The Doors
Formed
July 1965, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Disbanded
2013
Members
Ray Manzarek (keyboards, bass pedals, vocals), Jim Morrison (vocals, 1965-71), John Densmore (drums), Pat Sullivan [Patricia Hansen] (bass, 1965), Robby Krieger (guitar, vocals)
Related Artists
Butts Band, The Doors of the 21st Century, Patty and The Esquires, Psychedelic Rangers, Riders on the Storm
Also Known As
Doors, Rick & The Ravens
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Biography
The band started to combine their varied musical backgrounds, from jazz, rock, blues, and folk music idioms. The band changed their name to "The Doors" (taking their name from Aldous Huxley's book “The Doors of Perception”), and with a guest bassist, recorded a 6-song demo on September 2, 1965. In late 1965, after Manzarek's two brothers left, guitarist Robby Krieger joined.
In early 1966, the group had a residency at "sleazy" L.A. club London Fog, giving them the chance to develop their sound. The group soon graduated to the more esteemed Whisky a Go Go, where they were supporting acts such as Van Morrison's Them. On August 10, 1966, they were spotted by Elektra Records’ Jac Holzman, who was present at a Whisky by the recommendation of Love’s Arthur Lee. Holzman immediately signed the band, and put them in the studio to record their debut album that same month.
The Doors was released in January 1967. Beginning a fruitful relationship with producer Paul A. Rothchild, it included many popular songs from their repertory. Among those, the nearly 12-minute musical drama "The End", “Break on Through”, and single "Light My Fire" which reached no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, selling over 1 million copies. On September 17, 1967, the Doors gave a memorable performance of "Light My Fire" on the Ed Sullivan Show. Network executives asked that the word "higher" be removed, due to its assumed reference to drug use. The group appeared to acquiesce, but performed the song in its original form, and subsequently Sullivan canceled another 6 shows that had been planned for the group.
The Doors' second album, Strange Days, was released in September 1967. It peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard chart, but quickly dropped, along with a series of underperforming singles. Although a session musician had occasionally contributed bass on the band's debut, Strange Days was the first Doors album with a bass player playing on the majority of the tracks, and this continued on all subsequent albums. The record also included the singles “People Are Strange” and “Love Me Two Times”. Also around this time, Danny Fields worked as a publicist for the group.
On December 9, 1967, the Doors performed a now-infamous concert in New Haven, Connecticut, which ended abruptly when Morrison was arrested by local police while onstage. Prior to the start of the concert, Morrison was harassed by a police officer and halfway through their set, Morrison proceeded to create an improvised song about his experience with the "little man in blue". After taunting the police, Morrison was dragged from the stage by the officers, putting an end to the show.
Recording of the group's third album Waiting for the Sun in April 1968 was marred by tension as a result of Morrison's increasing dependence on alcohol and the rejection of the 17-minute "Celebration of the Lizard" by Rothchild. The band began to branch out from their initial form for this third LP, and began writing new material. The single "Hello, I Love You" was their second US No. 1 single. In concert, Morrison was occasionally dismissive of the song, leaving the vocals to Manzarek. In December 1968 the band also released a successful new single, "Touch Me".
Morrison's vision of performance (which was already influenced by Antonin Artaud) was amplified after attending a “Living Theatre” performance by Judith Malina and Julian Beck, and was inspired by their "antagonistic" style. On March 1, 1969, the band gave a performance in Miami, Florida, that nearly derailed their carrer. Morrison arrived at the venue drunk, while the concert was already over an hour late. Taunting the already restless crowd, he removed his shirt and held it in front of his groin and started to make hand movements behind it. A couple of days later, a warrant was issued for Morrison's arrest, claiming he had exposed his penis while on stage, and simulated oral sex on Krieger. Morrison was convicted and sentenced to 6 months in jail with hard labor, and ordered to pay a $500 fine. He remained free though, pending an appeal on his conviction. The other band members have denied that Morrison exposed himself on stage that night.
