PEOPLE ARE STRANGE

For 54 months a bright light burned over the rock and roll scene. A band of 4 that came from completely different musical backgrounds changed the way that music would be heard and appreciated. All from Southern California they played and sang songs that spoke to the inner soul of the youth of the world. From the beginning they were led by a singer so different, so special, so gifted, yet he had never sung a song before they went into the garage for their first rehearsal. The DOORS burst onto the music scene and the world was never the same.

I just finished watching a 2009 documentary: When You Are Strange and it took me back to the days between Narbonne and when I went into the Navy and beyond. It is a very moving movie about The Doors and the 54 months they performed together before Jim's death. The most ironic thing to me personally was the final song they used as background to the ending montage of the life of The Doors. Crystal Ship was the very first Doors song I ever heard and I was mesmerized and awe struck by the song and the sound of the lead singer. I was entering the Free Press bookstore on Fairfax as this song came on over the PA system and I was dumbstruck. I stood in the doorway (Ironic) and listened to the whole song. I then ran over to the counter and asked the clerk who that was they had just played and that's the first I had heard of the Doors. To be honest, 40 some years later, I still listen to some Doors music almost daily and Crystal Ship is still my favorite of all.

October 28, 1967 I was with 3 other Narbonne alumni at UCSB, where as a freshman, I was able to score 4 tickets to a concert by The Doors on campus. Richard Bredahl, Carla Mince Rice and Pat Fenner Okumura were my guest that night and I know that Pat, at least, still talks about the concert and seeing the Doors in such a small setting as Robertson's Gym. It was a magical night seeing the Doors in a four hour dance concert. Alexander's Timeless Bloozband, a local psychedelic band, opened for the group as they did most UCSB concerts, then the Lyrics played and to be honest I don't remember a damn thing about that band. Next Ray, Robby and John came out on stage and began the opening strains of Light My Fire, before the Lizard King himself came out and began mesmerizing all of us with his vocals and his stage presence. This was before the alcohol and drugs took their hold on Jim and he sang that night as only Jim Morrison could sing. I don't remember every song from the set but I do remember they closed with The End and completely blew us away.

Over the years I have talked about all the great concerts I attended at UCSB in that one year I was there, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and the Yardbirds to name a few, but none of the groups or singers ever came close to giving me the feelings I got when listening to Jim Morrison. When I saw the documentary I knew that I had to share some of my feelings and memories with you and I know that each and everyone of you must have similar stories and I would love to hear them. Please feel free to post them on here under comments so we may all enjoy each others stories.