Robby Krieger

Robby Krieger was born on January 8, 1946, in Los Angeles, California, to a Jewish family.{{cite web|url=http://guitarinternational.com/2011/03/08/robby-kriegerinterview-the-doors-gibson-guitars-and-jim-morrison/|publisher=Guitar International Group, LLC.|access-date=October 10, 2011|title=Robby Krieger Interview: The Doors, Gibson guitars and Jim Morrison|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227211920/http://guitarinternational.com/2011/03/08/robby-kriegerinterview-the-doors-gibson-guitars-and-jim-morrison/|archive-date=February 27, 2012}}{{cite news |first=Elana |last=Kirsh |date=July 6, 2011 |title=Concert review: Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger |url=https://m.jpost.com/arts-and-culture/music/concert-review-ray-manzarek-and-robbie-krieger/amp |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=June 7, 2022}} His father, Stuart "Stu" Krieger, was an engineer and was a fan of classical music, while his mother, Marilyn Ann (née Shapiro), enjoyed "Frank Sinatra and stuff like that".{{cite web

|first=Mick |last=Wall

|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/robby-krieger-interview-life-with-the-doors-the-wonder-of-acid-and-dealing-with-crazies |title=Robby Krieger interview: life in the Doors, The Wonder of acid, and Dealing with Crazies |work=Classic Rock |date=August 13, 2020

|publisher=Louder Sound|access-date=August 18, 2020}}

Krieger attended a Hebrew school with his twin brother Ronny.{{cite journal |first=Brian |last=Fishbach |date=January 6, 2022 |title=New Memoir by the Doors' Robby Krieger Sets the Record Straight |url=https://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/books/343781/new-memoir-by-the-doors-robby-krieger-sets-the-record-straight/ |journal=Jewish Journal |access-date=June 7, 2022}} While Krieger was a boarding student at a private school called Menlo School in Atherton, California, there was study time at night that allowed him to teach himself to play the guitar. He began by first de-tuning a ukulele to the bottom four strings of a guitar and mimicking a record he had. Later, in the mid-1960s, scholar Frank Chin taught Krieger how to play the flamenco guitar.{{cite book |first=Stephen |last=Davis |title=Jim Morrison: Life, Death, Legend |page=77 |year=2005 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-1-59240-099-7}}

After graduating high school, Krieger attended the University of California, Santa Barbara. His musical development included listening to guitarists Wes Montgomery, Albert King, and Larry Carlton who influenced his style.{{cite web|url=http://www.estadao.com.br/noticias/arteelazer,guitarrista-dos-doors-fala-sobre-show-inedito-da-banda-que-sai-em-dvd,954039,0.htm|title=Guitarrista dos Doors fala sobre show inédito da banda que sai em DVD|date=October 31, 2012|work=O Estado de S. Paulo|language=pt|author=Medeiros, Jotabê|access-date=November 18, 2012}} Krieger's flamenco guitar playing can be heard in the song "Spanish Caravan".{{cite web

|first=Damian |last=Fanelli

|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/watch-robby-krieger-play-doors-spanish-caravan-la-philharmonic-quartet-flamenco |title=Watch Robby Krieger Play the Doors' "Spanish Caravan" with a String Quartet |website=Guitar World |date=January 8, 2018

