How Jim Morrison Joined The Doors | The Big Interview

John Densmore and Robby Krieger reminisce on the first time they met the mystical Jim Morrison, how they were captivated and mystified by his lyrics and stage persona, and more on The Big Interview.
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[@oneblach]

It’s amazing that these two legends are still with us in 2024

[@katrinalassberg5649]

I am so very thankful these amazing musicians, Robbie & John of the DOORS are here with us all. The DOORS are absolutely unique & great. Blessings to Robbie Kreiger & John Densmore.

[@williamgriffin-zk6ob]

Too bad Ray couldn't be on this show. I love this program with Dan Rather.

[@chrismorfas7515]

I was doing door-to-door political work in LA circa 1987 when at one house none other than Ray Manzarek opened the door. Nice guy. We had a good convo.

[@leceillebeckmeyer3195]

It’s so sad. So many great musicians died way too young. Unfortunately there’s not anyone to carry on the rock and roll music. It sucks. There’ll never be another Jim.

[@sal......]

Wonderful ❤❤❤

[@chris-jf9rb]

give me 6-7 years and i got you bro

[@steveconn]

Stones still touring. Cleaned the Doors musical clock then and now.

[@michaelhegyan7464]

​@steveconn well..the Stones, aren't half the group they used to be..especially without Brian Jones. Also, their not really a rock band..more like a S Corporation..

[@michaelhegyan7464]

Morrison really suffered from being a manic depressive..the heavy alcohol consumption, made his condition worst. When he was in Paris, with Pam..even though he was trying to get healthy; by then..it was too late, he had a bleeding ulcer, coughing up blood..

[@kevinogracia1615]

An L.A. woman told me I was strange while I was waiting for the sun as I watched the soft parade from my Morrison hotel window. Yea... Peace on earth.

[@mikamikkola4483]

Sophisticated, experienced, intelligent, and physically in great shape, the members of The Doors band. Great respect.

[@-______-______-]

I'm glad these two guys can be together without any tensions and reminisce about the best times of their life.

[@glenngrinter6818]

Lead singer of INXS gave off those Morrison vibes.🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼

[@guillermo3564]

He left here way too soon, also.

[@MaureenDeVries-wd9mh]

Yes

[@ereynacarde-borre6803]

Exactly! 🥰 I have always thought 💭 that! RIP 🙏 Micheal and Jim both gone way too soon 😔

[@lab4389]

Dan Rather has a dream job! And he’s earned it. He is curious, and a great listener. He’s always well prepared with great questions. I love these interviews! Keep ‘um coming Mr. Rather. 👍🏻

[@user-om8jz8cc2o]

Jim Morrison 1943-1971 was a great singer and poet and filmmaker and songwriter and he will be forever missed by the people who were there

[@clevebaker8399]

I was in jr high when the doors came out and have loved every album and every song! No other band like the doors! 🚪

[@chris_stacey]

Great to see these two guys together. Thank you The Doors!

[@coreysilence2141]

I remember in San Diego when I was in the Navy I saw Robby Krieger perform The Doors with his son singing part of the set and then a Jim Morrison look alike came out to sing the rest. It was a wonderful performance!

[@4thlinemaniac356]

You could have watched Jim Live when he became Rush Limbaugh Before You laugh google hit images compare hands while smoking is Unreal Plus many videos about it.

[@anthonymcdonald8764]

One of the true great bands.

[@Limvolikce]

Legends never die... Jim is my legend !!

[@ricksegal3065]

Great group and love Dan's interviews.

[@tesev7225]

I'm a big doors fan since the '70s in I've seen a lot of their stuff before and after the internet and I got to say John and Robbie both showed up during this interview and it's one of the best

[@sandrawesseln9619]

When I first heard the doors in late 60’s I bought the vinyl. Still love em. This interview is ridiculous. Dreamy memories. “Artists”

[@Vimana11]

How he "joined"?? Morrison was the co creator of the whole thing (band) together with Ray Manzarek.

