Robby Krieger: | Set the Night on Fire: Living, Dying, and Playing Guitar With the Doors

Recorded November 8, 2021
In conversation with David Fricke, senior editor for Rolling Stone and SiriusXM host
One of Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”, Robby Krieger is best known as a member of the legendary rock band The Doors. He wrote or co-wrote some of the group’s biggest commercial successeshits, including “Light My Fire,” “Touch Me,” “Love Me Two Times,” and “Love Her Madly.” While The Doors have sold over one hundred million albums worldwide, inspired Oliver Stone’s popular biopic feature film, and have received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy, Krieger has also become a Grammy-nominated solo artist, an accomplished painter, and he is the co-founder of the annual Medlock-Krieger Rock & Roll Golf Classic & All-Star Concert. In Set the Night on Fire, Krieger, the notoriously reserved musician describes his childhood, The Doors’ triumphs and tragedies, and the frank details of his personal struggles.
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[@wormsnake1]

Robbie Kreiger is one of the greatest of all time. His guitar playing and those legendary riffs are so unique and memorable. The songs he wrote will be remembered forever and “The Doors” will never be forgotten. Those 4 individuals who hailed from Venice beach were telepathic in both there energy and understanding of one another. They “were” the music. My young son already loves the Doors and so the musical baton continues to be passed on and appreciated by new generations. It’s been over 50 years plus and we celebrate this bands legacy. I have no doubt in my mind that in 50 years from now, those same mystical reverberations, will continue to chime and inspire. Thank you Robbie.❤️🙏🎼.x

[@johnstorton]

I sure hope so. I wish I could live to see it.

[@donniewynn3277]

Very underrated guitarist and an underrated songwriter

[@PBSindlinger]

I really enjoyed this and currently I am reading Mr. Krieger’s book. Honestly, no other record album got played in my life more than Absolutely Live. Krieger’s book makes that anthology 90% coherent and fathomable. I suppose that now I must read Manzerek’s and Densmore’s book, & I must say gracias to .Krieger and company.

[@hollymartins6913]

The man who made me pick up the guitar at 12 and who still inspires me as a player and listener (and began a life-long lust for '55 Les Paul Customs and cherry SG's). No one sounds like Robbie Krieger. The Spy, Peace Frog, Spanish Caravan, Roadhouse Blues, etc, etc, etc.

[@BubbaZen10]

Robby's side and recollections are the ones i gravitate to. He's such a mellow level headed guy. John seemed to constantly wanna sht on the guy who made them famous, while Ray seemed to have bought into the cosmic fantasy. Every time i hear Robby talk i feel like here, here's the story. This is what happened. And still, he's remembering things over 50 years ago, so there's that too. But man, i could listen to Robby talk all day. He's straight up

[@christopher9152]

Well put, especially about Ray, who seemed to be consciously devoted to Morrison and Doors myth-making almost from the minute Jim died.

[@BubbaZen10]

@@christopher9152 Yep. And God bless him for it. They all played their parts perfectly.

[@Cienega32]

@@christopher9152 I always saw Ray as just being one of those cosmic hippy types post-Morrison w/ ever-changing stories of The Doors that centered on the mystic... until Sugarman took the manager gig. Then all I saw was a ride on a fast moving gravy train. That seemed evident w/ the types of CDs they were releasing w/ "never before released material" which consisted of old albums w/ one or two outtakes w/ an overpriced cost. Once they started releasing a lot of the live shows, things improved but I still have that bad taste of Ray & Danny squeezing every dime they could (w/ not very much in return to the fans) out of Ray's cosmic version of all things Morrison. That being said, I did buy them all as they were issued. As far as Robby goes - I waited for decades for his version; his book, as I always thought his would be the most grounded in fact. I saw him on Santa Monica Pier doing a free show back when Cinematix was released. Densmore showed up towards the end. Great show - great nite! This video is a great interview w/ a guitar great.

[@seltonk5136]

Krieger was cast to star in Arthur 2 On The Rocks as the titular character. Backed out at last minute and the rest is history for Dudley Moore

[@julianterris]

My favorite guitarist.

[@kikiu2619]

Fricke is a kick-ass interviewer! What a fantastic interview.

