Robby Krieger

Robby Krieger

Krieger performing live in London in June 2007
Background information
Birth name Robert Alan Krieger
Born January 8, 1946 (1946-01-08) (age 64)
Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres Blues-rock, psychedelic rock, hard rock
Occupations Musician, songwriter
Instruments Guitar, vocals, harmonica
Years active 1965–present
Labels Elektra
Associated acts The Psychedelic Rangers, The Doors, The butts band, Riders on the Storm
Website Official website
Notable instruments
Gibson SG

Robert Alan Krieger (January 8, 1946, Los Angeles, California, United States) is an American rock and roll guitarist and songwriter. He was the guitarist in The Doors, and wrote some of the band's best known songs, including "Light My Fire," "Love Me Two Times," "Touch Me," and "Love Her Madly."

He is listed as number 91 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.[1]

Contents

Early life

Robby Krieger was born on January 8th, 1946 to a Jewish family living in Los Angeles. His first exposure to music was mostly classical, as his father was a big fan of marching music, until he heard Peter and the Wolf which was the first music that really caught him. When he was seven, Krieger accidently broke his record player, but the radio began to reach his ears playing the likes of Fats Domino, Elvis, and The Platters. At 10 he tried the trumpet, but found it wasn't for him. He began playing the blues on his parents' piano with much more success than the trumpet. At 14, he began to surf and it became an integral part of his life. Krieger's parents began to worry that his surfing was distracting him from school and they enrolled him in a private school.

While Krieger was attending a private school, there was study time at night that allowed him to teach himself to play the guitar. He began by learning flamenco, borrowing a friend's guitar. When Krieger was 18, he got his own flamenco guitar and took lessons for a few months. He bounced around genres including flamenco, folk, blues, and jazz. After high school, Krieger went to UCLA, where he met Ray Manzarek, who would become the Doors' keyboardist.

The Doors

He was in The Doors with keyboard player Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore and vocalist Jim Morrison. At an early Doors rehearsal Morrison heard Krieger playing bottleneck guitar and initially wanted the technique featured on every song on the first album. Krieger's fingerstyle approach to the electric guitar, eclectic musical tastes, and songwriting helped establish The Doors as a successful rock band in the 1960s. His only singing with the early Doors can be heard on the album The Soft Parade, on the song Runnin' Blue.

Later career

After Morrison's death in 1971, The Doors continued as a trio and released two albums, Other Voices and Full Circle. Krieger shared lead vocal duties with Manzarek. After The Doors disbanded in 1973, Krieger formed The butts band with Densmore. He enjoyed some success as a jazz guitarist, recording a handful of albums as The Robby Krieger Band in the 1970s and 1980s, including Versions (1983) and No Habla (1986). For his 1977 solo release Robby Krieger & Friends, Krieger worked with rock artist Jim Evans to create a painting that became the album package.

In 2000 Krieger released Cinematix, an entirely instrumental fusion album, with guest appearances from Billy Cobham and Edgar Winter.

Krieger and Manzarek reformed as the Doors of the 21st Century in 2002 with vocalist Ian Astbury, formerly of The Cult. Following a dispute with Densmore over The Doors name, the band is now known as Riders on the Storm. For a brief period, the reformed band also included Police drummer Stewart Copeland.

Krieger played guitar on a few tracks by Blue Öyster Cult and has worked on a number of tribute projects organized by Billy Sherwood. In recent times, Krieger has made some guest appearances with the band Particle and appears on the album Transformations Live. Together, they cover many of The Doors' songs.

On June 2008, ZYX Studio released his concert with Eric Burdon, called Live at the Ventura Beach California. They also played "Back Door Man" and "Roadhouse Blues".

In April 2009, Krieger and Ray Manzarek appeared as special guests for Daryl Hall's monthly concert webcast "Live From Daryl's House". They performed several Doors tunes ("People Are Strange", "Crystal Ship", "Roadhouse Blues" and "Break On Through") with Hall providing lead vocals. Krieger also played lead guitar on the Hall & Oates track "Kiss On My List".

discography

The Doors

Main article: The Doors discography

Solo

  • Robby Krieger & Friends (1977)
  • Versions(Robby Krieger) (1983)
  • Robby Krieger(Album) (1985)
  • Door Jams (1989)
  • No Habla (1989)
  • Eric Burdon & Robbie Krieger (1990)
  • Robby Krieger Organisation Live (1995)
  • Cinematix (2000)

The Butts Band

Golf

In 2010, he played in the Bob Hope Classic as a celebrity.

References

  1. ^ "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2003-08-23. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5937559/the_100_greatest_guitarists_of_all_time/. Retrieved 2008-04-13. 

External links

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