The Doors – ‘Light My Fire’
- Writers: Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek
- Producers: Paul A. Rothchild
- Recorded: Late 1966
- Released: April 1967
- Players:
Jim Morrison–vocals
Ray Manzarek–organ
Robby Krieger–guitar
John Densmore–drums - Album: The Doors (Elektra, 1967)
- Also On:
Greatest Hits (Elektra, 1980)
The Best Of The Doors (Elektra, 1985)
and other compilations and live albums - The Doors’ “Light My Fire” single was severely shorter than the original album version. At the time, a single that ran six minutes and 50 seconds was considered far too lengthy.
- The song topped the pop chart for the first of three weeks in July 1967, and sold over a million copies.
- Long before Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Who songs were used in advertisements, the Doors actually turned down an offer of $50,000 to use “Light My Fire” in a car ad.
- Morrison was more or less disowned by his parents, with whom he had a strained relationship (especially his U.S. Navy officer father), so much so that his body was buried in Paris, France, where he died.
FAST FORWARD:
- Following Morrison’s death on July 3rd, 1971, Krieger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, and drummer John Densmore soldiered on as the Doors, with additional musicians, for two more albums before disbanding in 1973.
- Morrison’s grave at the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris has become a haven for fans, many of whom have defaced other graves with graffiti.
- Manzarek and Densmore have both written memoirs about their days in the group, which has caused friction between them. Krieger has stayed above the fray and remains friendly with both men.
- The Doors’ own label Bright Midnight Records has issued rare and unreleased music from the Doors’ vaults. The CDs are available at the band’s official website, thedoors.com.
- The Doors were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
- Krieger and Manzarek reunited in 2002 under the Doors banner, with Police drummer Stewart Copeland and Cult singer Ian Astbury. Copeland and Astbury have both since departed, and vocals are being handled by Fuel singer Brett Scallions.
Densmore and Morrison’s parents and in-laws filed suit over the use of the name, Morrison’s likeness, and other Doors-related issues. As a result, the group had to change its name once again. Krieger and Manzarek now bill themselves as Riders On The Storm.