Today I am so pleased to welcome A.F. Henley to Joyfully Jay. A.F. has come to talk to us about her latest release, Baby’s on Fire. She has also brought along a really fabulous tour wide giveaway. ย Please join me in giving A.F.ย a big welcome!
Welcome once again to the Baby’s on Fire blog tour and giveaway! We’ve been taking a brief look at some of the rumors, gossip, and events that took place in the late sixties and early seventies music world. It was an interesting time, chock full of performers trying out new ideas, new personas, new drugs, and new outlooks. We’ve also become aware that many of the wild and crazy stories were just that โ stories. A lot of them were nothing more than media and fan reactions.
Is this next post nothing more than exaggerated rumor over top of an otherwise innocent gesture? Perhaps, but once again I leave that to you, my awesome readers, to make a decision on. I only ask that you keep in mind that rumors and gossip are never truth, and that just become something has been written up in a blog post or a magazine article that doesn’t make it actual fact. These posts are more of a view on how the world was reacting than they are a trip along the pathway of history. Under no circumstance am I attempting to force a judgment on the reader, and I like to believe that everyone can keep an open mind and a sceptical eye on the stories I’ve researched. As I’ve stated again and again, the only people that really know what happened are the ones that lived it.
** Please note that none of these posts are indicative of the main characters or the instances in my novel Baby’s on Fire. They do, however, give a very clear indication of what the MCs would have been experiencing both time-wise and with the reactions/mindset of the people around them.
Jim Morrison โ Taking Cocky to a New Level
The Miami Herald labels Jim Morrison of the Doors as “The King of Orgasmic Rock.” He was known for being overtly sexual, often to the point of obscene, using public profanity whenever and wherever the requirement hit him, and performing while in a state of open drunkenness. On the second of March in 1969, during a concert in Dade County, Morrison took that act to a whole new level.
Late into a concert that Ken Collier (proprietor of the Miami rock hall Thee Image and one of the venues promoters) referred to as “hypnotic but musically very mediocre,” the crowd started shouting for the already famous, Light My Fire. Morrison ignored the demand, choosing to continue with his set of new songs, but he did whip off his shirt and ask the crowd if they wanted to touch him. He had been drinking, he was noticeably drunk, and at one point he was even anointing himself with champagne. As the response to his question escalated, the request became a demand, Collier reports. “Come up and touch me.”
Collier’s wife, in a phone interview, is quoted as saying that Morrison told the assembly, “Let’s have a good time, let’s have a revolution, everybody come up onstage.” His fans complied, and there were over fifty people on the stage when Morrison asked, “Do you wanna see my cock?”
Of course, no respectable businessman could allow that kind of thing to take place, at least not in 1969, and Collier quickly jumped into action, took control of the microphone, and said, “Keep calm, sit down, keep quiet, peace, this can’t happen in Miami, we’re not going to have this in Miami.”
That didn’t stop Morrison from continuing with his antics. Although Collier says he never saw Morrison actually remove his penis from his pants, some of those in attendance disagree. Morrison began to feign masturbation, bellowing to his audience, and according to rumor (as well as the trial that followed), the famous sighting of Morrison’s penis took place.
Outrage, fury, disbelief, and six arrest warrants followed including a felony charge for “Lewd and lascivious behavior in public by exposing his private parts and by simulating masturbation and oral copulation.”
With the five misdemeanours that accompanied the charge, Morrison stood at risk to be handed a total maximum sentence of three years and one-hundred and fifty days at the state penitentiary of Raiford. One of the reporters that followed the trial, Larry Mahoney of the Miami Herald, had no doubts that the locals would do everything in their power to make sure Morrison got the sentence. “They’d crucify him if they could, they’re so worked up.”
Although Bill Siddons, The Doors manager, recalls Morrison saying, “Uh-ohโI think I exposed myself” as Morrison left the stage, nearly five hundred photos were entered as evidence during the trial, and not one of them showed Morrison exposing himself. Explanations, however, of Jim merely “tucking in his shirt” were shot down quickly and neatly as the singer had already removed his shirt and tossed it away.