[@hollymartins6913]

He really is! David Fricke has been one of my favorite rock and roll actual journalists since I was a teenager. Knowledgeable and hip, respectful and articulate. Thanks to the internet, there are too many people that are considered rock and pop "experts" who can barely form a complete thought nor enunciate it. It's especially obvious when you hear from a real knowledgeable journalist.

[@hollymartins6913]

@MOONLIGHT LOVE 🌙💓 in my culture, the term "kick ass" means 'wonderful' or 'righteous'. But I would seriously doubt any knowledgeable, and secular, editor nor publisher would consider the term a vulgarity. Off-color? Of course. Profane? Arguably. Vulger? Not in any way.

[@alann5003]

He definitely does his homework.

[@stephendenney7349]

The Grateful Dead were pretty smart about letting fans openly tape their concerts.

[@bryannelson6139]

Robbie’s playing, as were the Doors, was so ahead of their time and no one was like them. His playing is so sophisticated and he added so much texture to the Doors songs.

[@You_Do_Have_The_Power_33]

A great example of exactly what you described was the way he changed up the melody in a section of “Wishful Sinful” on the PBS /Richard Goldstein interview performance. A far superior version than the one on Soft Parade. Textured, like you said.

[@johndoyle2429]

I agree also, different to other 60's band at time . The Doors were better than Rolling stones.

[@JoeinSeattle.]

This guy is one of the greatest interviewers I’ve ever seen !

[@Zumpage]

Great interview. My mates brother flipped too after a night of shrooms , he was nvr same again and on meds for life his mother swears it started that shrooms night . Much love from Ireland 🇮🇪🍀💯

[@airbloomamplifiers]

June 1967, Mount Tamalpais, Mill Valley, CA … The Magic Mountain Music Festival/ Faire …. I was 14 and saw The Doors. Light My Fire was in the air constantly and it was magic. Jim Morrison is all I remember from it. His charisma was real.

[@sheilalindenstein8263]

My son is going in Sept to see this icon for the 3rd time. He says Robbie is not only super talented but down to earth cool guy.

[@billwilson2025]

Thank you so much Robbie! You have always been a favorite guitarist of mine. Love the Doors.

[@tommyford-xv7lw]

i never get tired of listening to him. it would be a dream come true to see him live !!!!

[@waynesilverman3048]

Yes he's Been in a lot of documentary s ,good taste,he was the last guy to interview Kurt conbain, ' He had suicide wrote all over him' he Said of Kurt of that interview -don't like his view on that day as Courtney love I arnt a big fan of .

[@terryjordan9417]

Just think of all the songs he wrote he is a legend we miss you Jim

[@chuckkavalec6607]

Robbie is the Greatest! Still Love your work!

[@landho1]

Thank you for all the great music Robby!

[@gregthompson3274]

Terrific respectful interview

[@johnlavelle8025]

Great interview! Glad to see The Doors are still a sought after band. My favorite band

[@michaelandrewsalomonenewje4107]

Very enjoyable. I had a drummer friend who was at the Miami show (alleged exposure), and he said that Jim did not whip it out.

[@joejones9520]

that is consistent with the facts.....no one ever talks about it but the real cause of Jim's premature death was the evil and corrupt judge on that case, I wont even write his name, and the stress hanging over Jim waiting for the appeal led him in directions he wouldnt have gone in otherwise, I have dealt with corrupt officials and it is scary and his was on a high level with celebs joining in against him and much of the US population, the stress wouldve been unimaginable and that kind of stuff sucks all the joy and fun out of life for anybody.

[@mckessa17]

Saw Robbie play in Canada, he is a legend.

[@chemismokebender1362]

I love Robby! True legend.

[@soulballet]

wat a nice warm smile this man has

[@denispalma3069]

Amazing interview!!! Thank so much David for it. We have a landmark here, perhaps the best Robby's interview I ever seen.

[@CoolInOlympia]

David and Robby! Two legends!!!

[@noworries12]

great interview...I love David's tastfeful questions and his calm vibe

[@danneeson7056]

The best footage of the early Doors was taken at the CBC T.V. studio in Toronto, August 1967 where they play The End. It was a television show not a concert and they only played the one song. The Doors look and sound fantastic, a must for fans. Cheers.

[@erikstothart2028]

Agreed that this is a classy, respectful, and informed interview. Great to get some of those first-hand stories out there from the man that lived it. What a ride it must have been, and glad to see he's still out there creating music and doing what he wants.

[@hermanmelville3368]

We love you Rob ❤

[@stephengiese7549]

Very amiable and informative interview. The interviewer is well spoken and careful when asking questions. Robbie wanted to get things right. He is very calming and funny. The interviewer would state info and Robbie would agree and add more. Love that alot😊

[@chemismokebender1362]

Great interviewer, I like his enthusiasm and he’s actually knowledgeable passed the surface level.

[@wk4max]

We LOVE YOU ROBBIE!!😁

[@cosmicdrifter287]

Robbie Krieger and David Fricke team up?Sign me up right away!

[@markdodson5866]

David is great. So knowledgeable and affable. Robbie of course is amazing

[@jude999]

Glad he read the book before the interview. Robby is the Zen master of the Doors. Never knew that about Horse Latitudes.

[@mathstar4176]

Hi Stoker Films, I appreciate everything you said in your comment. Especially the part about inspiring future generations. Youth need a classic foundation on which to build. Much of the current music in every genera is lacking on every level, it leaves me empty. There is Art, Music and Film 🎥 School for everybody. I always thought the Doors were incredible, legendary and Timeless. They were not at Woodstock but their music is part of that culture. 🌎☮️❤️🌄🙏🎨🎸🎸🎸🥁🥁🥁👽🧐😎

[@Sinnerswing]

Just recently completed this book. Highly recommend.

[@MannySimoneCards]

What an incredible interview! More more more

[@rogerdodger5415]

Nice interview! Thanks! 🙏🙏 👍👍 ✌️✌️

[@donniewynn3277]

Robbie was no Hendrix or Clapton, but a talented guitarist and one heck of a song writer.

[@vicvega3614]

Hes just a different style that fit PERFECTLY with what the Doors were doing, i couldn't imagine Hendrix or Clapton in the doors, it wouldn't feel right, and theres very few bands that you can say that about, The Doors really were special and different and those songs have meant so much to me since i was like 4!!. I have the Beatles and the Doors tied at 1 for best bands ever, if anyone ever said i have to pick 1 and then never listen to the orher ever again i wouldn't know what to do, for me its those 2 and then everyone else

[@georgestetson5572]

Great interview 🤙🏻

[@damianzaninovich4900]

Great talk guys. I just read a signed copy of the book on a family vacation to Maui. I couldn’t put it down. I’ve been on a huge Doors kick lately. My favorites are the first album and Soft Parade. I really need to go see Robby play at the Whisky or Santa Clarita soon.

[@me67226]

Robbys such a great guitar player plus he wrote the best book on the Doors

[@deanchambers8613]

Love it! Play the fusion jazz Robby!

[@chadpittman3025]

You'll get some money from me Robbie as soon as I find that book. As a doors fan I am so glad this is going on. The doors are alive and well

[@TheseusTitan]

The Gibson SG is a great sounding guitar. It has a rich tone. I have had a couple of them.

[@bluewendigo672]

If someone in this world 🌍 knew about fun especially in the 60s . Was this Man

[@dajonbradford]

well done! looking forward to reading the book!

[@theclashcalling_]

As with albums, books can sometimes organically accrue status and importance over time; taking time to bed-in , ala 'The Soft Parade' & 'An American'. Some albums and books, for example 'The Doors' & 'L.A Woman', have an almost supernatural immediacy. Robbie's memoir is this in spades and is by some distance the finest Doors autobiography; and indeed, biography. It is by turns: brisk and breezy yet winningly substantial, unflinchingly honest, and yet gently self-deprecating, Fantastic and informative pod cast gents, a rich and deserved companion piece to a brilliant (and woefully underrated) musician and composer's remarkable and impressive memoir.

[@cjay2]

12:10 I saw them as a teen in both places that summer. Jim was okay the first night but way drunk the second at the Action House on L.I., and they were really tight the night at Steve Paul's Scene in Manhattan. That was also the very day that Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade Of Pale" single was released in NYC.

