He lived on canned beans and LSD — then became rock’s most dangerous icon

With his hypnotic looks, poetic lyrics, and magnetic stage presence, he seemed destined for immortality.

But behind the fame was a life spiraling fast out of control.

There are a few people who truly defined what it meant to live “rock ’n’ roll” in its purest, most dangerous form. Today, we’re taking a closer look at one of them, without a doubt one of the most legendary figures in music history.

Many would even argue that he deserves a place among the greatest rock stars of all time. He was a performer who captivated both adults and even many younger fans on tour, sending crowds into a frenzy as he moved, stayed, and sang with intense energy on stage.

And he lived the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle until the very end.

A lesser-known detail

Our star was born on December 8, 1943, in Melbourne, Florida, and came into the world in a stable family.

A lesser-known detail is that his father was a rear admiral in the U.S. Navy, who commanded Carrier Division during the Gulf of Tonkin incident.

When our star was just three or four years old, he reportedly experienced a moment that would later take on almost myth-like significance in his memory.

In 1947, while traveling through the deserts of northern New Mexico, his family is said to have passed a horrific road accident involving an overturned truck.
Several injured people, believed to be Native Americans, lay by the roadside — a haunting scene that left a deep and lasting impression on the young child.