The Doors Danbury Concert--1967
marcus
website featuring a good mix of The Doors concert of October 1967 in
my high school auditorium at Danbury CT. This was during my senior
year at Danbury High School.
People often ask me (yes, that's right..they just stop me on the
street and ask) how did The Doors happen to play at your high school?
If I remember correctly, they were actually booked by the local
college (which I would later attend and graduate from), Western
Connecticut State University, for the college's Fall Weekend, but the
college's auditorium was under repair...so with the permission of
Danbury High School, it was held at the high school auditorium, on
either the Friday or Saturday night of the Fall Weekend.
I had become a very big fan of the Doors during the previous 4-5
months...in fact, the two albums I listened to the most during 1967's
"Summer Of Love" were "Sgt. Pepper" and "The Doors". The Doors'
second album, "Strange Days" had just been released, and I was eager
to see them.
I went with a few friends, including my sister, Sara. I saved the
ticket...it was just a yellow tag with a number on it. Don't remember
how much it cost.
I couldn't believe that the Doors were actually there. I had this
image of Jim Morrison as this big, beefy, beery older guy, based on
the photos I had seen of him, and was surprised that he was so young
looking and thin.
We had seats a few rows back from the stage on stage left. So we were
quite close...and it was a small auditorium. I don't remember the
music being overly loud, and I enjoyed watching Ray on the organ and
Robbie play his guitar (he was the closest band member to where I
sat).
During the song, "The End", Morrison smashed his microphone stand
several times into the stage floor. The next day, our local
newspaper reported that the high school principal was so outraged by
the "damage" caused to the stage, that he threatened to sue the band.
I was in the shcool chorus and knew the stage well, so first thing on
Monday morning, I snuck onto the stage to survey the supposed "hole"
that Jim Morrison had gouged into the floor. It was really no big
deal...just some scuff marks and a slight indentation, but as I stood
looking at it, I kept saying to myself, "Jim Morrison stood here, and
I saw him".
Here is the website if you are interested in downloading the concert:
http://retrovinylcupboard.blogspot.com/2008/02/doors-danbury-high-school-danbury-ct.html
Bruce Coryell
Good post, thanks. Welcome change from the drivel that usually appears
on this newsgroup. The Doors played close where I was living at the
time when they played Hampton Beach, NH in the summer of '67, but I
didn't become a Doors fan until the following year, '68.
marcus
> Good post, thanks. Welcome change from the drivel that usually appears
> on this newsgroup. The Doors played close where I was living at the
> time when they played Hampton Beach, NH in the summer of '67, but I
> didn't become a Doors fan until the following year, '68.
The big mystery for me is how the college came to book The Doors in
the first place. The band started becoming popular nationwide in July
or so, with "Light My Fire". One would think that the college had all
ready made their Fall Weekend plans before that. I'm assuming that
someone knew of this obscure group called "The Doors", and booked
them. Then, The Doors, wildly popular by October 1967, had to honor
the commitment by playing at such a small venue as my high school
auditorium.
I attended a lot of concerts in my youth, and remember them well, but
my memory of The Doors concert....the specifics of the songs
etc......is hazy. I think it's becaue the whole event was so
surreal. I was a big fan, and couldn't believe they were actually
performing in front of me on my home turf...plus the audience was
50/50 very straight-laced folks, and freaks. It was very weird.
If you ever hear that tape, you will notice the almost "storm-trooper"
instructions to the audience by one of the college
administrators...what a hoot.
Bruce Coryell
Well, the album came out in January, 1967, and while it wasn't an
instant hit, I think it did catch the attention of those who listened to
it. It has a darker and more sophisticated sound than most of what was
going around at that time (Monkees, Paul Revere and Raiders, etc.).
marcus
.
>
> Well, the album came out in January, 1967, and while it wasn't an
> instant hit, I think it did catch the attention of those who listened to
> it. It has a darker and more sophisticated sound than most of what was
> going around at that time (Monkees, Paul Revere and Raiders, etc
Are you trying to tell me that "Saturday's Child" isn't deep. ;-)
I don't really remember how and when I began to like The Doors, but I
know it was within the immediate time period after "Sgt. Pepper" was
released, in either June or July. By August, I was wearing out the
grooves in "The Doors" debut album. I'm guessing that my interest in
the Doors coincided with my daily listening to the burgeoning FM Radio
scene in New York City. In fact, that may be where I first heard
them, unless it was Top 40 playing "Light My Fire".
Who knows...regardless, I was and am a big fan.
I must admit that I liked their music in 1967 and 1968 more so than
the more basic rock and blues they evolved (devolved?) to in their
later albums. I bought all their albums through the "Soft Parade",
but not after.
Why did they abandon their earlier sound...I've never known the
underlying reasons for their later years direction...less
esoteric...more basic.
Bruce Coryell
Actually, you're missing out: Soft Parade was their low point
creatively (though one of my favorites, Shaman's Blues, is on that
album). The Doors went back to a basic hard rock sound on the Morrison
Hotel Album, and a more bluesy sound on the LA Woman album. Both of
these are considered classics now. For the last 8 years, Bright
Midnight has been releasing recordings of their live concerts, with the
latest release just two months ago. These are all pretty good, if
somewhat redundant. Most of the concerts were recorded on a tour they
did in the spring of 1970 to provide material for the Absolutely Live
album, which came out between the Morrison Hotel and LA Woman albums.
The concert released two months ago was recorded at the Matrix in March
of 1967. This release has been criticized for its sound quality and
apparently, the first generation tapes were not used, but I'm happy
with it, and I think you'll find it reminiscent of the concert you
attended.
marcus
Hardly. Did you listen hard to the tapes?
I'm guessing that our agendas in the Doors is much different. <shrugs>
Who knows if you are or are not a huge fan like me? I would expect
different ideas if you were.
marcus
Above is a forgery.
Lord knows why people do these things, but I guess they have to do
something to make up for a lack of intelligence.
Mick Davis
the 60s well, you weren't enjoying them.
Best American band of all time! Best band ANYWHERE of all time? Hard to say,
but I won't disagree if you believe that.
marcus
Robin Williams is given credit for the saying, "If you remember the
Sixties, you weren't there."
I've always felt that it's the opposite...if you remember the Sixties,
you WERE there.
Love the Doors, but for me, The Beatles are/were the best band of all
time.
Bear Bottoms
Above is a forgery.
I knows why people do these things, but I guess they have to do
something to make up for a lack of CIA intelligence.
--
Bear Bottoms
Private Attorney General