[@tdalton72]

Great interview!!

[@mathstar4176]

Robby, I always thought you were one of the coolest cats on the planet.

[@Criticalthinker0515]

Happy birthday genius.

[@CoolInOlympia]

I wish there were a heck of a lot more high grade videos of 60's performances! Wish they had today's technology!!!

[@kikiu2619]

7:00 Fricke is right. Krieger in his book does mention the Hollywood Bowl, where Jim had nerves.

[@paullittle2037]

its pretty well known that jim wasnt real fond of densmore and his complaining all the time.jim just put up with it because he was in the band.he respected manzarek because he was a lot like jim in his way of thinking and he really liked robbies guitar playing a lot

[@vicvega3614]

Oh definitely, you could tell that Jim thought the world of Robbie and his playing and would have NEVER replaced him. I dont think wouldve replaced any of them, Jim knew it was their chemistry that made those songs and Jim didnt care about what others thought. In fact they tried to make Jim a Crooner type and give him a new band behind him, they wanted Jim as a solo artist and he told them to get f cked. So even though Jim and John didnt always get along Jim knew Johns beats were important

[@michaelmalone306]

Doors nerds!!😅😂😂😂 “Yes,The River Knows” WAY underrated tune in Doors catalog!

[@eleusis7778]

awesome

[@donniemoder1466]

I loved listening to Ray talk about the Doors. Will try to find a copy of Robbie's book. John is a weird dude, he was a little too idealistic and would find weird things to get upset about.

[@ricardorodriguez6456]

David Fricke rules

[@masonteague4039]

the doors 4 ever

[@shangrila73eldorado]

Ray was controlling, John was prissy, but Robby impresses me as down to earth and appreciative of Morrison. If Densmore had his way, the Doors legend would not be as powerful. Morrison was the shooting star, sad but also brilliant.

[@surfintheuniverse]

I held up a cam at pine knob, and like 10 security, jumped on me to the ground, and told me to turn over the cam, then they just stole my memory without letting me blank it

[@lamper2]

Someone must've written an article by now WOODSTOCK: WHO WASN'T THERE AND WHY about the bands listening to their horrible managers. send a link if you know of one.

[@lindaclark9925]

Were the doors friends with grace slick? Chuck negron? Led zeppelin? Curious

[@robaquarian]

They toured Europe with Slick and played a lot of gigs together in California in the early days.

[@thomasbehrend7562]

Didn't Jim go out with Grace Slick?

[@frankiebutler2894]

Poor Robbie’s teeth are whisling badly on all “ssss” & “tt’s”. His natural teeth with a gap in the middle were nice. Distracting for me. David Fricke’s voice is so pleasing. Great interview. Thanks Robbie 💙🎶

[@thedadyouneverhadchannel3544]

Don’t watch them big baby.

[@philipreedwallace]

I’m a Doors Nerd.

[@richardboughton8338]

First time i became aware of the Doors was through Jose Feliciano's gently haunting cover of Light My Fire(1968 perhaps?) which i intially thought he had written. Hey, i was a dumb teenager, what did i know! ? It was actually several months until i heard the Doors playing that and i was sold!The mystique still resonates even though i am approaching 71 yoa. Of course, you had to be there😊

[@song-rz6hi]

Oh, the Shroomanity!

[@427bullis]

Patty smith

[@bluehawk777]

How many times did Robby say "ya know " in this interview? 🙂✌

[@kikiu2619]

Wow...the dude in the start has a hard time reading from the screen.

[@georgestetson5572]

Robbie liked to party to so Jim was tighter with him in those kinda ways .....ray n John were dorks and seems weren’t into “the lifestyle” so much it was a 9 to 5 job to them ...after the a show or whatever they probably just went to there hotel took a shower ate some dinner n went to bed ......Jim not so much lol and Robbie seems like he could be right there with Jim partying sometimes or he could just go home other times

[@johndoyle2429]

Funny you should say that because I always thought Ray Manzarek R.I.P was the guy other member of the Doors that party Jim morrision, but it was Robbie Krieger that party Jim morrision. You wouldn't think it. Robbie Krieger great guitarist with the Doors. What a great band The Doors are.