|access-date=December 17, 2021}}

File:Robby Krieger in 1968 (cropped).JPG

Krieger became a member of the Doors in 1965, joining keyboard player Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and vocalist Jim Morrison, after Manzarek's brothers left the group. At an early Doors rehearsal, Morrison heard Krieger playing bottleneck guitar and initially wanted the technique featured on every song on the first album.{{cite AV media |title=Robby Krieger, an interview of Ray Manzarek (@40") |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQUbqHbwT64 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211118/FQUbqHbwT64| archive-date=November 18, 2021 | url-status=live|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} Krieger's fingerstyle approach to the electric guitar, broad musical tastes, and songwriting helped establish the Doors as a successful rock band in the 1960s.{{cite web|url=http://rockhall.com/blog/post/10337_exclusive-interview-with-robby-krieger-the-doors/|title=Stories of Rock – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame |website=Rockhall.com}} Together with Densmore,{{cite web|url=http://cavehollywood.com/ravi-shankar-a-life-in-music-exhibit-at-the-grammy-museum-may-2015-spring-2016/ |first=Harvey|last=Kubernik|title=Ravi Shankar: A Life In Music Exhibit at the Grammy Museum May 2015–Spring 2016|publisher=Cave Hollywood|date=June 16, 2015|access-date=February 1, 2019}} he studied under Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar at the Kinnara School of Music in Los Angeles.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/robby-krieger-mn0000275991/biography |first=Greg|last=Prato|title=Robby Krieger|website=AllMusic|access-date=February 1, 2019}}{{cite book|last=Lavezzoli|first=Peter|title=The Dawn of Indian Music in the West|publisher=Continuum|location=New York, NY|year=2006|isbn=0-8264-2819-3|pages=158–59}}

Krieger occasionally sang lead vocals with the Doors. He can be heard on the song "Runnin' Blue".{{cite book |title=The Doors FAQ: All That's Left to Known About the Kings of Acid Rock |last=Weldman |first=Rich |year=2011 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |page=167 |isbn=978-1-61713-114-1}} He also sang on the last two Doors albums, recorded after Morrison's death, Other Voices and Full Circle.{{Cite web |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/doors-other-voices/ |date=October 18, 2016 |title=When the Doors Continued Without Jim Morrison on Other Voices |last=Allen |first=Jim |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |access-date=December 19, 2021}}

After Morrison's death in 1971, Krieger, Manzarek, and Densmore carried on as a trio. They released two more albums as the Doors before disbanding in 1973, though they did reconvene a few years later to create music for poetry that Morrison had recorded shortly before his death, released as the 1978 album An American Prayer.{{Cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4119|pure_url=yes}} |title=The Doors – Biography |last1=Ruhlmann |first1=William |last2=Unterberger |first2=Richie |website=AllMusic |access-date=March 15, 2021}}

{{BLP sources section|date=January 2022}}

File:Robby Krieger.JPG

After the Doors disbanded in 1973, Krieger formed the Butts Band with Densmore. He recorded as a jazz-fusion guitarist, making a handful of albums in the 1970s and 1980s, including Versions (1982), Robby Krieger (1985), and No Habla (1989). His first solo release was Robbie Krieger & Friends in 1977.

In 1982, Krieger appeared on four tracks of the album Panic Station by the Los Angeles group The Acid Casualties ("Shadow Street," "Solid Sound," "Armies of the Sun," and "She's a Lost Soul").{{Cite AV media notes |title=Panic Station |year=1982 |others=The Acid Casualties |type=liner notes |publisher=Rhino Records |id=RNLP 850}}

In 1991, Krieger formed a new band known as the Robby Krieger Band, which featured his son Waylon Krieger (guitar), Berry Oakley Jr. (bass, backing vocals), Dale Alexander (keyboards), and Ray Mehlbaum (drums).{{Cite news |last=Arkush |first=Michael |date=February 24, 1991 |title=Movie Opens Up Past for Doors Guitarist : Former member of rock 'n' roll band now plays jazz and is preparing to tour with a new group. But as Robby Krieger looks back on the days of fame two decades ago, he wishes he could do it again |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-02-24-ca-2638-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=January 23, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202022629/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-02-24/entertainment/ca-2638_1_robby-krieger-band |archive-date= Feb 2, 2017 }} 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 of the Cult.{{cite news |url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/D/Doors_Of_The_21st_Century/2005/07/24/1145148.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710151212/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/D/Doors_Of_The_21st_Century/2005/07/24/1145148.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |title=Long live the Lizard King |first=Mike |last=Ross |newspaper=Edmonton Sun |publisher=CANOE – JAM! |date=24 July 2005 |access-date=7 June 2022}} (Astbury had also performed a solo cover of "Touch Me" and a cover of "Wild Child" with the Cult on the tribute album Stoned Immaculate: The Music of The Doors).

