Aquarius Theatre Performances:
The Doors gave two concerts at the Aquarius Theatre on Sunset Blvd, Hollywood. The two shows were performed on July 21, 1969. A "backstage" performance, a so-called "private rehearsal" without an audience occurred on July 22, 1969. This was only a few months after the "Miami incident" in March of that year. Of the songs performed with an audience, "Universal Mind" and the "Celebration of the Lizard" suite were released on The Doors' 1970 Absolutely Live album, whereas "You Make Me Real" was released on Alive, She Cried in 1983. Further, the Van Morrison track, "Gloria", which was performed and recorded during the audience-less rehearsal, was also released on Alive, She Cried. Both the first and second shows along with the rehearsal the following day were released in 2001. It was at these shows that Morrison issued his poem, "Ode to L.A." while thinking of Brian Jones, the recently deceased former Rolling Stones guitarist.
Morrison Hotel and Absolutely Live:
The Doors staged a return to form with their 1970 LP Morrison Hotel, their fifth album. Featuring a consistent, hard rock sound, the album's opener was "Roadhouse Blues". The record reached US No. 4 and revived their status among their core fan base and the rock press. Dave Marsh, the editor of Cream magazine, said of the album: "the most horrifying rock and roll I have ever heard. When they're good, they're simply unbeatable. I know this is the best record I've listened to ... so far". Rock Magazine called it "without any doubt their ballsiest (and best) album to date". Circus magazine praised it as "possibly the best album yet from the Doors" and "Good hard, evil rock, and one of the best albums released this decade". The album also saw Jim Morrison returning as main songwriter, writing or co-writing all of the album's tracks. The 40th Anniversary CD reissue of Morrison Hotel contains outtakes and alternate takes, including different versions of "The Spy" and "Roadhouse Blues" (with Lonnie Mack on bass guitar and The Lovin' Spoonful's John Sebastian on harmonica).
July 1970 saw the release of The Doors' first live album, Absolutely Live.
The band continued to perform at arenas throughout the summer. Morrison faced trial in Miami in August, but the group made it to the Isle of Wight Festival on August 29th. They performed alongside artists such as Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Miles Davis, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Sly and the Family Stone. Two songs from the show were featured in the 1995 documentary Message to Love.
Last Public Performance:
On December 8, 1970, his 27th birthday, Morrison recorded another poetry session. Part of this would end up on An American Prayer in 1978 with music, and is currently in the possession of the Courson family. The Doors' tour to promote their upcoming album L.A. Woman would comprise only two dates. The first was held in Dallas, Texas on December 11. During The Doors' last public performance with Morrison, at The Warehouse in New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 12, 1970, Morrison apparently had a breakdown on stage. Midway through the set he slammed the microphone numerous times into the stage floor until the platform beneath was destroyed, then sat down and refused to perform for the remainder of the show. Drummer John Densmore recalls the incident in his biography Riders On the Storm, where after the show he met with Ray and Robby; they decided to end their live act, citing their mutual agreement that Morrison was ready to retire from performing
Robby Krieger (Guitar)
L.A. Woman:
The Doors set to reclaim their status as a premier act with L.A. Woman in 1971. The session included guitar work by Marc Benno, and bass by Jerry Scheff. The album contained two Top 20 hits and went on to be their second best-selling studio album, surpassed in sales only by their debut. The album explored their R&B roots, although during rehearsals they had a falling-out with Paul Rothchild, who was dissatisfied with the band's effort. Denouncing "Love Her Madly" as "cocktail lounge music," he quit and handed the production to Bruce Botnick and The Doors. The singles "L.A. Woman," "Love Her Madly," and "Riders on the Storm" remain mainstays of rock radio programming, with the last of these being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for its special significance to recorded music. In the song "L.A. Woman," Jim Morrison scrambles the letters of his own name to chant "Mr. Mojo Risin". During the sessions, a short clip of the band performing "Crawling King Snake" was filmed. So far as known, this is the last clip of The Doors performing with Morrison. On March 13, 1971, following the recording of L.A. Woman, Morrison took a leave of absence from The Doors and moved to Paris with Pamela Courson. He had visited the city the previous summer and was interested in moving there to become a writer in exile.
While in Paris, he was again drinking heavily and using other drugs. On June 16, the last known recording of Morrison was made when he befriended two street musicians at a bar and invited them to a studio. This recording was finally released in 1994 on a bootleg CD entitled The Lost Paris Tapes.
Morrison's death:
Jim Morrison's grave at the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris
Morrison died on July 3, 1971. In the official account of his death, he was found in a Paris apartment bathtub by Courson. Pursuant to French law, no autopsy was performed because the medical examiner claimed to have found no evidence of foul play. The absence of an official autopsy, and the death certificate not having a reason of death besides heart failure has left many questions regarding the cause of death. Morrison was buried in the "Poets Corner" of Père Lachaise Cemetery on July 7. The epitaph on his headstone bears the Greek inscription "ΚΑΤΑ ΤΟΝ ΔΑΙΜΟΝΑ ΕΑΥΤΟΥ", literally meaning "According to his own daimōn" and usually interpreted as "True to his own spirit".
Morrison died at age 27, the same age as several other famous rock stars in the 27 Club. Morrison's girlfriend, Pamela Courson, also died at the age of 27.
1971–73 Other Voices:
The Surviving Doors continued for some time, initially considering replacing Morrison with a new singer. Instead, Krieger and Manzarek took over on vocals and The Doors released two more albums before disbanding. The recording of Other Voices took place from July to August 1971, and the album was released in October 1971. The LP featured the single "Tightrope Ride", which received some airplay.
