Jim Morrison's brother reflects on the Doors singer's final days

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

Although theories have swirled for years since the rocker was found dead in 1971, Andy offered a simple explanation for his brother's death.

“His lifestyle (killed him). Obviously he drank too much,” Andy said on the show. “I think by then he was overweight and, you know, if you're not in good health and you drink too much and do some drugs , it's not that hard to do.”

Jim's body was found on July 3, 1971, in the bathtub of a Paris apartment 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 because it is not required by French law.

The new documentary series explores a conspiracy theory, long held by some Doors fans, that Jim faked his 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'd outgrown the Doors thing, that was enough,” Andy said Before the End. “I don't think so, whether he was 100 per cent done. I think he just needed a break.

Several years ago the guitarist of the Doors Robbie Kruger dismissed theories that his former bandmate was still alive somewhere, in part because he doesn't believe Jim could have truly left music.

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“When he went to Paris to sort of get away from it all, all he did was jump on stage with these changing house bands and get drunk and sing,” Kruger, 79, said. People in 2021. “He couldn't help himself from it. That's why I know he's dead. Because if he were alive, he'd be up on stage somewhere.

Kruger also didn't like that Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek occasionally fueled the flames, hinting that Jim might still be alive. (Manzarek died in 2013 at the age of 74.)

“I used to like talking to Ray and he always said, 'I wouldn't be surprised if Jim came.' And I used to think, 'Come on, man, you don't really believe that, do you?'” Krueger said. Classic rock magazine in 2020. “It was pretty bullish. Yeah, he didn't have to.