The Doors’ Last Two Surviving Members Make Bold Confession About Jim Morrison
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Looking Back After 60 Years
John Densmore and Robby Krieger, the last two surviving members of The Doors, recently opened up about their late frontman Jim Morrison. The interview aired on CBS News Sunday Morning on June 22 as part of a feature marking the 60th anniversary of the band.
The Doors became one of the most influential rock bands from the late ’60s to the early ’70s, with hits like “Light My Fire” and “Hello, I Love You.” The original group was made up of Morrison on vocals, Krieger on guitar, Densmore on drums, and Ray Manzarek on keyboard. Morrison died in 1971 at age 27, and Manzarek passed away in 2013.
First Impressions and Creative Chemistry
During the interview, Densmore and Krieger shared memories from their early days as a band in Los Angeles. Densmore admitted that Morrison didn’t strike him as a frontman right away. “He was so shy, it was ridiculous,” Densmore said. “And I thought, ‘This is not the next Mick Jagger. But I love playing music, so I’ll fool around here.’”
Krieger, however, was struck by Morrison’s unique approach to songwriting. “They were so different than anything that was out there,” he said, referring to Morrison’s lyrics. Densmore agreed and simply called him “Gifted.” He quoted lyrics from the 1967 song “Moonlight Drive”: Let’s swim to the moon / Let’s climb through the tide. He added, “A psychedelic love song. Wow.”
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Jim Morrison’s Words and Influence
Krieger also shared a line from the band’s track “Horse Latitudes”: When the still sea conspires an armor / And her sullen and aborted currents Breed tiny monsters / True sailing is dead! These lyrics, filled with strange imagery, showed Morrison’s poetic side that helped set the band apart.
Though the band enjoyed major success, Morrison’s personal struggles were well-known. His use of drugs and alcohol had a growing effect on the group and their future. Densmore said at first he chalked up Morrison’s behavior to being an “Irish drunk” and assumed he’d be around forever. But later he wondered, “Maybe he’s just a shooting star that’ll be a quick impact.”
Loss and Reflection
Densmore ended the interview by speaking about the loss they still feel. “We miss his artistry like crazy. We don’t miss his self-destruction,” he said. His words captured the complicated feelings the band has carried for decades since Morrison’s passing.
Watch the full interview below:
