Odd news story of the day - a councilor here in Paris has sent a recommendation up to the city council to nominate a street in ville de lumière after the late Doors front-man, Jim Morrison. Morrison's life ended famously in Paris's Marais district nearly a half-century ago.
Jerome Dubus, representing the gentrifying 17th Arrondisement proclaimed "c’est étonnant...qu’aucun lieu dans la capitale ne porte encore le nom Morrison, étant donné son lien particulier avec Paris" (astonished that there is no place in Paris carrying Morrison's name, which has such a particular tie with the city.)
Strangest of all, Dubus is a member of the UMP, the conservative party of France. One does not typically associate Jim Morrison, or the Doors, or rock music, for that matter, with the political right. In 2012, his party nominated him to be the national party lead for economic growth and freedoms.
I guess the Doors did sell a lot of records.
The socialist mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoe responded that the the idea is a good one, via his cultural spokesman Bruno Julliard. Some of his socialist peers are less enthused, sniffing that streets and other public places take a long time, and perhaps Morrison's name would be better associated with a building - a music conservatory, perhaps.
So a battle may be shaping up, where the conservative party is pushing to name a street after Jim Morrison, against a left-wing opposition. Morrison's father was an Admiral in the US Navy, of course. Hmm.
Morrison died in July 1971, and is buried in the famous cimetière du Père-Lachaise.
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