January 4th Named Day Of The Doors
January 4 Officially Declared As ‘Day of the Doors’
It was fifty years ago when The Doors made their debut, unknowingly releasing tracks that would later become the classics that forever changed the rock genre. To honour their success and timeless music, Los Angeles have named January 4 as ‘Day of the Doors.’ Public celebrations will be held annually in Venice, where the band met and made their way to stardom.
Frontman Jim Morrison was just a film student back in the summer of 1965, when he reunited with future keyboardist Ray Manzarek on Venice Beach, previously meeting at UCLA’s film school. At the time, Manzarek was part of a group with his brothers known as Rick and the Ravens, and invited Morrison to join. In October, the band made the fateful decision to split, leading to the recruitment of drummer John Densmore and guitarist Robby Krieger, previous members of Psychedelic Rangers.
New band members prompted a new name and a new image for the group. As the poet, Morrison derived the name of the group from The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley, which was inspired by “The Marriage of Heaven and Hell,” a famous poem by William Blake. Shortly after performing at the Sunset Strip’s Whisky-a-Go-Go, they signed a record deal with Elektra Records, releasing their very first LP in January 1967. The rest is history.
Although their time together was short-lived, as Morrison was found dead in his Paris apartment on July 3, 1971, followed by the band’s complete disbandment in 1973, The Doors’ legacy still lives on as their music confronted issues of darkness in a time when music was all about peace and love. Over forty years later since the breakup, The Doors are still honoured by fans across the world, featuring them in everything from Rock ‘n’ Roller a digital title from leading gaming website Betfair to reminding the public of the band’s musical genius by releasing a limited edition of London Fog 1966, just before The Door’s 50th anniversary.
As the birthplace of The Doors, Venice has always been significant to the rock group’s road to fame. From their band pictures taken in popular spots around the neighbourhood to Morrison’s giant mural on 1811 Speedway, it’s about time that LA dedicated a day to celebrate one of the most controversial and influential bands in the rock genre, and the musical landscape at large.