Who Played Bass with The Doors? (and More)

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Updates: Even though Robby Krieger claims he played bass guitar on the song Twentieth Century Fox, I have been told of the existence of a recording contract for Larry Knechtel to record bass on this song. So, it is very likely Larry Knechtel played bass on Twentieth Century Fox, not Robby Krieger. There is a lot of debate about when and where the song L'America was recorded. Even though Jerry Scheff is the only bass player credited on the L.A. Woman album, it is very possible that song was recorded in 1969 or 1970 with a different bass player.

[@Earthtime3978]

The most comprehensive Doors bass analysis ever

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@michaelcelani8325]

​@@TheDirtyDoorsDoors must have been the most unlikely band to ever emerge from the 1960's music explosion. They had the biggest impact on me of any rock band. The magical sound of Ray's Fender keyboard bass was a big part of the magic, especially on " Break on Through". My father had an all tube mono system from the 50's. (Dynaco, made in NJ) with aJBL 15 inch co-ax speaker in a huge cabinet. I eventually became a high end loudspeaker designer in Boulder Colorado for 25 years.! Viva the " Sound" .

[@tompease8810]

Really interesting and informative

[@seagullpoet]

I agree ! Read a bunch of Doors book too. No way did I know any of this. Very fun watch.

[@TheMaxKids]

This video is unsurpassed.

[@mackmurdoc1029]

Thank you for mentioning my dad Jack. He really was my favorite bassist of all time

[@brancaleon7636]

Jerry Scheff bass work on LA Woman album is outstanding

[@babel232]

Agreed! It became my favorite Doors Album.

[@jimdep6542]

He was great with Elvis too on his live albums

[@clannad99germany70]

His son Jason was many years playing for Chicago, after the departure of Pete Cetera from that band.

[@clannad99germany70]

Indeed, I purchased it in 1972 too, @@babel232

[@modulusquantum6455]

@@clannad99germany70 Big shoes to fill but he does it wonderfully.

[@JohnnyTong215]

The music of The Doors is still unmatched to this day!!!!

[@SilentAttackTV]

I really liked the fact that you played all their bass parts in the background

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@davelindstrom6005]

Agreed! I had as much (maybe even more) fun identifying the isolated bass tracks to the songs they came from as I did learning what you were teaching me about the musicians who made them! Great video; concise but thorough, great balance!

[@coily7776]

Harvey Brooks is the only bass player who played live with the band onstage.. For the little ones to learn and the grown-ups to remember..!! ‘68 LA Forum show and Madison Square Garden New York, NY January 24 1969.. Excellent video. Greay job..!! P.S. Trust Alex he is a mastermind..!!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching! Alex makes a good point about L'America. I probably should have mentioned there are questions about when and where it was recorded. As for Twentieth Century Fox, I absolutely hear a bass guitar. It's possible Larry Knechtel played it instead of Robby, but I'll give that one to Robby since it's in his book.

[@nathanwahl9224]

As a bass guitar player (started at 50!), a lead and harmony singer (62) and now bass/keys (65, two years now) I really really appreciate the effort that went into this. And Ray's talent. It's not easy, but definitely worth the effort. Our 3-piece band sounds like there are more of us. A very thorough, well researched video.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thank you! And thanks for watching!

[@prajnachan333]

Excellent history. I never knew all of these bassists played with the Doors 🚪 Thank you 🎉 🕉 Lonnie Mack played bass on two tracks! Unreal. And John Sebastián!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@tattyshoesshigure5731]

Amazing to me that Ray could play both bass & lead lines at the same time on his two keyboards

[@coldacre]

he also sang all vocals during a gig that Jim pulled out of

[@tattyshoesshigure5731]

@@coldacre I didn’t know that… he was one talented dude for sure. I enjoy listening to the Doors stories he tells that are on KZbin, he had an interesting, very engaging way about him!

[@jsw0278]

It’s not really that different to piano players playing with two hands.

[@loilt5091]

Hammond B3 Jazz keyboardists have done this before the incarnation of the Doors. Likely where Ray got the inspiration.