Krieger played guitar on a few tracks by Blue Öyster Cult. In 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 May 2012, Robby Krieger toured with the Roadhouse Rebels, a trio side-project consisting of founding members Particle's (and Rich Robinson's keyboardist) Steve Molitz (Hammond organ, keyboards) and Oingo Boingo/Mutaytor's John Avila (bass), only this time with two additional musicians, the Black Crowes's Rich Robinson (guitar/vocals) and Rich Robinson's drummer Joe Magistro. The shows' setlists featured a range of material, including Doors standards, classic soul and rock 'n' roll covers from the '60s and '70s, and material from Robinson's new Through a Crooked Sun album. The group performed on May 25, 2012, in Los Angeles, on May 26, 2012, at the Bella Fiore Music Festival at Harmony Park Music Garden in Clarks Grove, Minnesota, and on May 27, 2012, at the Oriental Theater in Denver.{{cite web|url=http://www.jambands.com/news/2012/03/02/the-roadhouse-rebels-krieger-molitz-robinson-and-more|title=The Roadhouse Rebels: Krieger, Molitz, Robinson and More|website= jambands.com|date=March 2, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728124614/https://jambands.com/news/2012/03/02/the-roadhouse-rebels-krieger-molitz-robinson-and-more/ |archive-date= Jul 28, 2022 }}

On December 31, 2013, Krieger played alongside Southern rock band Gov't Mule at the Beacon Theatre (New York City).{{cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/govt-mule/2013/beacon-theatre-new-york-ny-73c44639.html|title=Gov't Mule Concert Setlist at Beacon Theatre, New York on December 31, 2013 |date=11 Feb 2023 |website=setlist.fm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240103204332/https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/govt-mule/2013/beacon-theatre-new-york-ny-73c44639.html |archive-date= Jan 3, 2024 }} In July 2017, Krieger tossed out the first pitch at a Dodgers game in Los Angeles.

On August 29, 2018, Krieger joined Alice in Chains onstage at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles to close out their sold-out concert with a performance of their hit song "Rooster".{{Cite web |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/news/watch-alice-in-chains-perform-rooster-with-the-doors-robby-krieger |title=Watch Alice in Chains Perform "Rooster" with The Doors' Robby Krieger |last=Bienstock |first=Richard |date=August 31, 2018 |website=Guitar World |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240103204157/https://www.guitarworld.com/news/watch-alice-in-chains-perform-rooster-with-the-doors-robby-krieger |archive-date= Jan 3, 2024 }} On August 14, 2020, Krieger released his solo album, The Ritual Begins At Sundown. On September 10, 2020, Krieger was announced as a headliner featuring Maki Mae in the Asian Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

In 2020, Krieger began uploading guitar tutorials for various Doors songs to the band's official YouTube channel.{{Cite web |last=Breathnach |first=Cillian |date=2020-04-10 |title=Learn Roadhouse Blues from Robby Krieger himself |url=https://guitar.com/news/music-news/robby-krieger-the-doors-lesson-roadhouse-blues/ |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=Guitar.com |language=en-GB}}

On October 12, 2021, Krieger released a memoir Set the Night on Fire: Living, Dying, and Playing Guitar With the Doors, co-written with author and musician Jeff Penalty Alulis.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-doors-guitarist-robby-krieger-memoir-1195592/|title=The Doors Guitarist Robby Krieger Readies First-Ever Memoir|first=Daniel|last=Kreps|magazine=Rolling Stone |date=July 12, 2021|access-date=October 21, 2021}}

