The Doors – Band Biography
Formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, The Doors became one of the most influential and controversial rock bands of the late 1960s. Blending blues, psychedelia, jazz, and dark poetic lyricism, they carved out a sound unlike any of their contemporaries.
The classic lineup consisted of:
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Jim Morrison (vocals)
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Ray Manzarek (keyboards)
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Robby Krieger (guitar)
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John Densmore (drums)
The band took its name from Aldous Huxley’s book The Doors of Perception, itself inspired by a William Blake quote: “If the doors of perception were cleansed…”
Their 1967 debut album, The Doors, featuring “Light My Fire,” “Break On Through,” and “The End,” made them international stars. Morrison’s stage presence—equal parts poet, shaman, and provocateur—turned concerts into unpredictable events.
Between 1967 and 1971, the band released six studio albums with Morrison, including Strange Days, Waiting for the Sun, The Soft Parade, Morrison Hotel, and L.A. Woman. Morrison died in Paris in July 1971 at age 27, joining the infamous “27 Club.”
After his death, the remaining members released two additional albums as a trio before disbanding in 1973. The Doors were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and remain one of the best-selling American bands of all time.
Band Members – Individual Biographies
Jim Morrison (1943–1971)
Early Life
Born James Douglas Morrison on December 8, 1943, in Melbourne, Florida, Jim was the son of George Stephen Morrison, a U.S. Navy admiral, and Clara Clarke Morrison. Growing up in a strict military family, Morrison moved frequently across the United States.
He was highly intelligent and an avid reader from a young age, deeply influenced by philosophers like Nietzsche and poets such as Rimbaud and Blake.
Morrison studied film at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he met Ray Manzarek. Originally, he aspired to be a filmmaker and poet.
Life During The Doors
Morrison became the band’s lyricist and charismatic frontman. His rebellious persona led to multiple arrests, including the infamous 1969 Miami incident, where he was accused of indecent exposure (a charge still debated).
Family & Relationships
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Parents: George & Clara Morrison
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Siblings: Anne (sister), Andrew (brother)
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Long-term partner: Pamela Courson (not legally married)
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No confirmed children
Life After / Death
In 1971, Morrison moved to Paris to focus on writing poetry. He was found dead in his apartment bathtub on July 3, 1971. No autopsy was performed, and the official cause was heart failure.
Fun Facts
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Claimed Native American spiritual visions influenced him.
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Wrote poetry collections such as The Lords and the New Creatures.
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Was extremely shy offstage.
Did You Know?
Morrison once considered quitting music entirely to pursue poetry full-time.
Ray Manzarek (1939–2013)
Early Life
Born Raymond Daniel Manczarek Jr. in Chicago, Illinois, on February 12, 1939. His parents were of Polish descent.
He studied economics at DePaul University before transferring to UCLA’s film school, where he met Morrison.
Role in The Doors
Manzarek’s distinctive Vox Continental organ defined The Doors’ sound. Since the band had no bass player, Ray played bass lines on a Fender Rhodes keyboard bass with his left hand.
Family
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Married Dorothy Fujikawa in 1967 (until her death in 2021)
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Son: Pablo Manzarek
Life After The Doors
After Morrison’s death, Ray produced bands like X and pursued solo projects. He also wrote books about The Doors and Morrison.
Fun Facts
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Ray is responsible for convincing Morrison to form The Doors after hearing him recite “Moonlight Drive.”
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Co-produced the punk band X.
Did You Know?
Manzarek nearly joined a different band before fully committing to The Doors.
Robby Krieger (b. 1946)
Early Life
Born January 8, 1946, in Los Angeles, California. His father was an engineer, and Robby grew up in a culturally open household.
He studied flamenco guitar before shifting to electric guitar. Krieger attended UCLA briefly but focused mainly on music.
Role in The Doors
Krieger wrote many of the band’s biggest hits, including “Light My Fire,” “Love Me Two Times,” and “Touch Me.”
His flamenco-influenced style gave The Doors a unique melodic edge.
Family
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Married Lynn Krieger
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Two children
Life After The Doors
Krieger formed The Butts Band and later pursued a jazz-fusion career. He occasionally tours performing Doors material.
Fun Facts
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Initially didn’t want to sing on “Runnin’ Blue.”
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Ranked among Rolling Stone’s top guitarists.
Did You Know?
Krieger was the youngest member of The Doors.
John Densmore (b. 1944)
Early Life
Born December 1, 1944, in Los Angeles. His father worked in aerospace engineering.
Densmore studied ethnomusicology and was heavily influenced by jazz drummers like Elvin Jones.
Role in The Doors
His jazz-influenced drumming added sophistication to the band’s sound. He often clashed with Morrison over professionalism.
Family
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Married Julia Brose (divorced)
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Later married Leslie Neale
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One child
Life After The Doors
Densmore refused lucrative reunion offers without Morrison, prioritizing artistic integrity. He has written memoirs, including Riders on the Storm.
Fun Facts
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The most legally protective of The Doors’ legacy.