[@tesev7225]

Ray if I were to write the title of this KZbin video I would have written something about two surviving doors members make you feel like 1964

[@DanielSanchez-ls1uy]

One of a kind, instead of big I think you should name this one THE GREAT INTERVIEW . Thank you Mr. Rather .

[@SharkaToddy]

It's great to hear from these 2 two less well known Doors. I love their spirit.

[@ChosenWon]

This is awesome. Thank you.

[@sethwetzel974]

Love those guys and love The Doors!!! Jim passed away before I was here but got to see The Doors when Ian from The Cult did a concert with them. Amazing show.

[@tommroz5539]

Very Interesting 👍 Saw the Doors Twice....they were something!

[@joanneganon7157]

Thank you Dan ,John and Robbie ❤. JO JO IN VT 💞

[@antimimoniakos]

Never seen them talking about Jim Morrison. Thank you for posting.

[@sergioestevez8326]

Jim was a genius... With many personal problems self-created or not we really don't know. He was a private person, the more we seem to discover about him the less we know. It's what happens to me to me... I have been reading everything about him since I was a teenager and I know very little, however, Jim was an incredibly interesting person and a great artist.

[@porterhouse7260]

Dan Rather on the Bus! Great Interviews!

[@Iggey-Bertona]

I'm so glad to see and hear you, teacha's!

[@candidodemanchuria6]

2:05 I'm sure Jim took that drawn bow string metaphor from Nietzsche, he was such a reader

[@candidodemanchuria6]

How clever hindsightful and articulated and at the same time down to earth and charming, they were a one of a kind band!

[@massapower]

Time for another DOORS Tour with IAN 😎✌

[@________5174]

The Doors released six studio albums in five years. Albums that are still unique and classic originals. There's no comparison.

[@billcox1995]

Jim Morrison reminds me of the 'Lake Side Poets' of the 18th. century, the imagery the alcohol and other drug-induced state is on par with them. Although many have entered this state some have even produced literature and songs from being in its grasp, few have returned from it, at least not completely.

[@wnerko7484]

Dan Rather?? Didnt know he was still around.he hasnt aged in 40 years

[@bonscott602]

An example of what happens when four great musicians end up together

[@james-ke7mz]

Jim should of gotten sober and shown his true essence. I bet the doors would have gone through the seventies reinvented and gotten better. His voice on love her madly is magical to my ears. The band was magical. What a bummer jim died .

[@marcdavis2745]

Dan's Great

[@energyasylum997]

WE ALL KNOW THIS MEETING OF THE MINDS!!! While the song “Hang On Sloopy” was playing in the background, Jimbo was walking on the beach and bumped into Ray Manzerek who was meditating.

[@davejohnson-yi2rk]

This great interview is just an excerpt. Only 9 mins. Where can we find the entirety of this interview? Anyone?

[@jogmas12]

A great asset to the band I’m sure

[@reachadcreadordasilva3471]

Joined? Or founded?

[@James-wv3hx]

Jim came up with the name. He and Ray started the Doors. Robbie and John joined them.

[@bugs_bunnie]

I always felt the doors are a bunch of tamers trying to tame a self-destructing mythical creature.

[@antonio8897]

Out of all things I always saw Jim Morrison as a writer first.

[@tesev7225]

yeah and most musicians and leaders of the groups will say that they come up with the melody first and then the words so Jim did it opposite and that's proof that he was a poet and a writer and a genius because the music was secondary so he wasn't really a musician he was a writer and with all other band members who write songs it's always the melody and the music that comes first

[@EndoftheTownProductions]

Jim was an intellectual bookish individual who if he didn't get into this life, he would have been a college professor of English.

[@tonyelliott7734]

Jim Morrison didn't meet or join the Doors, he named the Doors.

[@timwright4263]

All my life I listened to great musicians. Jim Morrison was the first - and only - 'music legend' that connected with me. All of the other guys I admired were brilliant musicians but boring individuals. Jim came at me with the force of a hurricane. His music, his image, his lifestyle. Jim sweeps you up and holds you in his majesty. He hits you from all sides. He pummels you like Muhammed Ali. Jim Morrison was a rare human being: A dark demented Messiah.

