Accessibility links
The Doors The Doors artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music

The Doors
Remembering Ray Manzarek, Keyboardist For The Doors

The Doors at London Airport in 1968. Left to right: John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek. Manzarek died May 20 of bile-duct cancer. Express/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Express/Getty Images

Interviews

Remembering Ray Manzarek, Keyboardist For The Doors

Fresh Air

The mythology surrounding The Doors generally centers on its lead singer, Jim Morrison. Morrison is still considered one of rock's tortured poets, but The Doors' sound was based largely on Ray Manzarek's keyboard playing. His are the riffs immortalized in songs like "Riders on the Storm."

Remembering Ray Manzarek, Keyboardist For The Doors

Listen · 19:52
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/185827139/186324986" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
The Doors' Keyboard Counterpoint Goes Silent

Ray Manzarek (far right) stands with fellow members of The Doors Jim Morrison (from right), Robby Krieger and John Densmore in 1968. Manzarek died Monday in Germany. He was 74. Express/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Express/Getty Images

The Record

The Doors' Keyboard Counterpoint Goes Silent

Raised on the South Side, Manzarek brought Chicago sound to L.A.'s beaches with the trailblazing band. He died Monday at age 74.

The Doors' Keyboard Counterpoint Goes Silent: Remembering Ray Manzarek

Listen · 3:57
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/185619707/185723544" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Set The Night On Fire: Behind The Doors' 'Light My Fire'

The Doors arrive at London Airport in 1968. Express/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Express/Getty Images

The NPR 100

Set The Night On Fire: Behind The Doors' 'Light My Fire'

The Doors' 1967 hit "Light My Fire" broke the mold of the conventional hit pop song.

Set The Night On Fire: Behind The Doors' 'Light My Fire'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1081248/88514860" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Music Articles

Orchestral Doors

NPR's Renee Montagne talks to percussionist John Densmore about the new symphonic tribute to the rock band, The Doors. Densmore and the other two surviving members of the group like the album, which is getting mixed reviews. Their instrumental parts from the Doors repertoire were transcribed and arranged by Jaz Coleman and are performed by Nigel Kennedy and the Prague Symphony Orchestra.

Orchestral Doors

Only Available in Archive Formats.
The Doors Prove Strange Days Are Still With Us

The Doors, photographed in 1966. Joel Brodsky/Elektra Records hide caption

toggle caption
Joel Brodsky/Elektra Records

Author Interviews

The Doors Prove Strange Days Are Still With Us

Even after all these years, people are still drawn to the music of The Doors. Frontman Jim Morrison is responsible for a lot of that, but author Greil Marcus says what really made the band magnetic was something deeper.

The Doors Prove Strange Days Are Still With Us

Listen · 8:45
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142855212/143092904" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Music Articles

Morrison In Miami: The Doors' Manzarek Tells The Story

Fresh Air

Decades after he died, rock icon Jim Morrison has been pardoned for a 1969 incident in which he was accused of indecent exposure. In 1998, Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek recalled what he saw happen that night in Miami.

Morrison In Miami: The Doors' Manzarek Tells The Story

Listen · 10:08
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/131960761/131960898" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Florida To Consider Pardoning Jim Morrison For Indecent Exposure

Jim Morrision on the cover of The Best Of The Doors. Courtesy of Rhino Records hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of Rhino Records

The Record

Florida To Consider Pardoning Jim Morrison For Indecent Exposure

On a hot night in '69, the Lizard King set off a mini riot. But it still isn't clear what happened.

Florida To Consider Pardoning Jim Morrison For Indecent Exposure

Listen · 4:41
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/131905364/131913406" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

A Thanksgiving Feast For The Ears And Eyes

Music Alters Wine's Taste, Vintner Insists

According to wine consultant Clark Smith, certain types of music can enhance the flavor of certain types of wine. Cabernet should be paired with "music of darkness," for example, while certain White Zinfandels are exquisite with polka.

Music Alters Wine's Taste, Vintner Insists

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/16372623/16553308" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Browse the section archive or search npr.org