Gary James' Interview With The Author Of Images Of Jim Morrison
Ed Wincentsen



Photographer / Artist Ed Wincenten of Tulsa, Oklahoma has put together a rather unique look at Jim Morrison. Ed's book contains material on Morrison that you've never seen before. We're talking about pictures, posters and handbills. How'd he do it? Where did this material come from? We put those questions and more to Ed Wincentsen.

Q - Of all the people you could have written a book about, you chose Jim Morrison. Why? Don't you think there's already enough material out there on Morrison?

A - I wanted to do a book on Jim Morrison even though there was a lot of material coming out due to the movie, because there was one main theme I wanted to state. The theme being that I considered Jim Morrison a real poet, a poet that transcends even his fame as the Rock 'n' Roll singer of The Doors. I tried to state this in the short piece I wrote for the beginning of the book. Also, I wanted the book to be meant as an artistic tribute to Morrison, like from a visual artist. Here is my tribute to Jim Morrison, poet, artist.

Q - How did you know where to turn to for material on Morrison?

A - I knew my approach to my book had a certain place that the others didn't because I also wanted to include reproductions of certain posters, handbills and newspaper ads to try to capture a little of the times. I knew no other book was doing that and I also wanted to locate as many photos that had not been published before. Also, doing my color design work to images was going to be an exclusive for the book. Being a photographer, I knew how to track down photos for the book. I also had some sources that put me in touch with some people that had rare, unpublished items. We were able to obtain a rare Tulsa Doors concert poster for the collector Andrew Hawley, who traded us permission to use some of his collection for the book. Andrew had been approached by other publishers and had been offered cash to use his collection, but he turned many offers down. With us getting this one poster he had wanted for years, gave us that collection for the book. I used posters, handbills that did not have the copyright laws. They were public domain, the ones I used, but unpublished.

Q - You saw Jim Morrison and The Doors in concert back in February 1968. What do you remember about that show? Were you a fan of The Doors back then, or did you become one after seeing them?

A - I became a fan of The Doors when I first heard "Light My Fire" on the radio. I remember going to this one poster shop in Phoenix call The Liquid Graffia, that was bringing in all those San Francisco posters and I ran into some friends of mine there. The place was like a counterculture place and made an impression on me. They were playing all the hip LPs of the times and the hip underground radio stations, and that's when I first heard "Light My Fire". I was hooked on The Doors. I think the first time I heard the whole LP was at a friend's place that was like a section of Haight-Ashbury. So we went to see The Doors in concert and it was probably one of the best concerts I have ever seen. The announcer said that they were using this new sound equipment and speakers, amps for the first time. Andrew Hawley later told me the name of those, but I've forgotten. Anyway, Morrison was incredible and the sound actually sounded better than the LPs. Morrison was powerful. One thing stands out. There were some hecklers in the top section and Morrison yelled out at them "What's the matter? Did ya step in some horse shit before you came here?" That stopped them. And the crowd was ready to stop them too after Morrison's confrontation. He had a powerful influence over the crowd.

Q - You've also written a book about Beach Boy Dennis Wilson. Do you feel that both Morrison and Wilson were treated unfairly by the press?

A - I would say that in some places, yes. I believe that when Morrison had all the problems with New Haven and Miami, that some of the press went at him. Dennis Wilson had newspapers and magazines sometimes paint him as the excessive one, along with Brian. But to me, the main shot was the one book that they based the TV movie on. To me, that was going after the sensational. I do not deny Dennis Wilson's problems, but no one talked about the side that I saw. Dennis had an incredible sense of living life to the fullest and sharing it with anyone. I have talked to a number of people who knew him and they said that Dennis was a SOB at times. But to me and many others, he was the one I tried to represent in the book. I have a big stack of letters from fans of his that all say things like Denny took the time to say hello to me and share a smile and some words. I still believe my book has stated the side of Denny that many people loved. A lot of stars become bigger than life, but I really saw this one quality of Dennis that was not brought out. In ways, my book was slanted to the good as the other one was to the bad. Again, I think I tried to say this in my introduction. Morrison also was a true seeker in my eyes.

Q - How is the book doing sales wise?

A - The Morrison book has gotten off to a kind of slow start sales wise because we had one party that signed an exclusive contract on selling it and they never did do any real work, and just locked it up. Now we have a good distributor by the name of Samuel French Trade in Hollywood. Their sales force will be placing it in most of all the major bookstore chains now. They have it in their catalog. We also sell the book ourselves through mail order, but we have not spent much in advertising. The Dennis Wilson book has sold very good through all of the related Beach Boys Fan Clubs. We started with an initial press run of 2,000 books and have less than 200 left. With all of the interest and discussion about Brian Wilson's new autobiography, it is creating interest in the Denny book. When I go out to L.A. we are going to see about a possible promotion of the book, along with Dennis Wilson's children, at Rock Away Records. They have always been very supportive of the books.

Q - You're going to L.A/ to work on books on Stevie Nicks and Erie Burdon?

A - The book on Stevie Nicks may have input from Stevie herself. This is still being worked out. The title is, Stevie Nicks, Rock's Mystical Lady. I think the title represents my direction of the book. I find Stevie Nicks of interest because of her songwriting. She is into eternal questions and quests. I may not agree with all of her positions, but I find her interests relate to a lot of mine. There are pros and cons to Stevie, but I find her to be of immense interest. Also, visually she is an incredible woman. I plan on the book being fifty percent text, and fifty percent photos. Again, I look for unpublished material. You might call me an archivist in that respect. There has never been a real book done on Stevie alone, so this also interests me. Eric Burdon has been another of my favorite performers to come out of the British Invasion, and one of my favorite singers and personalities. Eric has consented to work with me on the book and this excites me because then I will be working hand-in-hand with the performer himself. He is willing to contribute his archives and I plan to make this more of a pictorial history, since he did have an autobiography out about five years ago, I Used To Be An Animal, But I'm Alright Now.

Q - Do you think Jim Morrison died on July 3rd, 1971, or do you feel he faked his death?

A - I would have to say I do not have a firm belief on either of the positions. I might lean to the belief that he really is dead, mainly just because of the vibes I picked up from seeing him, meaning I sensed that he did in fact seem to push everything to the limit. That was a facet I think he shared with some of the poets, pushing himself and trying to taste everything from a poets point of view. But, I am not one to say. If anyone could pull off the fake death and continue to live that hoax for various reasons, it would be Morrison.

© Gary James. All rights reserved.

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