Morrison was offered, and rejected, a proposed plea bargain, and was found guilty of indecent exposure and open profanity. He was sentenced to serve jail time as well as pay a fine, and although Morrison appealed the sentence, the case was still unresolved on July 3, 1971 when Morrison died. It took four decades, former Florida Governor Charlie Crist, and the state’s clemency board for the pardon to finally get granted.
I’d have to say that by that time the idea that a concertgoer might have seen a few inches of penis or heard some profanity just didn’t seem to be that big of a deal.
My huge thanks to Joyfully Jay for having me today, and a special thanks to you, my friends, for joining me. ๐
Until next time!
AF Henley <3
Blurb
Baby’s on Fire
In 1974 Gerry Faun gets the break of his lifeโan opportunity to meet gorgeous, openly bisexual, glam-rock idol Mark Devon. Mark’s world is new, exciting, and Gerry finally gets to explore the side of his sexuality that he’s kept hidden. But the press is everywhere, and when Gerry’s father gets wind of what’s going on behind his back, Gerry ends up on the street. Mark offers to let Gerry come along with the tour and Gerry jumps at the chance. The tour is a never-ending partyโand the start of what seems to be a perfect relationship for him and Mark. Until Mark’s manager decides Gerry isn’t worth the trouble he’s stirring up.
In 1994 Gerry is finally coming out of some tough timesโhe has a job that pays the bills, a car that hasn’t quite broken down, and a small rental in Jersey City. After a decade of barely getting by, if life was as good as it was going to get, Gerry figures he’ll manage just fine. It would be easier if he wasn’t still haunted by the man the media won’t let him forget, the man who stole his heart and then broke it… the man that’s shown up pleading for a second chance.
Gay Contemporary Romance
Copyright ยฉ 2015 by A.F. Henley
Published by Less Than Three Press
Please note: Novel contains explicit sexual content.
Purchase Links:
- Less Than Three Press: http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_bookx_info&cPath=90&products_id=879
- Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Babys-Fire-F-Henley-ebook/dp/B00VN7FM7A
Bio
Henley was born with a full-blown passion for run-on sentences, a zealous indulgence in all words descriptive, and the endearing tendency to overuse punctuation. Since the early years Henley has been an enthusiastic writer, from the first few I-love-my-dog stories to the current leap into erotica.
A self-professed Google genius, Henley lives for the hours spent digging through the Internet for ‘research purposesโ which, more often than not, lead seven thousand miles away from first intentions but bring Henley to new discoveries and ideas that, once seeded, tend to flourish.
Henley has been proudly working with LT3 since 2012, and has been writing like mad ever sinceโan indentured servant to the belief that romance and true love can mend the most broken soul. Even when presented in prose.
Find more here:
- Website: http://afhenley.com/
- Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/A.-F.-Henley/e/B00FIODWSK/
- Publisher’s Page: http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/author-a-f-henley/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AFHenley
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/AFHenley
Giveaway
On behalf of the tour, please join the giveaway by taking part in the Rafflecopter below. The prize consists of a set of ‘Crystal and Silver’ Glitter Ball Earrings, a $20 Gift Certificate to the Less Than Three Press book market (free books!), and a signed, print copy of Baby’s on Fire. Click through for terms and conditions, further details, and your chance to win! See all the details here:
https://afhenley.wordpress.com/2015/04/13/the-babys-on-fire-all-that-glitters-blog-tour/
** Please note that this giveaway is being offered tour-wide and there will be one winner awarded for the entire event.
Rafflecopter giveaway
- By entering the giveaway, youโre confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- By entering you are agreeing to the Terms and Conditions set out by Rafflecopter for entries.
- Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
- Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
- By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
- Void where prohibited by law.
Thank you very much for having me back as a guest. ๐
Lovely to have you as always!
Looking forward to this read!! Thanks for the chance!!
Glad to read that, Jen! You’re very welcome. Good luck with the giveaway. ๐
Sounds great! Can’t wait to pick it up!