[@cocodaniel9729]

wow, I look at the two and try to imagine how it would have been if jim was with them too...

[@WhenHariMetKari]

By saying…. WAZZZUPP

[@harryjones5260]

..he used dovetail joints and a strong wood resin...

[@matthewe.johnson4705]

😮

[@wilmarmarquessouza1016]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@CiscoDuck]

Jim "joined" the Doors? No, Jim did NOT join the Doors! Jim and Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger and John Densmore FORMED the Doors together. There was no existing Doors band for Jim to join! Ray and his brothers had a band, he saw Jim after college who showed him some songs he wrote and Ray said, "Let's start a band!" John came along on drums and played with Ray & Jim sang along with the other Manzarek brothers who quit, and then Robby came along and THEN they BECAME the Doors which was a new band with a new name. Jim did NOT join The Doors!

[@jhq9064]

The Psychedelic Rangers before Jim is what I've heard

[@CiscoDuck]

In the mid-1960s Densmore joined guitarist Robby Krieger in a band called the Psychedelic Rangers; shortly thereafter he began rehearsals with keyboardist Ray Manzarek, and his two brothers Rick and Jim and Ray invited Jim Morrison in the group Rick & the Ravens. When they made the 1965 World Pacific Records demo with a chick bass player (Patty Sullivan) the Manzarek brothers quit and after their departure from the band, they (Ray and Jim and John) fired Patty and Densmore recommended Krieger join them on guitar, thus forming the Doors in 1965. - They became the Doors after the Manzarek brothers quit, and Patty was fired and when Krieger joined they dropped the 'Ravens' name altogether and became The Doors. Jim Morrison was already there. As was Ray and John. Out with the fluff, in with new guitarist and then out with the old band name and in with the new one as the four became one. Nobody joined The Doors - the 4 of them BECAME The Doors!

[@rabbits77]

Jim was gonna be bigger then Elvis he was unique as Fu%k

[@user-ho4nw5sf3w]

He just ran into them.

[@acemacgruber6593]

Maybe initially Jim used alcohol to get over his stage fright and because many other writers were drinkers so he was exploring that myth.

[@garycarlson6859]

He saw the Magic....just wanted to Share it...original Magic jumps from silent reading at home or The Library of Congress.

[@leonwaltemate6152]

I thought Jim and Ray were the original Doors.

[@ricardorodriguez6456]

He didn't joined The Doors, he found the band with Ray Manzarek

[@joekuhlmanjr]

Jim didn't join the doors. He was the doors.

[@RandyRhoadsFL]

instantly clicked

[@tomallen5837]

How awesome is this? That Dan Rather's casual projection of all mistakes in human nature, to say something as assuming as 'how much longer' it would take to write a song the way Jim Morrison would transcribe his experiences to the band, then when Robby has to correct Mr. Rather exclaiming, "No, it actually was a lot faster". ( to paraphrase ) lmao. Because not only is was Dan Rather's mistake a common one for the average interviewer, professional or not, it really reveals how we all think that way.. how we all make assumptions, but for what? I don't need to hear Dan's assumptions on what he thought would have been faster ( just as much as you don't need to hear me whining about this). I mean , does he (Dan) have musical experiences that we don't know about ? Was Dan Rather mystical? lol I still don't get these Dan Rather rock and roll interviews. Then again, I also don't understand the point of the Rolling Stone magazine beyond say, the '70s. I'd rather hear an interview through a contemporary who is also in the field of music, and preferably from that era ...although I could think of interesting combinations, but not Dan Rather.

[@ianfleischhacker6154]

Says he doesn't know if that's what Jim meant, then goes on to explain the exact same thing as the meaning of Jim's words.

[@GLUEDTOTHETUBE222]

honestly i think Jim was trying to protect his parents from the humiliation of Oedipus rex by saying they were deceased they could keep their anonymity..?

[@mackenziedog1872]

Jim's father drove the world's biggest battle ship during a US war? or not? My Dad was vile and powerful. This impacts kids forever. I'm glad to learn he had songs and melodies in his head) Singing your mind is dangerous. Ask a Presiident.

