“If the doors of perception were clear, everything would appear to man as it is—infinite.” This epigraph is taken from Aldous Husley's The Doors of Perception, which was a quote from the British mystic poet William Blake.
The Doors are the epitome of the psychedelic 1960s with Vietnam and rock and roll, with decadent philosophy and mescaline. It owes its name to this book, which inspired Morrison (the band's frontman).
Beginnings of The Doors (June 1965 - August 1966)
It all started on the beach in Los Angeles, when two UCLA directing students met and exchanged their vision of the world.
One told his poems, the second appreciated and offered to record them to music. The entry of the song Light My Fire is the merit of the second. This fateful meeting Jim Morrison and pianist Ray Manzarek in the summer of 1965 is vividly featured in Stone's film Doors.
On September 2, 1965, they released bootleg versions of Moonlight Drive, My Eyes Have Seen You, Hello, I Love You.
Also joining the band were guitarist Robbie Krieger and drummer John Densmore, Manzarek's yoga acquaintances. They started performing at The London Fog. In 1966 it changed its name to Whiskey a Go Go.
The Doors did not use a bass guitar. Since Ray Manzarek himself played the bass parts on the Fender Rhodes Bass. At the same time, decorating the arrangements with virtuoso passages on his Vox Continental transistor electric organ.
Morrison wrote poetry (which is still considered a classic of American literature of the XNUMXth century) to the music of Krieger and Manzarek. As well as the rhythmic beats of Densmore's drum, which the listener liked with the manner of performance and semantic fullness.
Native American and Spanish culture, references to Greek myths - this was the main driving force of the group, as well as the reason for their dismissal. Since, obsessed with the Oedipus complex in an imposing state, Morrison said a catchy phrase in the song The End during one of the performances at the Whiskey a Go Go club:
« —Father.
Yes, son?
- I want to kill you.
— Mother! I want to fuck you…”.
(Such antics are the leitmotif of Morrison's behavior all the time).
Producer Rothschild was impressed by the group's talent, erudition and outrageousness and offered her a lucrative contract. In August 1966 they started collaborating and releasing compositions.
Creativity of the group The Doors (1966-1969)
Having signed a contract with Rothschild, the group plunged headlong into music and began to create. The Doors' first album was recorded in one take due to minor sponsorship from a producer.
The album turned out to be not very remarkable for Morrison and the team. But for any contemporary who is fascinated by good music - classics. She took the 52nd position in the top of the best albums, according to Rolling Stone magazine.
This album featured The End and Light My Fire. They are the band's hallmark and are quoted in many works of art, such as in the film "Apocalypse Now" (1979), The Doors, etc.
The album was recorded in the fall of 1966, but was released in the winter of 1967. At the same time, the Strange Days album was released, which was created with a higher quality.
Therefore, Morrison began to simply recite poems to white noise. This is the composition Horse Latitude and songs such as: Strange Days and When The Music's Over.
Beginning of the end (1970-1971)
Two albums, Waiting for the Sun (1968) and The Soft Parade (1969), were followed by Spanish Caravan, Touch Me.
The song Hello, I Love You turned out to be a plagiarism (but superior to the original) of the song All Day and All of The Night (by The Kinks).
In the 1970s, Morrison constantly retired during the tour, used drugs, liters of alcohol and antidepressants. He was no longer able to create and create with the same ease as before.
It even got to the point that the group had to engage in introspection. Morrison ceased to engage in labor activities in the group, except for the corruption of the crowd. It was stripping on stage, driving her into a frenzy with sharp words, with a final scuffle at the end.
Morrison died of a heart attack in 1971 in Paris. His death remains a mystery to this day.
Afterword
The Doors made a huge contribution to the psychedelic culture of the 1960s and rock music in general.
The composition of the group without Morrison continued to perform at different intervals, until 2012.
