40 years on Jim Morrison and The Doors: still dark, still strange, and still hot

The Doors—from left to right: Jim Morrison (singer), John Densmore (drummer), Ray Manzarek (keyboardist), and Robby Krieger (guitarist)—posed for THE DOORS album cover in New York City, New York in late November 1966. Photo by Joel Brodsky.

THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BY MICHAEL CIMAOMO AND PUBLISHED BY VALLEY ADVOCATE ON JULY 14, 2011.

As any longtime music fan might observe, there are a certain number of artists a person encounters in their life that they return to repeatedly, like some sort of weird psychic center.

For example, the Beatles are one of the bands on this writer’s personal list. So too is the mighty Nirvana, and the psychedelic pioneers of Pink Floyd. The Clash, Oasis, Led Zeppelin – I could go on and on.

However, the group resounding most strongly in my head right now is none other than The Doors.

Today, just over 40 years after the death of Jim Morrison, the music of the Lizard King and his three comrades in arms – Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore – remains as relevant as ever. Don’t believe me?