[@michaelcelani8325]

​@@loilt5091...But why did no other Rock band use the Fender Key Bass ? It was way cool. ! ...and being Fender, it was available at Fender Dealers nation wide. Mystery.

[@clevebaker8399]

The bass guitar on you’re lost little girl is absolutely phenomenal!! The clear light lp is a masterpiece

[@noahg9527]

Who played that if u kno

[@clevebaker8399]

@@noahg9527 Douglas Lubhan of the band clear light/or Lonnie Mack.. I’ve read varying opinions ! It’s a hypnotic song 😉

[@noahg9527]

@@clevebaker8399 it really is i only kno the first part on bass and that’s really all i need 😂😂 have any recommendations of other hypnotic bass parts

[@jonkaplan5243]

This is Great!!! An early and long time Doors fan here. Thank you for this exhaustive and comprehensive history of the Door's bass players. The first ever.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@thomasstambaugh5181]

Ray Manzarek is one of my idols (I'm a piano player now). I've found that nearly all the classic Doors numbers from their first few albums translate directly and very nicely to the piano. I'm quite sure that is the direct result of Ray Manzarek's classical training. A decent baby grand or grand with the top open is fully capable of making numbers like "Light My Fire", "When the Music's Over", "Soul Kitchen", and "Break on Through" sound just fine as solo piano numbers. That left-hand bass drives those numbers even without percussion or guitar. My audiences have always loved my Doors material. Props for an excellent, informative, and very entertaining video.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thank you! And thanks for watching!

[@r.t.aegean3236]

Wow! I really can't add anything that wasn't already expressed, but many thanks for putting such a well researched and produced video on KZbin! It was really and truly amazing and fascinating!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thank you so much! And thanks for watching!!

[@r.t.aegean3236]

@@TheDirtyDoors You're welcome, and thanks for taking the time to reply. That is appreciated.

[@gj8683]

This is a gem. Always "heard" bass on Doors records, but had only known about Scheff on LA Woman. Didn't know about Doug Lubahn nor his connection to the band Dreams, which was a point early in the careers of Billy Cobham, John Abercrombie, and of course Michael and Randy Brecker. Many thanks for the comprehensive and well-paced coverage!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@diegoferreiro9478]

Probably one of the best documentaries about The Doors and their music: Well researched, better narrated, the pictures match with the narration, and focused on the music and history of the group, leaving aside all the crap that usually revolves around The Doors.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thank you so much!

[@christophercharles9645]

Leroy Vinnegar! He was a GREAT player and big influence on later titans like Dave Holland. What a list of bassists - for a group that "didn't have a bassist", they sure had a platoon of them!

[@divingduck1970]

I used to work in the Bank Tower building in downtown Portland, and I'd see LV in the elevator when he was gigging at the club way at the top. He was on oxygen, and his gear took up most of the car.

[@mysongs6745]

There's a lot of great research here. The graphics and choice of fonts made for an exciting presentation, too!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thank you! And thanks for watching!

[@DQ-su6qf]

Was at the recording of La woman and just missed Morrison but spoke to Jerry Scheff for a while..3 days later left the country and happened to end up in Paris that August and of course went to Pere-Lachaise…

[@poohbearsauntie]

FASCINATING!!!!!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@andrewpappas9311]

The Doors definitely had a lot of great bass lines and everyone who played them from Ray Manzarek to any of the session guys they’ve had all absolutely kill it, great video man

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@BassicVIC]

Magnificent video. THANK YOU !!! . (I’ve been a big fan of The Doors for the last 40 years)

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@ybzhou6066]

Hi buddy, thank you so much~~ I always felt that if Ray played the bass, then he would be too busy：）And the bass tone of LA woman’s entire album is simply amazing. If it comes from a keyboard, it would be incredible @_*~~Jerry Scheff bass work is awesome～～～GREAT the DOORS

[@LKaramazov]

“ I BEEN DOWN SO GOD DAMN LONG that it looks like up to me..” God I love those guys!