[@johangaudissabois8668]

I wanted to ask Robert Fricke why ROLLING STONEonly included first album THE DOORS in their list of all time top 500 albumS. Far too many mediocre albums are included. RUMOURS an all time top 10 album? Thriller? Most sold yes! Great ? Hell no. SONGS IN THE KEY of Life best Stevie Wonder album? Give me TALKING BOOK and INNERVISIONS any time. PURPLE RAIN top 10 ? Come on..... Rubbish . Prefer Colin Larkin's, UNCUT's or MOJO's list. STRANGE Days and LA Wo should have been included< ROLLING STONE is desperately trying to be hip by including all those well known artists

[@pdumpsterful]

Rumours not great? Come on. It was one of the greatest albums

[@JaminJim2010]

Reading this book now. Was interested in this video until the dweb from rolling stone crap magazine showed up, geez

[@johangaudissabois8668]

Rumours is a very good album but surely not worthy of all-time top 10. Listen to 16 LOVERS LANE by The Go-Betweens which is the so-called "Indie-Rumours"..A much better record !

[@lindaclark9925]

How quickly they forget. I cannot believe how sparse the views are on most of these doors interviews. Lol. It shows again the dumbing down of people's sensibilities in favor of the rumba rumba rumba poke it lust music ewwww

[@ballantine58]

Huh? 👀😐

[@lindaclark9925]

@@ballantine58 no thanks , is what i say, to the constant lust lust lust of today's filth "music" does that answer the 'huh' question

[@joejones9520]

people in their 20s 30s have never heard of the doors, i met a girl whod never heard of van halen, another who had heard the name "paul mccartney" but that was all. they see the world thru eyes we cant imagine, and they have no interest in learning about cool things.

[@lindaclark9925]

@@joejones9520 they listen to Rap and vaporous shcloch (*spelling) . There is no pause in me me me lust lust lust ; they have now grown up with porn on their phones and are being brainwashed into evil sponges of a perverse mindset

[@skullduggery3377]

c'mon man, enough with the song lyrics as book titles. at least it's from his own song and is not pretentious sounding like 'no one here get's out alive'. really? for a book title? you'd think the subject was that of a mass murderer.

[@hwearrow]

I´d rather that Robby individual rock albums had focus on hard rock ,Heavy metal, jazz rock , or blues rock. Not reagge anyway. not rapp thing, not pop comercial also. Reagge is very boring style of music. Blues, classical,folk , jazz, funk, soul,rythm´ blues, rock and roll, country rock , as Jeff Beck individual rock albums or Henry Vestine stuff .In fact, there was no Reagge music in Doors albums. Better let the boring reagge thing to tired Keith Richards or Eric Clapton and let the tribal music to old Santana and erratic Robert Plant . Blues, Metal , Soul, Boogie , Jazz is for awake artists not for turtle artist. Turn the gaze back again to the real music of Charlie Musselwhite, ike turner, James Brown, Miles Davis, Canned Heat , Freddy King, John lee Hooker, Chicago blues, and , of course, in divine Master Frank Marino , your advanced canadian fan . Please don´t forget the Boogie and Swing, Robbie!!! Come again to the blues. Jim was pure essential blues and rock´n roll thing, too.

[@billsmith2212]

At 15 years old , I saw The Doors at Westbury Music Fair on Long Island , NY . It was in the round . It was one of the first concerts I attended . I also saw them at Madison Square Garden and The Felt Forum , both in NYC , actually in the same complex . At that age , totally mind blowing ! I have seen Robby at several shows . If you play , I will be there !

[@busterbiloxi3833]

Krieger is a brilliant musician and a great person!

[@billsmith2212]

The date was April 19 , 1968 .

[@busterbiloxi3833]

Fricke: aging hippy. Give it up already.

[@busterbiloxi3833]

"And the first horse was jettisoned" is cringe-worthy BAD poetry.

[@joejones9520]

it's not horse, it's "animal."

[@lindaclark9925]

How quickly they forget. I cannot believe how sparse the views are on most of these doors interviews. Lol. It shows again the dumbing down of people's sensibilities in favor of the rumba rumba rumba poke it lust music ewwww