Inside the goldnine

One of the most era-defining bands of the 60s, The Doors are marking their 40th anniversary with a 6-CD and 6-DVD box set. Jason Draper spoke to them about their rarities and their relevance today. (Read more: Part II)

In 1965, Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek met on California’s Venice Beach and decided to start a band. The two had known each other when they were film students at the University Of California, Los Angeles, but keyboard player Manzarek had no inkling that Morrison was a nascent singer.

After a brief catch up, Morrison mentioned that he’d been writing songs and perhaps they should start a band.

‘He said, “I got these songs,”’ Manzarek says today. ‘So I said, “Sing me a song,” and, my God, he sang Moonlight Drive. Now, when Robby [Krieger, guitarist] comes to the first rehearsal and all four Doors are finally together for the first time, the song we played was Moonlight Drive. It was absolutely magical. From the very first time playing that song together, I knew we had that indefinable “it”. Only at that point did I understand what that group consciousness – and a group mind playing music – could accomplish.’

Naming themselves after Aldous Huxley’s book on mescaline experimentation, The Doors Of Perception (itself titled after William Blake’s The Marriage Of Heaven & Hell: ‘If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite’), and combining jazz, blues, rock and psych …

by Jason Draper
<< Back to Issue 331

You must be a subscriber to view the full article, subscribe now for full access to all online content.

Already a Magazine Subscriber? Register now for online access.

Login Here

Free Newsletter


Subscribe to
our email newsletter by emailing:

anna.bowen@
metropolis.co.uk