Jim Morrison's Will To Be Weird

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

20181208

Had Jim Morrison of The Doors not died in mysterious circumstances at the tender age of 27 in 1971, he would have celebrated his 75th birthday this year.

In this three-hour selection, Paul Gambaccini mixes the music and poetry of the man with the influences that moulded the self-proclaimed ‘The Lizard King'. Paul first encountered Morrison in 1967 when; as a young music director on a New Hampshire radio station, he eagerly opened The Doors' first single ‘Break On Through'. He followed his career from beginning to end and, to this day, occasionally visits Morrison's grave in Paris.

Such is Morrison's lasting mystique, that the programmes featured originate from four different BBC networks:

* Cult Heroes: Jim Morrison [Radio 5 Live 18/12/1990]

Tony Slattery looks back at Morrison's volatile career

* Dreadzone Aldous Huxley Readings [Radio 1 1995]

Greg Roberts [now Greg Dread] reads excerpts from ‘Brave New World']

* The Marriage of Heaven and Hell [Radio 3 29/03/1995]

A unique interpretation of William Blake's 18th century masterpiece

* Like A Rolling Stone [Radio 4 26/03/2006]

The life, work and lasting influence of French poet Arthur Rimbaud

* The Cemetery Confessions [Radio 4 06/05/2004]

A star-studded cast interprets the final confessions of some of the many notable occupants of the Cimetiere du Pere-Lachaise, Paris.

Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of Jim Morrison.

Break On Through

20200401

20210721 (BBC7)
20231202 (BBC7)
20231207 (BBC7)

Had singer Jim Morrison of The Doors not died in mysterious circumstances at the tender age of 27 in 1971, he would have celebrated his 75th birthday in 2018.

In the first of three programmes, Paul Gambaccini mixes the music and poetry of the man with the influences that moulded the self-proclaimed ‘The Lizard King'.

Paul first encountered Morrison in 1967 when, as a young music director on a New Hampshire radio station, he eagerly opened The Doors' first single ‘Break On Through'. He followed his career from beginning to end and, to this day, visits Jim's grave in Paris.

In addition to sharing memories and observations, Paul delves into the BBC archive:

* ‘Cult Heroes: Jim Morrison

Tony Slattery looks back at Morrison's volatile career

[BBC Radio 5 18/12/1990]

* ‘Like A Rolling Stone

The life, work and lasting influence on Jim Morrison of French poet Arthur Rimbaud.

[BBC Radio 4 26/03/2006]

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in December 2018.

Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of singer Jim Morrison.

Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of The Doors' lead vocalist Jim Morrison.

Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of singer Jim Morrison with ‘Cult Heroes' and ‘Like A Rolling Stone'.

Had singer Jim Morrison of The Doors not died in mysterious circumstances at the tender age of 27 in 1971, he would have celebrated his 80th birthday this December.

BBC Radio 5 - 1990

BBC Radio 4 - 2006

Strange Days

20200408

20210728 (BBC7)
20231209 (BBC7)
20231210 (BBC7)
20231214 (BBC7)

Had singer Jim Morrison of The Doors not died in mysterious circumstances at the tender age of 27 in 1971 - he would have turned 75 in 2018.

In the second of three programmes, Paul Gambaccini mixes the music and poetry of the man with the influences that moulded the self-proclaimed ‘The Lizard King'.

In addition to sharing memories and observations, Paul delves into the BBC archive:

* 'The Marriage of Heaven and Hell

A unique interpretation of William Blake's 18th century masterpiece

[BBC Radio 3 29/03/1995]

* ‘Dreadzone Aldous Huxley Readings

Greg Roberts [now Greg Dread] reads excerpts from ‘Brave New World']

[BBC Radio 1 1995]

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in December 2018.

Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of singer Jim Morrison.

Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of The Doors' lead vocalist Jim Morrison.

Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of Jim Morrison including: ‘The Marriage of Heaven and Hell' and ‘Dreadzone Aldous Huxley Readings'.

Paul Gambaccini continues his celebration of the mystique of singer Jim Morrison.

The End

20200415

20210804 (BBC7)
20231216 (BBC7)
20231217 (BBC7)
20231221 (BBC7)

Had singer Jim Morrison of The Doors not died in mysterious circumstances at the tender age of 27 in 1971 - he would have turned 75 in 2018.

In the last of three programmes, Paul Gambaccini mixes the music and poetry of the man with the influences that moulded the self-proclaimed ‘The Lizard King'.

In addition to sharing memories and observations, Paul delves into the BBC archive:

* ‘The Cemetery Confessions

A star-studded cast interprets the final confessions of some of the many notable occupants of the Cimetiere du Pere-Lachaise, Paris.

[BBC Radio 4 06/05/2004]

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first heard in 2018.

Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of Jim Morrison.

Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of The Doors' lead vocalist Jim Morrison.

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in 2018.

Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of Jim Morrison including: ‘Cemetery Confessions'.

