The Doors Examiner interview: Michael C Ford

My interview with poet Michael C Ford who not only knew Jim Morrison at UCLA but Ray Manzarek and John Densmore, all before The Doors hit it big. He has an opinion on everything from modern poetry, to Jim Morrison and his continuing relationship with members of The Doors.

Michael C. Ford is a poet of two centuries, he was born in Chicago in 1939, he and his parents moved to Los Angeles after World War II, and while still in high school he became a protégé to poets Kenneth Patchen and Kenneth Rexroth who were instrumental in the early Beat movement. In college Ford attended the poet Jack Hirschman’s classes at UCLA that included fellow students Ray Manzarek, John Densmore and Jim Morrison. Hirschman’s class included the works of Antonin Artaud who influenced both Ford and Morrison.

Ford is the author of 22 books, his best known book “Emergency Exits” was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, his debut spoken word album, “Language Commando”, earned a Grammy nomination in 1986. He continues to appear and perform with all the members of The Doors and he continues to publish poetry today, not as an elder statesman of the art, but as a relevant voice in modern poetry.

DE: Why do you consider yourself a Beat writer instead of a 60’s writer, or a part of The Rock ‘n’ Roll generation?

continue reading the interview at The Doors Examiner!