DEFEND YOURSELF!: ROBBY KRIEGER

The Captain snags an interview with the one and only Robby Krieger of the Doors, arguably one of the most talented guitarists of all time. +100,000 points to Craig for keeping Krieger laughing the whole time. +3,000,540 for asking him a question he’s never heard before.

I don’t believe there is another guitar player as unique as Robby Krieger in the Rock and Roll hall of fame. As a young man getting into the rock and roll gig, he was equipped with the guitar styling of Flamenco, Folk, and inspired by Free Jazz. He took these elements and contributed to manifest one of the most iconoclastic rock and roll bands, The Doors.

Who’s the guy currently on vocals?
A guy named Dave Brock. He was actually in the first Doors tribute band in LA, Wild Child, in the 70s. We’ve been thinking about him for years, but we were saying, ‘Ok, the press may say he’s a tribute guy.’

You’re looking for someone to bring their own craft to the songs.
Yeah. Exactly. Remember what happened to Journey, right? [Laughs]

The Doors performed “Touch Me” on the Smother’s Brothers. You showed up with a black eye. You must get this question asked all the time…
[Laughs] Oh yeah I get asked that so much it’s crazy. I got in a fight with Jim Morrison. I can’t remember why. It was over something stupid.

I’m not breaking ground here with questions am I?
[Laughs]

The album The Soft Parade was the only Doors album where there were individual writing credits, why?
I think it was because I was writing more of the songs by then. I probably wrote half of that album almost. Some think it’s because Jim didn’t like to sing particular songs, but that had nothing to do with it. Jim wanted to note who wrote what song.

Was the song “You’re Lost Little Girl” from Strange Days intended for Frank Sinatra?
Jim liked Sinatra a lot, but I never thought about writing songs for Sinatra. No, another vicious rumor [Laughs]. Though, Ray used to say that Sinatra should do that and sing it about Mia Farrow.

During the infamous Miami trial, where Jim got a little sweet with the audience and police, did the band feel that there was a lack of support from other bands and Rock media at the time?
Y’know … I never really thought about it … but … Yeah! I guess if Jim had gone to jail, maybe they would have.

In the early days, The Doors hung out with Van Morrison. What was he like in those days?
Back then he was very quiet. A real nice guy…until he got drunk.

Booze is a killer so they say.

[Laughs] Yeah, Jim Morrison.

Are the current live performances different from the studio recordings?
We try not to, too much. When people come to see songs that you’ve done, they want to see the songs like they’ve always heard them.

If there is one Doors album you’d go back and redo what would it be? Another often asked question, huh?

[Laughs] No, I never had anyone ask me that. Hey you did it, you thought of a new one.

[Laughs] thought it was going to be that black eye one again [Laughs] that was a good question [Long Pause]

What was that question again? [Laughs]

What Doors album would…
Oh right, no, I wouldn’t do any of them over. They’re all perfect in their own sense.

RAY MANZAREK AND ROBBY KRIEGER OF THE DOORS

WILBUR THEATRE
TUE 11.8.11
246 TREMONT ST.
BOSTON
617.248.9700
8:30PM/ALL AGES/$35-50
@THE_WILBUR
THEWILBURTHEATRE.COM

A big thanks to Joshua Candlen for aiding me with questions on the fly.

Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of The Doors @ Wilbur Theater/Tue, Nov 8, 2011 08:30 PM/http://thewilburtheatre.com/