Conclusion of Paul Gambaccini's celebration of the mystique of Jim Morrison.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
		20181208		Had Jim Morrison of The Doors not died in mysterious circumstances at the tender age of 27 in 1971, he would have celebrated his 75th birthday this year. In this three-hour selection, Paul Gambaccini mixes the music and poetry of the man with the influences that moulded the self-proclaimed ‘The Lizard King'. Paul first encountered Morrison in 1967 when; as a young music director on a New Hampshire radio station, he eagerly opened The Doors' first single ‘Break On Through'. He followed his career from beginning to end and, to this day, occasionally visits Morrison's grave in Paris. Such is Morrison's lasting mystique, that the programmes featured originate from four different BBC networks: * Cult Heroes: Jim Morrison [Radio 5 Live 18/12/1990] Tony Slattery looks back at Morrison's volatile career * Dreadzone Aldous Huxley Readings [Radio 1 1995] Greg Roberts [now Greg Dread] reads excerpts from ‘Brave New World'] * The Marriage of Heaven and Hell [Radio 3 29/03/1995] A unique interpretation of William Blake's 18th century masterpiece * Like A Rolling Stone [Radio 4 26/03/2006] The life, work and lasting influence of French poet Arthur Rimbaud * The Cemetery Confessions [Radio 4 06/05/2004] A star-studded cast interprets the final confessions of some of the many notable occupants of the Cimetiere du Pere-Lachaise, Paris. Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of Jim Morrison.
01	Break On Through	20200401	20210721 (BBC7) 20231202 (BBC7) 20231207 (BBC7)	Had singer Jim Morrison of The Doors not died in mysterious circumstances at the tender age of 27 in 1971, he would have celebrated his 75th birthday in 2018. In the first of three programmes, Paul Gambaccini mixes the music and poetry of the man with the influences that moulded the self-proclaimed ‘The Lizard King'. Paul first encountered Morrison in 1967 when, as a young music director on a New Hampshire radio station, he eagerly opened The Doors' first single ‘Break On Through'. He followed his career from beginning to end and, to this day, visits Jim's grave in Paris. In addition to sharing memories and observations, Paul delves into the BBC archive: * ‘Cult Heroes: Jim Morrison Tony Slattery looks back at Morrison's volatile career [BBC Radio 5 18/12/1990] * ‘Like A Rolling Stone The life, work and lasting influence on Jim Morrison of French poet Arthur Rimbaud. [BBC Radio 4 26/03/2006] Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in December 2018. Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of singer Jim Morrison. Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of The Doors' lead vocalist Jim Morrison. Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of singer Jim Morrison with ‘Cult Heroes' and ‘Like A Rolling Stone'. Had singer Jim Morrison of The Doors not died in mysterious circumstances at the tender age of 27 in 1971, he would have celebrated his 80th birthday this December. BBC Radio 5 - 1990 BBC Radio 4 - 2006
02	Strange Days	20200408	20210728 (BBC7) 20231209 (BBC7) 20231210 (BBC7) 20231214 (BBC7)	Had singer Jim Morrison of The Doors not died in mysterious circumstances at the tender age of 27 in 1971 - he would have turned 75 in 2018. In the second of three programmes, Paul Gambaccini mixes the music and poetry of the man with the influences that moulded the self-proclaimed ‘The Lizard King'. In addition to sharing memories and observations, Paul delves into the BBC archive: * 'The Marriage of Heaven and Hell A unique interpretation of William Blake's 18th century masterpiece [BBC Radio 3 29/03/1995] * ‘Dreadzone Aldous Huxley Readings Greg Roberts [now Greg Dread] reads excerpts from ‘Brave New World'] [BBC Radio 1 1995] Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in December 2018. Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of singer Jim Morrison. Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of The Doors' lead vocalist Jim Morrison. Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of Jim Morrison including: ‘The Marriage of Heaven and Hell' and ‘Dreadzone Aldous Huxley Readings'. Paul Gambaccini continues his celebration of the mystique of singer Jim Morrison.
03	The End	20200415	20210804 (BBC7) 20231216 (BBC7) 20231217 (BBC7) 20231221 (BBC7)	Had singer Jim Morrison of The Doors not died in mysterious circumstances at the tender age of 27 in 1971 - he would have turned 75 in 2018. In the last of three programmes, Paul Gambaccini mixes the music and poetry of the man with the influences that moulded the self-proclaimed ‘The Lizard King'. In addition to sharing memories and observations, Paul delves into the BBC archive: * ‘The Cemetery Confessions A star-studded cast interprets the final confessions of some of the many notable occupants of the Cimetiere du Pere-Lachaise, Paris. [BBC Radio 4 06/05/2004] Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first heard in 2018. Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of Jim Morrison. Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of The Doors' lead vocalist Jim Morrison. Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in 2018. Paul Gambaccini celebrates the mystique of Jim Morrison including: ‘Cemetery Confessions'. Conclusion of Paul Gambaccini's celebration of the mystique of Jim Morrison.