About this episodeRobby Krieger discusses his memoir 'Set the Night on Fire,' revealing the creative process behind writing it a…AI summary
Robby Krieger discusses his memoir 'Set the Night on Fire,' revealing the creative process behind writing it and offering candid insights into The Doors' history, including Jim Morrison's early self-consciousness about his image and the band's disciplined yet loose approach to songwriting. He shares anecdotes about meeting blues legends like Albert King and B.B. King, his experiences with punk rock and skateboarding, and the technical details of recording iconic tracks like 'L.A. Woman.'
Key takeaways 6
Jim Morrison was highly conscious of his image from a young age, evidenced by old photos where he posed for the camera, contradicting the idea that he was naturally aloof or shy on stage initially.
The Doors prioritized being a cohesive band unit rather than a frontman vehicle; Morrison corrected people who said 'Jim Morrison and the Doors,' insisting it was just 'The Doors,' similar to The Beatles.
Musical discipline was emphasized by influences like Ravi Shankar and Jim Morrison himself, who advised abstaining from sex before recording sessions to maintain focus, though Morrison likely didn't follow his own advice.
The band's sound was often defined by imperfections and loose timing; for example, 'L.A. Woman' was recorded in their rehearsal space with a raw, jam-based approach that allowed for natural tempo shifts and human error, which Krieger believes made the music cooler than polished perfection.
Krieger learned specific guitar techniques from blues legends, such as Albert King's method of using heavy strings tuned down four steps to bend notes without breaking them.
The Doors were largely self-managed early on, with Jim Morrison having his own desk in their Santa Monica office and living across the street in a motel, allowing for direct involvement in career decisions.
Notable quotes 4AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.
“I think it was just meant to be... he was taking acid at the time and when you're taking a lot of acid you don't eat hardly at all right and he lost just the right amount of weight at that time you know that's that's why I always say the doors were there at the right place at the right time”
▶ 8:43Krieger explains how Jim Morrison achieved his iconic skinny look for the famous Joel Brodsky photo shoot, attributing it to drug use rather than intentional dieting.
“If you really want to be good at you know your instrument you have to lay off sex at least for you know sure reasonable amount of time”
▶ 24:47Ravi Shankar's advice to Krieger and John Densmore about maintaining sexual discipline to improve musical performance.
“A lot of times we would we wouldn't be perfect you know it would be three bars instead of four bars until jim came in you know he never came in when it we thought he would um and uh yeah nowadays it's like you would never do that nobody no group would ever do something like that and to me it just made it so much cooler”
▶ 57:32Krieger reflects on the raw, unpolished nature of The Doors' recordings, particularly 'L.A. Woman,' valuing the human element over technical perfection.
“I think he uh was he anti-religion... didn't see nothing there didn't feel nothing”
▶ 1:21:41Krieger recounts Jim Morrison's reaction after meeting Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, suggesting Morrison's skepticism or inability to perceive spiritual connection.
Chapters & Sections (67)▼
0:04Writing a Memoir: The Creative Processchapter2
0:04Writing a Memoir with a Legendary Musician
2:35Overcoming Creative Blocks and Finding Motivation
5:16Consequences of Past Mistakes and Lessons Learnedchapter2
5:16Consequences of Past Mistakes and Lessons Learned
6:59Early Days of The Doors and Jim Morrison
9:23Jim Morrison's Early Stage Presence and Imagechapter5
9:23Jim Morrison's Early Stage Presence and Image
11:39The Doors' Band Dynamics and Album Significance
12:52The Story Behind Iconic Jim Morrison Photo Shoot
14:13Early Band Photo Shoots and Iconic Imagery
15:26Jim Morrison's Physical Transformation and Image
17:40Meeting and Learning from Blues Guitar Legendschapter3
17:40Learning from Blues Guitar Legends
19:32Legendary Blues Musicians and Influences
21:38Guitar Techniques and Influences in Music
22:57Musical Influences and Creative Disciplinechapter3
22:57Meeting Musicians and Sharing Guitar Interests
24:34Sex and Creativity in Music Industry
26:03Experiences at a Timothy Leary Lecture
27:12Jim's Reaction to Little Richard's Live Performancechapter4
27:12Reaction to Natural Beauty and Live Music Performances
29:00Legendary Musicians and Their Impact
30:16Encounters with Famous Musicians and Artists
31:34Early Reggae Influences and Musical Experiences
34:08The Story Behind the Billboard and Hollywood Bowlchapter3
34:08The Making of a Billboard and Band Reaction
35:41Acoustic Amplifiers at the Hollywood Bowl
37:25Sound Challenges at the Hollywood Bowl
39:12Lost Guitars and Early Music Venueschapter3
39:12Lost Guitars and Missing Musical History
40:51Early Career at the Whiskey Nightclub
42:04Finding and Working with a Music Manager
43:41The Doors' Office and Jim Morrison's Work Habitschapter3
43:41The Doors' Office and Jim Morrison's Work Habits
45:47The Bohemian Grove Experience and Conspiracy Theories
47:10Music Festivals and Jam Sessions in Redwood Forests
49:01Conspiracy Theories and Secret Societieschapter3
49:01Conspiracy Theories and Secret Government Activities
50:37Jim Morrison's Poetry and Unpublished Works
52:20The Morrison Hotel Shoot and its Legacy
53:49Collaborative Songwriting Process in the Studiochapter3
53:49Collaborative Songwriting Process in the Studio
55:35Challenges of Recording Third Albums
57:32Imperfections in Music Recording Process
58:56The Mystery of Paris Blues Recordingchapter3
58:56The Paris Blues Song Debate Continues
1:00:22Theories on Missing Doors Album Tracks
1:02:05Behind-the-Scenes of Oliver Stone's Doors Movie
1:03:19Film Accuracy and Music Production Processchapter3
1:03:19Accuracy of Movie Scenes and Music Production
1:05:03Home Recording Studio Design and Functionality
1:06:29Reggae and Punk Rock Influences and Experiences
1:07:44Uninvited Guests and Unconventional Music Collaborationschapter3
1:07:44Forming a Band with Unconventional Musicians
1:09:10Unwanted Fans and Harassment Experiences
1:10:47Early Days of Skateboarding and Punk Rock
1:12:35Early Skateboarding Experiences and Injurieschapter3
1:12:35Early Skateboarding Experiences and DIY Ramps
1:13:50Annual Charity Golf and Concert Event
1:15:06Philanthropic Event Planning and History
1:16:49Golf Experiences and Personal Bucket Listchapter5
1:16:49Golf Experiences and Bucket List Goals
1:18:33Celebrity Encounters and Trivia Stories Shared
1:20:13Future Book Translation and Tour Plans
1:21:33Jim Morrison's Encounter with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
1h 23m
1h 9m
1h 7m
23m
1h 9m
1h 16m
1h 28m
1h 10m
1h 2m
1h 1m
1h 14m
52m
3h 17m
1h 52m⏭ 1
2h 4m
2h 2m⏭ 3
2h 5m⏭ 3
59m
2h 30m⏭ 1
1h 32m
1h 42m
1h 49m⏭ 2
1h 7m
1h 6m
33m
1h 0m⏭ 1
3h 54m⏭ 7
46m
6h 26m
54m⏭ 1
3h 59m⏭ 5
9h 11m
1h 16m⏭ 2
11h 54m
54m⏭ 2
11h 54m⏭ 8