[@joeygsaudiochannel3972]

Excellent...Excellent....Excellent. I never knew any of this and I'm a Doors Freak. Great Job. Well done !!!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@leof2497]

Good job, man! I had no idea Leland had played with the Doors. Elvis' bassist is perfect on LA Woman, my favorite Doors album.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@drewjohnson7301]

This is a great video! This is vital information about the band that is rarely fleshed out in such a concise way. Thanks for making this! Very informative!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@phil7144]

These history videos are great. Would love to see some more like this

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thank you! Working on some other ideas...

[@TheJayson8899]

Well done. Thank you for this comprehensive video.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@jean-louislalonde6070]

Now I've learned something here! Thank you!!!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@davideaston6944]

I'll continue to argue to my dying day, The Doors were arguably the greatest American rock & roll band ever, to this day; their body of work, those 6 magnificent albums, unmatched in beauty, variety, texture, significance, depth and soul searching composition. Forever, The Doors ❤

[@edcherry9282]

Love was a great band , the doors aspired to be as great as them

[@WilliamPhelpsIII]

absolutely correct. doors the only eternal us band, though the velvet underground is immortal

[@BassicVIC]

I’m with you 100%.

[@brianbiechele1958]

Good stuff. Really nice. So glad Robbie and John got together before the end.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@brianbiechele1958]

@@TheDirtyDoors Thanks for your hard work. Really enjoyed. Big Dylan fan so knew about Harvey Brooks. Other player who played with Bob was new to me. Thanks.

[@brianbiechele1958]

@@TheDirtyDoors Oh, also got Robbie's book online same night from library and am reading. It's great!!!

[@Lanternsinthesky-studios]

Really enjoyable work here. Thanks very much for producing this video.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thank you! And thanks for watching!

[@davidgibbs381]

Thank You very much, this day is now complete as I leaned many new things. Great job!!!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@lukequigley121]

A moderate DOORS fan ,BUT, was rooming w/ a group during the M-Hotel days and WOW what baked highs we had w/ the bass thumping thru the MACH 5's

[@BlackMarketYoga]

I met Carol Kaye in the 90s and she sad she did some Doors sessions and thought she played on "Light My Fire" but was not 100 percent sure since she was doing so many gigs at that time. Yes, basically what you said, nice job THX

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for confirming, and thanks for watching!

[@BlackMarketYoga]

@@TheDirtyDoors sure thing. Thank YOU.

[@MrPhilfridge]

@@TheDirtyDoors Currently reading Ray Manzerak's autobiography. He talks at some length about the recording of 'light my fire'. , no mention at all of Carol Kaye , certainly gives the impression he played the Fender Rhodes Bass Keyboard on the song and no mention of overdubs at all. Interesting read, and having read many years ago John Densmore's memoir , i get the impression , you'd get a different story on everything depending on who your talking to.

[@MrPhilfridge]

@@TheDirtyDoors Just want to add that according to Ray, Strange Days album was the first record where they used a electric bass and that's when the guy from Clear Light was used

[@georgestevens1502]

Kaye could have been tracked outside of the presence of the band if she tracked to tapes of the other instruments. Dome one should ask her if any of the members of the band were in the studio when she tracked. Also, could have been tracked but not made it into the album mix.

[@coreykretsinger]

Mind = Blown! 🤯Thank you!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@bassnut57]

Great video. Well researched and presented. The bass sound samples were outstanding and much appreciated. Good job! Thank you.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@barrymckissack5412]

When i was told the story sometime during the 70's i was told he played string bass with his feet, i was blown away by the talent...his talent is undeniable...

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Ray was definitely a huge talent. But I don't understand how someone could play a string bass with their feet.

[@barrymckissack5412]

@@TheDirtyDoors Densmore himself even heard the story, it obviously got around....

[@Steve-fe3vt]

That's a lot of work doing all that research. Thanks for the fabulous video

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@chuckm4540]

Fascinating video! Thank you for researching and sharing this!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@theoakmontsage1172]

Great job; terrific players all; Jerry Scheff is a particular favorite. Some of the live stuff he did with Elvis is just astonishing.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@michaelcelani8325]

​@@TheDirtyDoorsBig Thanks for putting in the time to research all of this complex of musicians who must have believed in what the Doors meant to the music lovers community. ( Like me ! ).