Full Circle:
The recordings for Full Circle took place during the spring of 1972, and the album was released in August 1972. The Doors went on tour after the releases in support of the albums. The last album expanded into jazz territory. For the tours during this period, The Doors enlisted Jack Conrad on bass and Bobby Ray Henson on rhythm guitar. While neither album has been reissued on CD in the United States, they have been released on 2-on-1 CDs in Germany and Russia.
Break-up:
The group disbanded in 1973 and Krieger and Densmore would go on to form The Butts Band from 1973 to 1975. Krieger, Manzarek and Densmore reunited in 1978 for An American Prayer, 1993 at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1997 in the studio to complete the Morrison penned "Orange County Suite" and 2000 for VH1's Storytellers: A Celebration and on the tribute album Stoned Immaculate: The Music of the Doors, which featured band members playing along side guest performers as well as recording new music.
Past members of The Butts Band
Robby Krieger
John Densmore
Jess Roden
Phil Chen
Roy Davies
Mick Weaver
Michael Stull
Karl Ruckner
Mike Berkowitz
Alex Richman
David Paul Campbell
An American Prayer
Reunions 1978 – An American Prayer:
The third post-Morrison album, An American Prayer, was released in 1978. It consisted of the band adding musical backing tracks to previously-recorded spoken-word performances of Morrison reciting his poetry. The record was a commercial success, acquiring a platinum certificate. An American Prayer was re-mastered and re-released with bonus tracks in 1995.
John Densmore and Jack Holsman at the 26th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
John Densmore and Jack Holsman at the 26th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
1993 – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:
In 1993, The Doors were inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For the ceremony Manzarek, Krieger and Densmore reunited once again to perform "Roadhouse Blues", "Break On Through" and "Light My Fire". Eddie Vedder filled in on lead vocals, while Don Was played bass.
Manzarek, Krieger and Densmore reunite for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Show with Eddie Vedder filling in on lead vocals and Don Was on bass guitar.
1997 – "Orange County Suite":
For the 1997 boxed set, the surviving members of The Doors once again reunited to complete "Orange County Suite". The track was one that Morrison had written and recorded, providing vocals and piano.
2000 – VH1's Storytellers and Stoned Immaculate:
The Doors reunited in 2000 to perform on VH1's Storytellers. For this last live performance, the band was joined by Angelo Barbera on bass and numerous guest vocalists. Guest vocalists included Ian Astbury, Scott Weiland, Scott Stapp, Perry Farrell, Pat Monahan and Travis Meeks. Following the recording The Storytellers: A Celebration, the band members joined solo and together to record on the Stoned Immaculate: The Music of The Doors. These sessions also yielded new songs credited to The Doors; "Under Waterfall" and "The Cosmic Movie".
2011 – Re:Generation:
"I like to say this is the first new Doors track of the 21st century", Ray Manzarek said of a new song he recorded with Robby Krieger, John Densmore and DJ/producer Skrillex. The recording session and song are part of a new documentary film, RE:GENERATION, that recruited five popular DJs/producers to work with artists from five separate genres and had them record new music. Manzarek and Skrillex had an immediate musical connection. "[Sonny] plays his beat, all he had to do was play the one thing. I listened to it and I said, ‘Holy shit, that's strong,’" Manzarek says. "Basically, it's a variation on ‘Milestones,’ by Miles Davis, and if I do say so myself, sounds fucking great, hot as hell." The track, called "Breakin' a Sweat", was included on Skrillex's EP Bangarang.
After The Doors
The Butts Band (1973–1975):
Krieger and Densmore formed The Butts Band in 1973, but disbanded in 1975 after two albums. Phil Chen who played bass on the band's second album, would later join Robby once again with Manzarek-Krieger.
Former Member of The Butts Band
- John Densmore – Drums (1973-1975)
- Robby Krieger – Guitar (1973-1975)
- Jess Roden – Vocals (1973-1974)
- Phil Chen – Bass Guitar (1973-1974)
- Roy Davies – Keyboards/Synthesizer (1973-1974)
- Mick Weaver – Organ (1973-1974)
- Michael Stull – Guitar/Vocals (1974-1975)
- Karl Ruckner – Bass (1974-1975)
- Mike Berkowitz – Drums (1974-1975)
- Alex Richman – Keyboards/Vocals (1974-1975)
- David Paul Campbell – Keyboards/Vocals (1975)
Manzarek's solo work and Nite City (1974–present):
Manzarek made three solo albums from 1974–83 and formed a band called Nite City in 1975, which released two albums from 1977-78. Krieger released six solo albums from 1977-2010. All of the ex-Doors solo albums have met with mixed reviews. In recent years Densmore formed a jazz band called Tribaljazz and they released a self-titled album in 2006.
Manzarek–Krieger (2002–present):
In 2002 Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger formed a new version of The Doors which they called The Doors of the 21st Century. After legal battles over use of The Doors name with drummer John Densmore, they changed their name several times and now tour under the name Manzarek-Krieger or Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of The Doors. The group is dedicated to performing the music of The Doors and Jim Morrison. John Densmore refuses to participate because of Morrison's absence, although Manzarek and Krieger have always invited him.
The Doors were among the most intense and revolutionary bands of the Sixties (or any decade, for that matter). The impact of their meteoric career has resonated far beyond their brief half-decade as a recording and performing entity.
I hope you enjoyed this 2 part post on The Doors. I am looking forward to my next project, I am currently into the rock, blues, hard rock and pop rock bands from the 60’s and 70’s. I haven’t swayed away from THE BLUES which is where my heart is musically. I’m just spreading my wings to learn more about those early rock bands.
Well, until next time, “Keep Rockin’ and Rollin’ and playing Those Blues”.
MUSICIAN by Night
“Help Keep The Blues Alive”
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