The Doors' next album, The Soft Parade, was released in July 1969. The record featured brass and string arrangements, a concept suggested by Rothchild. While Densmore and Manzarek were postive to it, Morrison declined to incorporate an orchestra on his compositions. The album had an experimental feel, causing critics to attack the group. Morrison's drinking made him unreliable, and recording dragged on for months. Despite all this, the album was immensely successful, becoming their fourth hit record. By this time, Morrison had distanced himself from the music and almost quit the group, but was persuaded by Manzarek to stay for 6 more months.
The Doors staged a return to their roots with their fifth LP Morrison Hotel in 1970. Featuring a bluesier rock sound, the album's opener was "Roadhouse Blues". The record reached No. 4 in the U. S. chart, reviving their status among their fanbase and the press. The album saw Morrison return as main songwriter - writing or co-writing all of the album's tracks. In July, the group's first live album, Absolutely Live, was put out; it consisted of many bits and pieces from various concerts. Although the band faced bans in more conservative cities following the Miami incident, they did manage to play 18 concerts in 1969, and 23 dates throughout the first half of 1970.
On December 8, 1970 - his 27th birthday - Morrison did a poetry recording session; a part of which would end up on the album An American Prayer in 1978. Shortly after, a new tour to promote their upcoming album would comprise of only 3 dates. During the Doors' last public performance with Morrison in New Orleans (on December 12, 1970), Morrison apparently had a breakdown on stage. After the concert, Densmore, Manzarek and Krieger decided to end their live act for a while.
Despite Morrison's conviction and the fallout from their appearance in New Orleans, The Doors reclaimed their status as a premier act with the album L.A. Woman, recorded in 1971. The album featured bassist Jerry Scheff - known for his work in Elvis Presley's (a huge influence on Morrison) TCB Band - as well as a rhythm guitarist. Despite a comparatively low chart peak at No. 9, L.A. Woman contained 2 Top 20 hits and went on to be their second bestselling studio album (surpassed only by their debut). During rehearsals they had a falling-out with Rothchild, who was dissatisfied with the band's effort. The title track and two singles ("Love Her Madly" and "Riders on the Storm") remain mainstays of rock radio stations.
On March 11, 1971, near the end of the mixing of L.A. Woman, Morrison took a leave of absence from The Doors and moved to Paris with long-time girlfriend Pamela Courson. On July 3, 1971, following months of settling, Morrison was found dead in the bath by Courson. Despite the absence of an official autopsy, the reason of death was listed as heart failure. Morrison died at age 27, the same age as several other famous rock stars. In 1974, Courson also died at the age of 27.
Despite Morrison's death, the band vowed to continue, and released album Other Voices later in 1971 (with Krieger and Manzarek taking over vocal duties). The album was followed the next year by Full Circle. The records did not perform well commercially, and once their contract with Elektra lapsed, The Doors disbanded in 1973. Densmore and Krieger then moved to London, forming the Butts Band in 1973. They released an eponymous album the same year, and after a second album, disbanded in 1975.
Album An American Prayer, was released in 1978, consisting of the band adding music backing to spoken word performances of Morrison reciting his poetry. It was a commercial success, acquiring a platinum certificate. In 1979, "The End" was famously featured in Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now. An Elektra executive reported the Doors' albums were selling better than in any year since their original release. In response, a new compilation album, Greatest Hits, was released in 1980, and remained in the charts for nearly two years (followed by the more well known compilation The Best of The Doors in 1985).
In 1991 Oliver Stone’s biographical film of the band, The Doors, was released in cinemas. The remaining band members did not like the film's portrayal of the events, with Densmore asserting that "a third of it is pure fiction”. Manzarek stated that "it did real damage to the guy I knew: Jim Morrison, the poet"; overlooking his sensitivity, humour, and intelligence. Krieger although agreeing with the other two, also thought that "It could have been a lot worse".
After releasing several solo albums, Manzarek & Krieger got back together in 2002, in order to perform the band's catalog live, under the name The Doors of the 21st Century. Initially Ian Astbury of The Cult took up vocal duties. Due to legal battles with Densmore and the Morrison estate, they had to change their name several times and ultimately toured under "Manzarek–Krieger". In 2011, Manzarek, Densmore and Krieger collaborated with Skrillex on a track of the latter's Bangarang EP.
On May 20, 2013, Manzarek passed away in Germany, at the age of 74.
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