The Doors’ founding guitarist, Robby Krieger, reflects on his storied past with a casual air, revealing surprising insights into both the history of the band and his personal relationship with their catalog of songs. Despite the enduring legacy of The Doors, Krieger admits he rarely listens to the band’s music nowadays, unless it’s for work.
Embracing the Present
At 78 years old, Krieger’s love for music and performing hasn’t dulled. Leading Robby Krieger and the Soul Savages, with a debut album launched recently, it’s clear he’s far from setting aside his beloved Gibson SG for a quiet retirement. His current enthusiasm for his work shines as he compares his past and present roles in music.
“In some ways it’s more exciting,” Krieger tells Guitar World. Being in The Doors meant standing out of the spotlight, letting the charismatic Jim Morrison lead while he, alongside bandmates John and Ray, remained less noticed. “I was more in the background. Jim was out front, and John, Ray, and I were in the background, in the shadows. Nowadays, it’s the Robby Krieger Band, and I’m expected to talk to the audience and all that stuff, which is fun, but I kind of wish I was still hidden away,” he shares with a chuckle.
Instead of dwelling on the past, Krieger embraces the now. When asked if he spends time listening to The Doors on his own, he replies, “No, not really, unless I’m planning to include a song in one of my live shows that I haven’t played for many years. I hear a lot of our stuff on the radio all the time anyway. I think the songs still hold up pretty good.”
Krieger’s Reflections on The Doors’ Lasting Influence
His perspective is reaffirmed by the crowds he sees at his shows. A mix of die-hard original fans and newcomers suggest that the magic of The Doors’ music hasn’t faded. “What makes me say that is when I look at the people who come to my live shows and you’ve got original fans, plus a big percentage of younger people who’ve also discovered the band. They really seem to be into what The Doors did,” he observes.
Among The Doors’ albums released during Morrison’s life, Krieger has his favourites. He highlights the debut album from 1967 and the 1971 album “L.A. Woman” as standouts, recalling how the recording process for “L.A. Woman,” in particular, contributed to its special place in his heart.
“Definitely the first, self-titled album [from 1967], as we’d had months and months of playing the stuff every night at the Whiskey. I think ‘L.A. Woman’ is probably my next favorite, mostly because of the way we recorded it, as I say, as we were jamming on a lot of the tracks until they became songs.”
From “Surf” Beginnings to a No-Regrets Philosophy: Krieger on Creating Classics
One of the band’s most recognized songs, “Riders on the Storm,” had an unexpected beginning as a “surf” tune before transforming into the classic track we know today. Krieger reminisces, “‘Riders on the Storm’ started off as a surf tune – then it somehow morphed into what it became.”
Though he’s forward-looking, Krieger rejects the idea of changing any aspect of his career or approach to playing guitar. He doesn’t dwell on what might have been, preferring to marvel at his past work with a sense of wonder rather than regret. “No, I don’t do that. In fact, I think it’s actually probably more the other way around, where I’ll think, ‘Wow, how did I do that?’ [Laughs] I never actually sit down and practice as such these days, unless I’ve got some shows coming up, when I will maybe do that to a degree. [Laughs]”
Krieger’s focus on the present doesn’t negate the past but puts it in perspective as a completed chapter. He’s a musician who is clearly dedicated to his craft, enjoying the freedom and responsibilities of leading a band. With his current projects underway, Krieger’s history with The Doors remains a part of who he is, even if he doesn’t listen to their records in his spare time.