from what I knew about him, would have been I don’t care if you believe me or not and left. The imposter on the other hand was making excuses; he tried to explain it away by saying “Hey, I’m a song writer.”
“Well, so is Neil Sedaka.” He just looked at me with nowhere to go; I don’t think Jim Morrison would ever be speechless. After a few seconds as I rolled the record I had cued up when Joe went to get him and said “Well I tell ya what Jim, I’ve got “Riders on the Storm” cued up on the turntable, why don’t you sing along?”
As he struggled with his cane to get up, he said “I didn’t come here to do a concert.”
“It’s one song, that’s hardly a concert.
“I’m NOT singing.”
“Well then, I would have to say that you are NOT Jim Morrison.”
As the vocal of the song approaches “Jim” finally limps out of the control room.
As the door swings open I said “So I guess your double would have come in handy today uh, Jim?”
The door shut behind him and I just let the record play, turned off the mic and sat back in my chair with a sense of satisfaction for exposing him. He had other interviews scheduled around town that day. They were all cancelled.
If you have questions you would like answered in the column or have any comments you can reach me by email at Mitch.SunTimes@gmail.com.
(Mitch McCracken has been involved in the music business for over thirty years working in both the radio and records industries. His first book, Off the Charts, about his experiences will be released later this year.)
Heber Springs, Ark. —
