THE DOORS

THE DOORS OF PERCEPTION 

What is the reality anyway? 

1991. My friend Ian dragged me to the cinema to watch the atrocious Hot Shots movie. Meanwhile upstairs The Doors film was playing in the main screen. 

I noted the curious lines of long haired freaks waiting outside all wearing leather trousers. Inside the smell of weed wafted down the stairways. 

And while I sat there watching Charlie Sheen being a buffoon, I couldn't help but think that I was probably missing out on this huge exciting event happening right now in the screen above me. 

Intrigued I hired the Doors movie as soon as it came out on VHS. For me as a young teen, this was a great introduction to the Doors music. I immediately went out and bought their first album on CD and later all their vinyl records. 

Later I grew my hair long and wore leather pants. I wanted to be the Lizard  King. Above all I wanted to hang out with the freaks and get laid. 

I read Danny Sugarmans two bios and "Burn Down the Night" by Craig Lee Strete. I read everything I could about them. Including Densmores account. 

More importantly I read Morrisons book of poems and was hooked. But the lines between that movie and the actual band have become considerably blurred. It all depends on who you ask. 

The band hated the movie, that much was clear. Manzarak in particular said it wasn't anything like Morrison. 

But he also neglected to mention Morrison stomping on all Rays record collection, not turning up to gigs and them having to go to his hotel and drag him back to the venue. 

The movie might be outlandish and wildly inaccurate but no more so than any account of what the actual band was really about. 

Densmore would probably agree with the movie's portrayal. Most of it was bullshit anyway. Getting wasted in the desert for example in reality I think they actually got mugged and beaten up. 

If anything its all a great fiction, from the movie to the Band itself. Moreover Morrison likely faked his death in Paris (no one actually saw the body put in the casket). 

Evading the FBI and jail time Morrison probably snuck back into the USA via Mexico, leeched off various girlfriends and lived out his days drinking and living off the royalties. Rumour has it he now resides in Fort Collins and no surprise is not in good health. 

The band were probably in on the fake death or at least aware. If anything its the ultimate publicity stunt. Plus it sells mystique, movies and keeps the band in pocket.

How else could Robby get away with the worst guitar version of the Star Spangled Banner at a Hockey match if he wasn't totally loaded? But I digress. 

More than any other band, the Doors got me into not only music but an attitude. A different way of looking at the world. 

Like Neo in the Matrix, the Doors fed me the red pill and showed me wonderland, politics, corruption and how far the rabbit hole really goes...