Jim Morrison’s Brother Reflects on The Doors Singer’s Final Days

Jim Morrisonbrother, Andy Morrisongave a rare interview about the late frontman Doors in the new docuseries Before the End: The Search for Jim Morrison.

While theories have abounded in the years since the rocker was found dead in 1971, Andy gave a simple explanation for his brother’s death.

“His lifestyle (killed him). Obviously, he was drinking too much,” said Andy in the series. “I think by then he was overweight and, you know, if you’re not healthy and you’re drinking too much and dabbling in some drugs, it’s not that hard to do.”

Jim’s body was found on July 3, 1971, in the bathtub of a Paris flat rented by his girlfriend at the time, Pamela Courson. His official cause of death was listed as heart failure, but an autopsy was never performed as it was not required by French law.

The new documents examine the conspiracy theory, long established by some Doors fans, that Jim faked his own death to escape the pressures of leading a world-famous rock band.

At least Jim left the US for Paris to take a breather from the Doors after the band finished their album LA Woman.

“I think he really wanted to get back to serious writing. And maybe he’s outgrown the Doors thing, enough has been enough,” Andy chimed in Before the End. “Whether it was done 100 per cent, I think not. I think he just needed a break.”

Several years ago, Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger dismisses theories that his former bandmate is still alive somewhere, partly because he doesn’t think Jim could have really left music behind.

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“When he went to Paris, to get away from everything, all he did was jump up on stage with these flip bands, get drunk and sing,” Krieger, 79, told People in 2021. “He couldn’t stop himself from doing that. That’s why I know he’s dead. Because if he was alive, he’d be up on stage somewhere.”

Krieger also didn’t like that Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek occasionally fanning the flames suggesting that Jim might still be alive. (Manzarek died in 2013 aged 74.)

“I loved talking to Ray, and he would always say: ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if Jim turned up.’ And I used to think: ‘Come on, man, you don’t really believe that, do you?'” Krieger said. Classic Rock magazine in 2020. “That was pretty much bulls—. Yeah, he didn’t have to.”