Thursday, December 8: Rock Birthdays

Today (Dec. 8) marks what would have been Doors frontman Jim Morrison’s 73rd birthday. Other rock birthdays today include Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen (59), frontman Corey Taylor of Slipknot (43), former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman (54), and Gregg Allman (69).

The Doors formed out of Los Angeles in 1965 and featured Jim Morrison on vocals, Ray Manzarek on keyboards, Robby Krieger on guitar and John Densmore on drums. Morrison was one of the most iconic and influential frontmen in rock history, ranking number 47 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the ‘100 Greatest Singers of All Time’. Morrison died at the age of 27 in Paris. The exact cause of death is still disputed as no autopsy was performed, but it is believed to have been an accidental heroin overdose. The Doors were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.