[@PeterHuebner]

JIM MORRISON WAR EIN WAHRER POET ABER KEIN ROCK-STAR.DER ÜBERMÄCHTIGE VATER,ADMIRAL DER MARINE,DER VIETNAMKRIEG DER VIELE ALKOHOL DEN JIM IM ÜBERMASS TRANK,DIE FREUNDIN DIE HEROINSÜCHTIG WAR,ALL DAS WAR ZERSTÖRERISCH FÜR IHN UND FÜR DIE ANDEREN 3 DOORS- MITGLIEDER.JIM GING NACH PARIS DAS ENDE DER DOORS UND AUCH TRAURIGERWEISE SEIN LEBEN ES ENDETE SO TRAGISCH.R.I.P.❤😢

[@ligfifty]

Jim Morrison did not "join" the Doors. Manzarek and Jim were acquainted in College and Manzarek dug Morrison's writings. It was not a joining as much as it was an "evolving "

[@danielgolarz674]

Axs I'm the author of EIGHT DAYS IN AN INNER CITY SCHOOL please talk about the out of control OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING for k-12 teachers that's why we have teacher shortages

[@blissedher]

Is Dan Rather an honest man?

[@4thlinemaniac356]

How did ZJim.become Rush Limbaugh??? Google picture hit images compare the hands while smoking Unreal.

[@kelvinkloud]

morrison is a hard to place figure in music then & legacy wise now. as they pointed out, he had no music experience in the past & couldnt read music, nor play any instrument. that in itself is almost unprecedented in the annals of commercial music.... secondly, he was very inconsistent. he could have terrible nites live in wh/ he could be straight up destructive. & on the 3rd & 4th album, he could put out some material, that at best was just filler.... 3rd, the bands sound was unique & they had talent, but it also had a component of a mixture of croon lounge lizard meets campy gothic.... so, the doors fit in this odd place on rock's shelf in that era & in legacy. its also why many peers in the indust didnt like them & many today downplay them.... but heres the thing, kind of like w/ dennis hopper in acting, at the same time w/ morrison, you knew there was something not only unique, but also brave & potentially very powerful. to be a fan, you had to give them rope. b/c w/ morrison, his strong suit, that separated him from the pack was his sense of theater, film soundscore & narrative. like experimental stage, you knew there would be off nites & material, but you also knew something powerful singular could rise to the surface. & even his honest detractors will admit that.... when off, a nasty trainwreck or half baked concept, but when on, pin drop, stunning power, esp live or on record. if one is fair, even if you dont like them, they deserve their due for their highwater works and moments. b/c when they hit gold, they struck unique mother veins. remember the end & WTMO were in full form by the summer of '66. go back and listen to all the music that year, on either side of the atlantic, contracted or underground. no, one was in the zipcode of those songs, except maybe the velvet undergrd. Or listen to their pop rock songs, like light my fire, people are strange or touch me, in that venue they could shine too w/ almost an anthem epic feel... morrison understood lyrical hooks, thematic irony, symbolist layered meaning & he knew how to project it on stage when he was on his A game w/ palpable intensity, bordering on danger. he was a literature, philosophy, theater, film devotee who could arrange thematic ideas into dense unique forms of moody rock. he also understood violence, power & america's hidden but powerful relatioinship w/ it. no one like him then or sense w/ those same talents & sensibilities. in some ways, savant, considering his lack of musical background. bowie, is probably his closest peers in regards to his unique gifts he had in melding theater, poetry, literature to rock.

[@jasonramler]

Wow. Well said. The Doors definitely stand apart from any other rock or musical act that I can think of. No other band since has even tried to copy their vibe and for good reason. They would be immediately called out for trying to be like The Doors. You can hear the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin ect., influence in many bands then and now but The Doors are very singular in their sound. To me, the words, music, Jim's mythology create something so powerful that even today they create an emotion, a feeling in me that nothing else can. I will always love The Doors. They speak directly to my soul.

