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THE DOORS didn’t last long enough to tarnish their name-so they’re making up for lost time.
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YEARS OF EXISTENCE: 1965-1973 YEARS OF DECENT EXISTENCE: 1967-'69 BEST RECORDS: The Doors (1967), Strange Days (1967), The Soft Parade (1969), Morrison Hotel (1970), L.A. Woman (1971) WORST RECORDS: Waiting For The Sun (1968), Other Voices (1971), Full Circle (1972) GO DOWNLOAD: "Light My Fire," "Love Me Two Times," "The Soft Parade," "The WASP (Texas Radio And The Big Beat)," "Riders On The Storm" FILE UNDER: Career Growth Through Death SIMILAR SOUNDING DINOSAURS: Jefferson Airplane (psychedelic-pop factor), Grateful Dead (jam factor), MC5 (rebel factor) THE MUSIC: In the mid-'60s, keyboardist Ray Manzarek met poetry/alcohol enthusiast Jim Morrison during some classes at UCLA's film school and suggested they start a band. Drummer John Densmore and guitarist Robby Krieger were enlisted from a band called the Psychedelic Rangers. Taking their name from author Aldous Huxley's book The Doors Of Perception, the Doors created a rock force that was significantly grounded in blues, yet had enough elements of pop, classical and the avant garde-as well as their singer's dark poetry (cf. "Not To Touch The Earth," "The Soft Parade") to separate themselves from the flower-power hippie bullshit spreading across the land. Morrison-the self-proclaimed "Lizard King"-was fond of riling up everyone from cops (flashing his junk onstage and stagediving) to his bandmates (wonder how many gigs he played without drinking). Near the end of the band, the once sleek singer was overweight and bearded, but his brooding reputation cemented for life when he died in Paris in 1971, at 27. The remaining members carried on for two more records, to the interest of absolutely no one. WHAT THEY SAY:"The Doors were not viewing life through the rose-tinted glasses of peace and love. Their salvation came in the form of sex and death." -Rock, The Rough Guide WHAT I SAY: No wonder Americans love their necrophilia. Morrison remains bigger now than he was in the band's heyday. (Who could forget that Rolling Stone cover text from 1981: "He's hot, he's sexy and he's dead.") I'm just glad medical researchers don't cling to the past like classic-rock dullards because we'd still be trying to cure sinus headaches via trepanning. WHY YOUR (GRAND)PARENTS LIKE THEM: The Doors were emblematic of the dark side of '60s counterculture, the kind of thing that scares the hell out of both parents and law enforcement. Plus, Morrison made getting hammered and reading poetry a boss way to pick up damaged college chicks. Two six-packs and a trip to the library for a Baudelaire anthology? Score! CURRENT WHEREABOUTS: Rhino Records recently remastered and reissued the band's first six records with bonus tracks. Manzarek and Krieger hit the road this past spring under the name Riders On The Storm, with the irritable Brett Scallions (from forgotten radio-rock cod swallowers Fuel) over-emoting the songs. Meanwhile, Jim Morrison is still dead and planning some serious revenge on the other side. -Jason Pettigrew |
