SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE
“IT’S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY GETS THEIR SAY. I DON’T WANT IT TO BE JUST ALL GUITAR”
AS A MEMBER of one of rock’s most influential bands, Robby Krieger not only added unique textures and an innovative slide guitar approach to the Doors’ sound — he also wrote or co-wrote many of their most notable tracks, including “Light My Fire,” “Touch Me,” “Love Her Madly” and the bar-band staple “Roadhouse Blues.” When Krieger joined the Doors, in 1965, he’d been playing electric guitar for only a couple of years, having started out performing flamenco and folk on an acoustic. He was always a keen experimenter, though, and his explorations into Indian music helped him to find ways to broaden the palette of the traditional rock and blues guitar approaches. His slide playing is instantly recognizable, distinguished by long swoops into and out of notes, and an unconventional approach to blues that doesn’t slavishly reproduce all the well-trodden clichés.
Following the death of singer Jim Morrison in 1971, the Doors continued as a trio, with Krieger assuming some vocal duties, but after a couple of albums the members went their separate ways. Krieger launched a solo career, his 1989 album, was much more rock and roots orientated.
