FRESH AIR
It will forever remain a pivotal moment in rock ‘n’ roll history — but the reality is, it might not have happened. Florida’s clemency board conceded this week that there was inadequate evidence to convict Doors singer Jim Morrison of indecent exposure at a Miami concert in 1969. The incident and its aftermath sent Morrison and the group into a tailspin that ended with Morrison’s death — though the legend is alive and well. So what did happen? Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek was on stage that night. In a 1998 interview on Fresh Air, he recounted the events leading up to the incident, which resulted in Morrison’s arrest and conviction and the cancellation of many Doors concerts. MORE
RELATED: Jim Morrison received a posthumous pardon from the Florida Clemency Board nearly 40 years after his death. The lead singer of the band The Doors had received a $500 fine and was sentenced to six months in jail for a March 1, 1969 show in Miami during which authorities claimed Morrison exposed himself to the crowd. The alleged indecent exposure incident cost the band tour dates as venues shuttered their doors to the group for what was expected to be a 20 city tour. MORE