The Marriage of Heaven and Hell

“People are afraid of themselves, of their own reality; their feelings most of all. People talk about how great love is, but that's bullshit. Love hurts. Feelings are disturbing. People are taught that pain is evil and dangerous. How can they deal with love if they're afraid to feel? Pain is meant to wake us up. People try to hide their pain. But they're wrong. Pain is something to carry, like a radio. You feel your strength in the experience of pain. It's all in how you carry it. That's what matters. Pain is a feeling. Your feelings are a part of you. Your own reality. If you feel ashamed of them, and hide them, you're letting society destroy your reality. You should stand up for your right to feel your pain.”-Morrison

Jim Morrison & The Doors
1943-1971

The Doors took their name from the title of Aldous Huxley's The Doors of Perception (a reference to the 'unlocking' of 'doors' of perception through psychedelic drug use), Huxley's own title was a quotation from William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, in which Blake wrote that "If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite." (-Wikipedia)
In 1967, photographer Joel Brodsky took a series of black-and-white photos of Morrison, in a photo shoot known as "The Young Lion" photo session (third image down). By 1969 he grew a beard, and began dressing more casually. Pictured above is Morrison's long term companion Pamela Courson, they met well before the Doors gained there fame. There relationship was considered a common law marriage by the california probate court, though it was an open relationship. Morrison had many flings, with fans and female celebrities, including Nico (The Velvet Underground), Grace Slick and Janis Joplin.
July 3rd, 1971 Morrison's body was found in a Paris apartment bath tub by Courson. No autopsy was preformed, the medical examiner found no evidence of foul play. Morrison's death continues to be a mystery, Courson's story is often contradictory and has lead to many rumors surrounding the death. Though most lead to a Heroin overdose.
Three years later Courson also died of a heroin over dose, like Morrison, she was only 27 years old.

Film Nostalgia

Desperately Seeking Susan

1985
From the Material Girl's prime, Madonna stars as the 'bad-ass', 'sassy' Susan (I can use cheesy words like this as it was the 80's) This film is rad! (but not in the cultured intellectual kind of way, films buffs will be appalled and disgusted).
A definitive 80's Film

Magnetic Mortals

'Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine'

Patti Smith
1970's
Patti's work was influential to the Punk rock movement in New York city during the 1970's. She is a singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, The 'God mother of Punk'.
Patti was raised a Jehovah's Witness with a strong religious and bible education, As a teenager she found organized religion to confining. She moved to New York city where she meet photographer Robert Mapplethorpe (pictured above), the pair had a collaborative, romantic and eventually, platonic life. They lived together in the Chelsea Hotel.
It was Mapplethorpe who urged Patti to sing, and Patti who encouraged Mapplethorpe to do his photography.
Mapplethorpe's photographs of her became the covers for the Patti Smith Group LPs.
In 1989, Mapplethorpe died from complications arising from AIDS. The pair had remained friends.
Patti recently wrote the memoir 'Just Kids', in which she reveals the life she lived with the photographer.
Smith and her band will be returning to London June 29th, 2010 for Serpentine Sessions in Hyde Park.

Kelly Street Park

FAGGED AND FROWZY