The Lizard King OAP

At his peak, legendary frontman of The Doors, Jim Morrison, was described as an Adonis, but when his life ended prematurely, aged just 27, his looks had already faded.  But what would he have looked like as a sixty-five year old pensioner today?

Scientists at the University of St Andrews have attempted to answer that question using ageing software to create a computer-generated image of how the self-proclaimed Lizard King might have looked if he were still alive.

The singer and poet died in Paris thirty-seven years ago, on the evening of 3rd July 1971.  Had he lived, he would have been sixty-five today (Monday 8 December 2008), the same age as rock contemporary Mick Jagger.   Morrison’s former bandmates Ray Manzarek and Robbie Kreiger will celebrate the milestone at West Hollywood eaterie Barney’s Beanery, one of Jim’s favourite hangouts in the 60s.

As The Doors legend lives on, with Manzarek and Kreiger reuniting to tour their music, the Scottish researchers have created a snapshot of what might have been if their singer had survived.

The image, created using the latest in computer technology, shows the singer, also known as Mr Mojo Risin (an anagram of Jim Morrison) as a greying but handsome 65 year old with familiar piercing eyes.

The researchers from the University’s Perception Lab used `ageing’ software to reproduce the natural effects of aging, taking into account changes in skin texture, hairline and hair colour.  They used an image of Morrison aged in his mid 20s as a starting point.

The process of ageing was mimicked by changing the texture and shape of the original image to simulate the changes in the skin that would occur between the ages of 40 and 70.

The team have previously created aged images of Hollywood stars Marilyn Monroe and James Dean, who both suddenly died at a young age, and Elvis Presley and John Lennon at projected ages of 70 and 64 respectively.

The software could be used for assisting with missing person enquiries, particularly those who have been missing for many years and will look considerably different.

The same software can also be used to change sex, race or to produce works of art by artists such as Botticelli.

Those interested in seeing how they might look in the future can transform their own image at the Perception Lab’s webpage:   http://www.perceptionlab.com

ENDS

NOTE TO PICTURE EDITORS:

 A JPEG OF THE AGED JIM MORRISON IS AVAILABLE FROM THE PRESS OFFICE – CONTACT DETAILS BELOW.  THE IMAGE MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE CREDIT: www.perceptionlab.com

Issued by the Press Office, University of St Andrews
Contact Gayle Cook on 01334 467227, mobile 07900 050 103, or email [email protected]
Ref: Lizard King at 65
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