[@kelvinkloud]

@amler .... ray was the anchor. he understood morrison a lot & gave him not only a lot of rope, but knew how to structure and arrange the framework around his vision... robby & john had excellent blues & jazz sensibilities and could accent & improv that framework perfectly. Jim conquered up the glint spark. the Eye on the mast. at heart he was more actor & writer who then found music as a vehicle to get these ideas across.... his youth, lack of musical background, love of party & demons created a fair share of inconsistency. also his ideas went over the heads of many, incl famous musicians, who didnt understand what he was angling for in re to theater, projection & themes.... but your right there was a singular potent power there w/ their best work. when he was on, he was scary, good--> on. a clownish revel side but underneath it also a penetrating intellect, balls & Eye. thats why many didnt know what to make of him & frankly feared him. hence the snide ridicule. they werent invited to woodstock nor monterrey. there is a reason for that... but as you correctly pointed out, he swung for the mythological fence w/ eternal themes. joseph campbell and blake meets rock, w/ a pirate like lust for life to go w/ it. LA woman was a great work & exit for the band. I'm glad they went out strong.

[@genehornung3295]

Despite everything that has been written and said about Morrison's downward spiral due to his alcoholism, in my opinion their last album was their best.

[@jhq9064]

What if Jim was exposed to the writings of Karl Barth?

[@syjo4701]

I get aggravated at all the low-IQ people who bring up the incident from singing The End at the Whiskey. Jim was a voracious reader of classic literature, and that was nothing more than a reference to the Oedipal Complex. It was from a play written by Sophocles called Oedipus Rex.

[@El_Hicks]

What does your title even mean??? Jim STARTED The Doors, he didn't join them.

[@dangndox6687]

Why Dan rather?..who dug him up?😂

[@Nominay]

When you do not understand Jim Morrison, you over intellectualize your analysis of him. You either "get" him, or you don't.

[@sirbarringtonwomblembe4098]

With a Hinge and Bracket? Two UK comedians/comidiennes (allegedly). I went into my local record store once - I asked - "What do you have by the Doors?" Answer - "A fire extiguisher and a sand bucket". You couldn't make it up! Actually, I did; well, I stole it from a real comedian.

[@andyroach420]

I think Jim Morrison dying made him a bigger star. He was also an alcoholic so that was the real demise.

[@markmanning2921]

I loved their musicianship but I LOATHED and DESPISED the singing. He loved that one single note so much he sang that one single note through every single song he ever sung. I cannot describe how much his singing BORED ME TO TEARS. I know, I will catch a lot of flack for this but the doors is probablhy the one band I never want to listen to

[@ibux4917]

Maybe it’s a combination of the music plus the words that, rather than his voice specifically. Although I like it all.

[@oldpanamacitybeach]

Sorry, I don't get it. Super lyricist...if you think "like a dog without a bone" is eloquent. John Fogerty and Ronnie Van Zant are several ranks above Jim Morrison and they never flopped around on the stage floor to be "artistic"..

[@sergioestevez8326]

You don't understand because you might think that Jim's best lyrics are "Hello I Love You"... but when you see the lyrics to songs like The Crystal Ship Soul Kitchen When The Music's Over Break on Through L.A Woman The End or Riders on The Storm then You don't say that... You just acknowledge that Jim was a genius composer of lyrics and songs... and not because he was someone who "flopped around the stage floor to be artistic". Fogerty and Van Zant are fine, but they don't reach what Morrison was as an artist, they're just your tastes.

[@Bethoflife]

Jim M was an army brat, whose father was responsible for Gulf of Tonkin.

[@rickebrite5409]

Ok they were not fired for that they did a lot worse

[@neilsmith9066]

Those lyrics were just those of a drug addict drunk for shock value that put them more on the map and I love The Doors and Morrison

[@shelbyseelbach9568]

Can't stand Jim Morrison which in turn leads to not liking the Doors in the slightest. Crazy, huh?

[@syjo4701]

Yup.

[@allencollins6031]

No big deal. It's like literature. I don't like everything I've read.

[@stewartcash555]

Paid actors

[@candidodemanchuria6]

Paid by who?

[@luckyjinxer]

I always found his 'poetry' extremely trite and contrived. Its really bad...