[@BossNotes]

Absolutely , being a drummer , Jerry , & Tutt we’re big influences on me in the 1970’s !

[@martinsplichal1581]

Nice work. The Doors were lucky to get all those hot players for the session to make their already great material sound even fuller. Cheers.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@martinsplichal1581]

@@TheDirtyDoors 🖖

[@djquinn11]

Good stuff, I’m a lifelong Doors fan and learned something new.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@jeremyparsons9152]

That wasn't only the most comprehensive video about the doors bass, it was the most comprehensive video about anything! Well done, sir.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@bobbybandolon6221]

you told it well! not a boring moment. salute!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@tangotommi]

Just love watching all learning all the nuances you include! Thank you Thank you Thank you!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@toneslotohnz4540]

Fantastic video! Answers questions I've had for 40+ years! Thanks!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thank you! And thanks for watching!

[@jcameronferguson]

I love Doug Lubahn's playing with The Doors. The playing on Strange Days really adds dimension and atmosphere to the whole swirl of the mix -- the title track and My Eyes Have Seen You come to mind especially. My favorite of his Doors parts, though, is probably Wishful Sinful. The way he chugs away on arpeggios in the final refrain as the strings play a version of a blues bend just kills me every time.

[@kirtslater3873]

I don't comment often, that was well done! Love the doors.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thank you!

[@effingclexiss1337]

Thanks for all the time you spent in the making of this vid.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@goplad1]

As I understand it studio bass player Carol Kaye played bass guitar on "Light My Fire". Perhaps she was mistaken but it is certainly possible since she was a much in demand bass player in that era.

[@daviduribe3111]

Yes, she very well may have been called in for a post-session overdub on bass.

[@jamesinwood4170]

Wow John Sebastian on harmonica! I’d heard that but didn’t really think he did- thanks for clearing that up I saw both the spoonful and the doors- great bands- great memories! Thanks for this excellent video!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@juanrobertonavarroarellano1215]

Amazing video!!!! Thanks a lot for The information. What a great video/ investigation!!!! Grateful from Mexico!!!!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thank you! And thanks for watching!

[@LeftyPem]

Launching the video with the KITH skit was all I needed to trust you’d do this topic justice.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@prajnachan333]

I never knew that Ray had and played a Fender Rhodes Bass keyboard- wow, a revelation. Never heard of that instrument. Cool 😎 The first record was one of my first albums at 13 in 1970!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@worldline7147]

What an excellent video history you've presented.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thank you! And thanks for watching!

[@CaptainCraigKWMRZ]

Great documentary! Well researched.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thank you! And thanks for watching!

[@manuelsoares507]

Great presentation! Thank you. :)

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@R3TR0R4V3]

About as thorough as it gets. 😎 I even learned a few things. Great video! 🍻

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@paulwisham5943]

I loved this! Thanks!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@theowlshowofficial9563]

This is an impeccably researched and enjoyable video. Great job. Thanx.👍

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thank you! And thanks for watching!

[@ИванПетров-л5щ1м]

OMG! In Light My fire at 4:30 bass guitar plays octave A instead of Manzareck's G on Am chord, and, of course, on the next F#m chord - F# instead of E.

[@lashedbutnotleashed1984]

I really enjoyed this. Good job.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@BertGrink]

Damn, I never knew any of this. Thanks for putting together this interesting video. Greetings from Denmark.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@mattkaustickomments]

This is so cool. I only knew about Jerry Scheff. And the info on all the other musicians is outstanding and informative!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@z512345]

I didn't know as much as I thought. great video!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@JCloyd-ys1fm]

Great video! Thank you so much for putting this together!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@lkbakken99]

i`ve loved the energy of Roadhouse Blues for many years now, no wonder why when it was Lonnie on bass!!!

[@seagullpoet]

I heard Morrison…maybe have said….” Do it, Lonnie, do it “ . ( Roadhouse ) That’s a huge DOORS mystery with me. Jim could of. Only Lonnie knows….

