Jim Morrison is universally recognized as one of the greatest frontmen in the history of rock and roll, but he'd much rather be remembered as a poet. Morrison was happier writing words than he was singing them, and was initially so shy of performing in front of an audience that he'd sing with his back to them. He eventually overcame that shyness, but only with the aid of a lot of psychoactive drugs.
Morrison and his band, the Doors, developed a reputation as rabble-rousers, with some of their performances turning into riots, and the apparent drug references in their songs provoking moral outrage. They were banned from many cities and television networks, and Morrison was eventually banned from performing with the band at all. He retreated to France with his girlfriend Pamela Courson, who he's pictured with here on June 28th, 1971. He died of apparent heart failure six days later on July 3rd, joining the notorious '27 Club' by doing so.