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Advocated environmental and social causes.
Did You Know?
Densmore once sued his former bandmates to prevent commercialization of The Doors’ name.
Additional Trivia About The Doors
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The band never had a permanent bass guitarist.
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“Light My Fire” was edited down for radio play from over 7 minutes.
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Morrison improvised much of “The End” live.
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The Doors were one of the first American bands to use extended instrumental passages in mainstream rock.
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Their sound combined blues, classical influences, and avant-garde experimentation.
The Doors – Complete Discography Guide & Album Reviews
Few bands built such a powerful catalog in such a short time. Between 1967 and 1971, The Doors released six studio albums with Jim Morrison that reshaped rock music. After his death, the remaining trio released two more studio records, followed by numerous live and compilation albums that kept their legacy alive for decades.
📀 Complete Album List (Chronological Order)
Studio Albums
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The Doors (1967)
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Strange Days (1967)
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Waiting for the Sun (1968)
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The Soft Parade (1969)
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Morrison Hotel (1970)
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L.A. Woman (1971)
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Other Voices (1971)
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Full Circle (1972)
Live Albums (Major Releases)
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Absolutely Live (1970)
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Alive, She Cried (1983)
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Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1987)
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In Concert (1991)
Compilation / Best Of Albums
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13 (1970)
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Weird Scenes Inside the Gold Mine (1972)
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The Best of The Doors (1985)
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The Very Best of The Doors (2001)
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Legacy: The Absolute Best (2003)
🎵 Studio Albums – Mini Reviews & Key Facts
1️⃣ The Doors (1967)
Peak Chart Position: #2 (US Billboard 200)
Certification: Multi-Platinum (US)
Signature Tracks: “Light My Fire,” “Break On Through,” “The End”
A groundbreaking debut blending blues, psychedelia, and dark poetry. “Light My Fire” became a #1 hit and pushed the album into multi-million sales. Rolling Stone frequently ranks it among the greatest debut albums ever.
Fun Fact: “The End” was originally a breakup song.
2️⃣ Strange Days (1967)
Peak: #3 (US)
Key Songs: “People Are Strange,” “Love Me Two Times,” “When the Music’s Over”
Darker and more experimental than the debut. Heavy use of studio effects and layered keyboards gave it a haunting atmosphere.
Did You Know? The album cover features circus performers photographed in New York.
3️⃣ Waiting for the Sun (1968)
Peak: #1 (US)
Hit Single: “Hello, I Love You” (#1 US)
Their first No.1 album. More concise songwriting but still psychedelic. It became one of their biggest commercial successes.
Trivia: The title track never appeared on the album — it was released later on Morrison Hotel.
4️⃣ The Soft Parade (1969)
Peak: #6 (US)
Key Tracks: “Touch Me,” “Wishful Sinful”
Incorporated brass and string arrangements, dividing fans. “Touch Me” became a Top 10 hit.
Fun Fact: Morrison was heavily drinking during this era, affecting sessions.
5️⃣ Morrison Hotel (1970)
Peak: #4 (US)
Standouts: “Roadhouse Blues,” “Peace Frog”
A return to blues-rock roots. Widely considered a comeback album after the mixed reception of The Soft Parade.
Did You Know? The band didn’t have permission to shoot the album cover inside the actual Morrison Hotel.
6️⃣ L.A. Woman (1971)
Peak: #9 (US)
Signature Songs: “Riders on the Storm,” “Love Her Madly,” “L.A. Woman”
Recorded mostly live in the studio. Blues-driven and raw. Morrison recorded vocals in the bathroom for natural echo.
Legacy: Often considered their finest artistic achievement.
7️⃣ Other Voices (1971)
Post-Morrison album with Manzarek and Krieger sharing vocals.
Peak: #31 (US)
Commercial drop compared to previous releases.
8️⃣ Full Circle (1972)
Their final studio album.
Peak: #68 (US)
Experimented with funk and jazz influences. Poor sales led to the band’s dissolution.
🎤 Live Albums Highlights
Absolutely Live (1970)
Featured a powerful live version of “Celebration of the Lizard.”
Alive, She Cried (1983)
Included controversial Miami performance excerpts.
In Concert (1991)
Grammy Award winner for Best Long Form Music Video.
💿 Compilation Albums Impact
The Best of The Doors (1985) reintroduced them to MTV-era audiences.
The Very Best of The Doors (2001) coincided with a major resurgence in catalog sales.
The band has sold over 100 million records worldwide.
🎸 Fun Facts About Their Discography
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They released six albums in just five years with Morrison.
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“Light My Fire” was edited from 7:06 to under 3 minutes for radio.
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L.A. Woman was recorded in their rehearsal space, not a professional studio.
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Morrison never saw the long-term impact of “Riders on the Storm.”
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The band had no permanent bass player in studio recordings.
🤯 Did You Know?
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“People Are Strange” was written after Morrison returned from a depressed walk in the hills.
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The original master tapes of some albums required restoration decades later.
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The Doors were among the first American rock bands to achieve massive European cult status.
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