They got their start in 1965 by combining a mixture of blues rock, acid rock and hard rock, making the name The Doors an iconic name. The Doors were perceived as a controversial rock-and-roll band for much of the 1960s as a result of Jim Morrison’s erratic behavior on and off stage. In their eight-year existence, the band managed to release nine vinyl records together in spite of Morrison’s erratic behavior that managed to make headlines throughout the band’s existence. When Morrison died in 1971, the band managed to live on for another two years, but without Morrison’s voice, the remaining members disbanded.

Early History

The Doors began when both Morrison and Ray Manzarek met while at UCLA as film students. Morrison and Manzarek were both UCLA film students and both had the idea of forming a band with Morrison being its vocalist. Manzarek would eventually employ John Densmore as their drummer while they employed a guitarist named Robby Krieger. The band was made and would use inspiration from Aldous Huxley’s book The Door of Perception as the name for their band. The band would get its start at the London Fog, and they would in time go on to play at the Whiskey a Go Go concert, making a name for themselves. After experiencing success as a rock band touring around Southern California, the band would score a record deal and begin recording their first self-titled album.

Early Morrison Issues 

While at a performance in New Haven, Connecticut, The Doors’ vocalist was arrested after a police officer observed Morrison kissing a fan backstage. Morrison was apprehended and booked, becoming the first singer in history to be arrested while performing. Morrison’s unpredictability following the group’s early success would also lead to more problems for the band, especially because of his dependence on drugs and alcohol. Morrison’s addition to drugs and alcohol made it impossible for the others to record music or play shows, leading to growing tension among the members. Even though Morrison was seen as dependent on drugs and alcohol, the group managed to produce their third Doors vinyl record and keep their success as a band.

Death and End of an Era

Despite all the success as a group, Morrison was discovered dead in his Paris apartment with the cause of death believed to be due to heart failure; however, this fact has yet to be proven. The coroners observed no signals of foul play, which led them to write the occurrence off as a sudden heart failure instead of the more publicized gossip  that he died of a drug overdose. Jim Morrison left this earth at the young age of 27, leaving the remaining members without a lead singer and without their controversial leader. Morrison had helped establish the band’s image as an iconic, yet controversial group of men; without him, the band could not last and thrive as they once did. 

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