The Doors

"If the doors of perception were cleansed, every thing would appear to man as it is: infinite." - William Blake

Every once in a while, comes along a phenomenon, which alters the course of the world in a way that ignoring it becomes not only impossible, but is definitely foolhardy. There was the wheel, electricity, the Automobile, Adolf Hitler, the computer, The Beatles, the internet and then there was James Douglas Morrison and The Doors.
Possibly the greatrest psychedelic band ever, The Doors was fronted by Jim and comprised of the greatest keyboard player ever, Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robert Krieger and drummer John Densmore. In the 1960s, when rock'n'roll was fading away in its true form, The Doors came about, with other psychedelic bands like Grateful Dead, and stormed America and the world with their brand of acid rock.
Even The Beatles jumped on the bandwagon of psychedelia, releasing Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, widely regarded as one of the, if not the greatest psychedelic rock albums ever.

Born somewhere between the beaches of Venice, where Manzarek and Morrison famously exchanged the phenomenal track, "Moonlight Drive", and the corridors of UCLA, The Doors went on to enchant, entertain, influence and mystify millions in their time and ours.

Jim Morrison, or The Lizard King, or Mr. Mojo Risin', which is an anagram of his name, was a poet, philosopher, singer and composer if the world had ever seen one. Although it was cut short by his death, his fame and his cult continues to grow, and mystify today. Morrison was a vastly talented philospher who included references from the Bible and from poets like Blake, in his songs and poems. It was his initially understated rebellious poetry that was the drive behind the bands phenomenal rise to success. He was one of the most original poets and songwriters in history, alongside the late great Roger Keith 'Syd' Barrett.
As lead singer and lyricist for the Doors, Jim Morrison made the most of his short life, inspiring with his truthful writing and relaxed, authentic vocal style. A psychedelic rocker with a poetic soul, Morrison was a connoisseur of things new and offbeat, experimenting with everything from Nietzsche to the bohemian underworld of California.
As a performer, Jim, after the initial period, rarely ever confined himself to the conventional methods of eliciting a response from the crowd, especially with his 'lizard king' mythology implemented. He used to frequently fall down, play dead, make animal noises and awaken with a wry smile during shows.

"I think of myself as an intelligent, sensitive human being with the soul of a clown, which always forces me to blow it at the most important moments. " - Jim Morrison

Not only was Morrison a gifted poet, he was also a brilliant visionary in the promotional aspects of his music, as was shown in his development of the music video for 'Break On Through', which was a stepping stone in the genre.

He was an advocate of free living, of exorcising the ghost of the stifling existence we bear today, to feel, live and understand the true meaning of life.
What I want to present here is a brief account of my association with the band that has begun to influence my life and thought in a way like never before.

Every act today, in this world is guided by the indication of conformity, and by the fear of its perception in society as a whole. Every move is scrutinised wearing the tinted glasses of its influence on others and how it defines a lifestyle. Every thing is branded good or evil, and people consider every kind of pain and suffering evil. The freedom of expression, of the most innate of feelings is constricted and sucked out of us, citing the apprehensions of civilization, whatever that may be. The Doors, especially Morrison, were an icon of rebellious freedom that was, and still is desired by the youth.