My Memoir-Infused Interview with Robby Krieger

The spirit of The Doors was alive and rockin’ when Robby Krieger’s close-knit band took to our beloved Medina stage earlier this month to celebrate the music that not only changed everything in my life, but the lives of all those in attendance.

It seems that all Doors fans have their own Doors story, and all it takes is one song to spark a million memories. Those close to me know I am crazy obsessed The Doors, and my boss here at the station, KQ Promotions Director Cassie Hilke, asked me before Robby’s concert if I have a favorite song of theirs. As I began to think about the songs specifically, not one seemed more special than the other; my indecisive brain couldn’t choose just one to favor. I guess I’m just not the type of gal who likes to play the picking and choosing game, especially when it’s about something I love.

I truly love The Doors. The first time I heard “Light My Fire,” my instant infatuation with its sound helped fill a void I didn’t even know I had. It was like I was searching for a band to geek out about, and their songs gave me a sheltered escape, something that was only mine. The music, or rather my reaction to the music, was helping me understand who I was; who I was about to become.

Even though I couldn’t quite answer Cassie’s question, what did flood my mind were the memories I’ve created in the time I’ve come to know and love The Doors. Right away I think of one special lady who was right there with me since the beginning, my friend and fellow crazed Doors fan, Dana Sorensen. We used to blast The Doors at full volume in her basement after school and burn incense like total freaks. I have a goofy memory of one year we celebrated Jim Morrison’s birthday. We watched the Oliver Stone movie in our Jim Morrison t-shirts, practiced our dance routine we made to “Hello I Love You,” and burned the incense we purchased on our routine trip to Discland just moments before. All I really remember is seeing the smoke collect by Jim’s face on a poster she had on the wall. We were convinced that Jim was there with us, something that seems silly now but genuine at the time. There was no doubt in our minds that we felt something special with this band, and in no time at all we became super fans.

Dana and I have shared a dream ever since we did a ninth grade English project about The Doors: to see their music come alive on stage, by none other than The Doors themselves. I was lucky enough to have her by my side at Robby’s concert, and it meant the world to me that I got to experience the night with her. Up until this moment, I’ve always felt an obvious disconnect to The Doors because I’ve never seen them all live together. I never got to see Jim Morrison spontaneously explode on stage or Ray Manzarek freak everyone out on the keys. I haven’t even seen drummer John Densmore perform live yet, but I’m hoping he will join Robby for the tribute concert for Ray that’s currently in the works.

“We’re trying to get it together still,” Robby Krieger told me backstage after his impressive 18 song set. “It’s going to be for charity for cancer. We want it to be at the Hollywood Bowl.”

At first the concert will be a one time gig, but if everybody loves it, doors (pun intended) will open for a multi-date tour.

After Ray passed away almost two years ago, Robby found it difficult to carry on and play without him. I’m grateful that he found the courage to keep the music alive and embark on this tour for us: the fans. Robby was joined on stage by Nathan Wilmarth, Los Angeles firefighter by day, Doors keyboardist by night. It was fun to watch him play and channel Ray, his teacher and main inspiration to play the keyboards.

“My best friend showed me ‘Love Street’ back when I was 12-years-old and I couldn’t resist listening to more Doors songs,” Wilmarth said. “I figured out which keyboards Ray Manzarek used and started buying them and learning all The Doors’ songs. Now here I am!”

“He’s got so many keyboards he can’t even fit them all in the studio,” Krieger said.

While we were on the topic of “Love Street” I couldn’t help but ask Robby just where it was. “Probably Laurel Canyon,” he said. “There’s a store right in the middle of Laurel Canyon and Pamela lived right above the store. So that was Love Street.”

Watching The Doors of 2015 play made me happy because it was clear they were having a fun time jammin’ together. I pretty much went crazy during every song, but “Back Door Man” and “When the Music’s Over” made me go the most wild. It’s just not possible for me to remain calm during these songs, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to hold anything back in the presence of the great Robby Krieger! Cassie and I took the dance floor during “LA Woman” and grooved with some fans who had some sickly stellar moves. I’m more of a head-banging, hip-swaying kind of gal, but these folks were literally dancing with their whole bodies. It was awesome.

Badass bass player Phil Chen had an irresistible energy that had us all smiling. He played with Robby and Ray back in the day in their band, Krieger-Manzarek, as well as with many other talents including Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. Robby’s drummer, Owen Goldman, looked familiar to me and I discovered that he sometimes plays with Peace Frog, a Doors tribute band that plays live concert recreations at a funky little joint called Venice Bistro right on the Venice Beach boardwalk. I told him about when I went to see them play for the first time. I felt like I was actually watching The Doors!

I honestly felt the presence of Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek as Robby Krieger and his band played together on stage. I appreciate him coming out and playing these songs on his own because there are people like me and Dana and those even younger who want nothing more to experience the magic of The Doors live in concert.

“Yeah I guess so, I didn’t realize how many there were,” Robby said. “After Ray passed away, I didn’t really want to play Doors songs that much. Now my son wants to sing and I figured…perfect. Who has more of a right to sing Doors songs than him?”

Singer Waylon Krieger had the Jim Morrison vibe down to a T – from his look, to his voice, to his quirky attitude. He acted how I would imagine Jim to act, especially during the times he zoned out during a song. He would say random things like how he needed to “run out to the car quick” before he started singing — making us wait and beg for him to shout out the lyrics just as Jim would have done. He was all about building up the energy and making the audience anticipate what was about to come, which I loved.

“It’s possible that Jim Morrison took over his soul,” Krieger said.

As I grow older my relationship with The Doors does nothing but intensify. It was so special to celebrate the music I’ve become so close with next to my best friends in my very own home. Doors fans sure don’t take their music obsession lightly, and we’re lucky to have a guy like Robby Krieger who actually tours and performs these songs for us. It’s important to keep The Doors legacy alive because their music is still affecting generations today. I think of all people, Robby understands that this is music that’s meant to be remembered. So many people have stories just like mine and I believe that’s what makes The Doors so special: the connection they have with their audience.

Robby Krieger guitar image courtesy of RKH Images