[@rogerbranton1752]

Really well presented!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thank you!

[@jrm2fla]

This was some really good history a lot of stuff I never knew before. You really did your research, my friend, congratulations.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@large42]

I concur. Great job.👍

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@MelikeSpongeBob1235]

Amazing info!! Stuff i didnt even know!! Soo well detailed!! Thank you so much!!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@livecoilarchive1458]

The Doors had no permanent bass guitar player, but I think Ray's unique (for the time) approach of playing bass keyboard is one of the main things that makes the band special.

[@Transterra55]

Super cool video… I learned so much… Thanks for the upload.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@weirdbug]

TERRIFIC video! 🙌🎸

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@Adibarum]

awesome Job ..Iv been a big doors fan since 1980 but i still learned quite a few new thing aboui the band in you video..thanks

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@sonnyredbull6]

Great research I definitely have been enlighten today.❤💯👍

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@willtheangrydudeist9120]

One of my favorite KITH sketches.... ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@RC-so7rv]

Very well done. Thank you.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@JayBooch]

Great video. Would love to watch more content just like this from you.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thank you! And thanks for watching!!

[@themrkkohler]

Bruce Botnik who I know personally stated that there is a bass dub on Break on Through duplicating Rays piano bass. If you listen to the recording you can clearly hear it...

[@TheDirtyDoors]

I've listened to Break On Through a million times in the last 33 years. I've heard all mixes, isolated channels, and stems. There is definitely no bass guitar present on that recording. Also, Bruce Botnick talks about the recording of Break On Through on the debut album episode of Classic Albums. He mentions Ray's keyboard bass but says nothing about added bass guitar on that song. There is definitely overdubbed bass guitar on Soul Kitchen, Twentieth Century Fox, Light My Fire, Back Door Man, I Looked At You, and Take It As It Comes.

[@Smudge4199]

This is great thank you!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@rv8766]

Cool.. you forgot to mention, taylor hawkins od in colombia from some crazy coke x ketamine mix party drug.. tuci , 2cb

[@stevegrady5134]

Thank you very much for this exhaustive examination of the Doors bass history and additional info. I'm old enough to have started listening to the Doors pre-internet and in those days, it was very hard to find anything beyond the liner notes on the albums. The couple of books that were published about the Doors back in the 80's were mostly focused on Jim's drinking and excessive lifestyle rather than substantial information about the band that was craved by music nerds.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thank you! And thanks for watching!

[@bigbass421]

Doug Lubahn, was a friend from the N.Y. scene. I'm also a lefty bassist, like he was. Rest In Peace, Doug.

[@wturn5354]

Doug lived next door to me with his family in the early 60’s before they moved to Golden CO.

[@Ivan.8067]

Obrigado por compartilhar está pérola! The Doors 👉👏👏👏👏

[@zroy9263]

Great commentary on a brilliant and legendary band!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thank you! And thanks for watching!

[@stratcat4461]

Fascinating.

[@skinner5334]

Fantastic job- well done sir!!⚡️

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@vicvega3614]

Wow this is a GREAT video, thanks 👍

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@malquezare]

Thanks for all information and vídeo edit

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@lorenharris2965]

Thanks you so much. As a bassist I appreciate it.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@jamesdeschenes8307]

Very informative and thoughtfully done. Thank you! (How I studied album liner notes back in the day.)

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@ivanceltichr]

Fascinating!

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@luissallard9761]

Great info, Thank you

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@berry541]

Nice work. Thank you for this.

[@TheDirtyDoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@s.b.romano1452]

Grazie. Saluti dall'Italia. Ciao Jim.

[@Joetime90]

As a bassist since 14, I've always been interested in who played bass for the Doors as they've some of the best bass lines. I knew all but the first album which has been a mystery... Til now. Also Ray had some guitar chops! Thats refreshing as I've loved the raw guitar sounds of Maggie M'Gill and Been Down So Long. Currently learning the bass to said song.

[@manonbassguitar]

So much talent!🤘🏼