Thank you, Sabrina! I’d love to hear what you think of it. ๐
“Oy vey!” for the article and the circumstances. O.O
Although now begs the question of whenย did velcro, tear-away pants get invented? Because I can just imagine what that would’ve been like if Morrison was actually wearing clothes held together by velcro (Not that I think his management team would even consider that at all but seeing what that man would do, he would probably sneak it in somewhere)… XD
“A few inches,” Henley writes. *waggles eyebrows* So the bar is drawn… right about… here *draws line*. XD
Thank you for the post! <3
You know, I can’t imagine anyone getting that upset over anything like this now. Not to the point of prosecution, anyway. Whether I think that’s a good thing or a bad thing, I won’t say. XD
I’d have to be drunk to even consider doing that on stage. And seeing as I’ve never been drunk that is also just an assumption. ย It’s possible I wouldn’t even do it drunk.
Well….I suppose if I was a paid stripper I could do it. ย Money is a powerful motivator.
Anyway, once again proof I know nothing about the people singing/playing/writing the songs. ย Which I suppose is a bit rude on my part. ย It’s like claiming to love Starry Night without knowing a thing about Van Gogh. ย ย Thank you very much for helping me to correct that error. ๐
You’re very welcome! I’m glad you’re enjoying the posts! ๐
It is interesting how times have changed. ย While I would never expose myself onstage like that (drunk or otherwise), I really would not think it was a big deal if someone else did. ย
I was just saying that concert promoters would probably love it if happened more often (these days).ย
If there’s one thing that can be said about these years in rock history, they sure did open up a lot of people’s eyes and minds. ๐
I’m sure it wasn’t funny at the time, but gawd… I just gotta laugh.
It was Morrison’s “Uh-oh” that got me chuckling the most. XD
Congratulations on the new release! Looking forward to reading it!
Thank you very much! I’m thrilled to read that. ๐ ย Good luck with the giveaway!
โThe King of Orgasmic Rock” Damn, I do love the sound of it! ๐
Those prudes! I wonder how many attendees would have felt bothered about Morrison’s exposure! Very few, I bet! It was all in the narrow minds of those moralists! XD
Very entertaining story though! ๐ Sadly that Morrison never saw the outcome of the case against him.
There are few titles that can compare, indeed. XD
It really is a damn shame. We lost way too many of them.ย
I’ve read some wonderful reviews. This is already in my TBR. ๐
I could never say thank you enough to the reviewers that have enjoyed the novel and posted about it, but I’ll try anyway: THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE! ๐
I’m honoured that it’s sparked your interest! Thanks for participating in the tour. <3
I can’t wait to read Gerry and Marks story.
Thank you, Marilyn! Best of luck with the giveaway, and I’d love to hear what you think if/when you get a chance to read. ๐
Thank you for another great post =) I’m finding out some really great stuff.
You’re very welcome, thank you for another great comment! ๐
I wish I could say that all the posts were based on actual fact instead of speculation, but unfortunately people love to embellish too much for me to believe that. Glad you’ve been finding them entertaining, though!ย
Thank you again so much for the post! ย I remember that the very first LP I purchased with my own money was by Jim Morrison and the Doors! ย I can’t even remember the name of it now but I know I played that thing constantly. ย Thank you for the memories.
He was a beautiful, talented man. It’s a shame we had to lose him. Thank you for participating! <3
Glam guys are my favorites, so I can’t wait to read this!
You and me both, Trix! *highfives*
I had a really good time writing these characters. I hope you love them just as much! ๐
Wow these stories are getting wilder and as usual drink and drugs seem to be the main influence it’s interesting that it actually went to a trial and so so sad that he died so young. At least he was pardoned.
ShirleyAnn(at)speakman40(dot)freeserve(dot)co(dot)uk
It was a wild, vibrant time that much is for sure! I loved researching these posts because it was so obvious how far people expanded their minds and their views in such a short time. Too bad too many of them sought out booze and drugs to do it and suffered untimely ends because of it. ๐
Here’s hoping we’ve learned from it. <3
I know so little about Jim Morrison, so this is definitely one story I’d not heard! Oh gosh, what would the folks of 1969 think of how many penises you can see each and every minute if you wanted to today. ๐ Of course, still not that many rock star ones!
Sometimes I believe that we truly live in wonderful times. XD
Thank you for reading and commenting! Good luck with the giveaway ๐