Krieger is married to Lynn Krieger and has one child: Waylon Krieger.{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Bob |date=2015-04-11 |title=The Music of The Doors: Interview with Waylon Krieger |url=https://liveforlivemusic.com/features/interview-waylon-krieger-of-doors/ |website=L4LM |language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240103210031/https://liveforlivemusic.com/features/interview-waylon-krieger-of-doors/ |archive-date= Jan 3, 2024 }}"[https://m.imdb.com/name/nm5823231/ Waylon Krieger]", IMDB."[https://www.cool1035.com/the-doors-robby-krieger-releases-trio-of-reggae-flavored-instrumentals-new-music-video/ The Doors' Robby Krieger releases trio of reggae-flavored instrumentals, new music video]", Cool 103.5, April 15, 2022.

File:Robby III.jpg in London September 1968. Krieger used various guitar models, most notably Gibson SG models.]]

Krieger used a variety of electric guitar models during his time with the Doors, most notably the following ones:{{cite web|url=http://www.thedoorsguide.com/music/equipment.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130616130935/http://www.thedoorsguide.com/music/equipment.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 16, 2013|title=The Doors Equipment List – Music – The Doors Guide|date=June 16, 2013|website=archive.ph|access-date=December 31, 2018}}

• 1964 Gibson SG Special
• 1958 National 'Town & Country' (Model 1104)
• 1967 Gibson SG Special
• 1968 Gibson SG Standard
• 1954 Gibson Les Paul Custom ('Black Beauty')
• Black Gibson SG Standard

{{For|a more comprehensive list|The Doors discography}}

• The Doors (1967)
• Strange Days (1967)
• Waiting for the Sun (1968)
• The Soft Parade (1969)
• Morrison Hotel (1970)
• L.A. Woman (1971); last album to feature singer Jim Morrison before his death
• Other Voices (1971)
• Full Circle (1972)
• An American Prayer (1978)

• Butts Band (1974)
• Hear and Now (1975)

• Red Shift (album) (1979)
• Shifting On Strong (album) (1980)

• Robbie Krieger & Friends (1977)
• Versions (1982)
• Robby Krieger (1985)
• No Habla (1989)
• Door Jams (1989)
• Cinematix (2000)
• Singularity (2010)
• The Ritual Begins at Sundown (2020)
• Robby Krieger & The Soul Savages (2024)

• Look Each Other in the Ears. Hen House Studio Album includes the Doors—Robby Krieger, John Densmore, and Ray Manzarek. 2014

• "Puppet Strings" on Puppet Strings, by Fuel (2014)
• "ZUN – [https://zunband.bandcamp.com/album/burial-sunrise Burial Sunrise]" (2016, Small Stone Records) Electric Sitar on 'Nothing Farther'
• "Forest Full of Trees" and "Stagger Lee" on Rock 'N' Roll Animals (2016) and "Big Brown Dog" w/ Brant Bjork on Bunny Rumble (2018) by Bunny Racket
• "All the Time in the World" on Alphabetland (2020) and "Strange Life" on Xtras (2021), Alphabetland outtakes), by X

• For Director Oliver Stone's movie The Doors (1991), Krieger had a small cameo as a backstage patron at the London Fog, while his younger self was portrayed by Frank Whaley.

• Outline of the Doors

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{discogs artist}}
• [http://www.thedoors.com/ The Doors official website]
• {{Pop Chronicles|43}}
• [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/robby-krieger Robby Krieger Interview] at NAMM Oral History Collection (January 25, 2014)

{{Robby Krieger}}

{{The Doors}}

{{1993 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}

{{Authority control}}

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Category:1946 births

Category:20th-century American guitarists

Category:American expatriates in the United Kingdom

Category:American male guitarists

Category:American rock guitarists

Category:Guitarists from Los Angeles

Category:American lead guitarists

Category:Living people

Category:Jewish American rock musicians

Category:People from Atherton, California

Category:Pupils of Ravi Shankar

Category:Songwriters from California

Category:The Doors members

Category:University of California, Santa Barbara alumni

Category:University High School (Los Angeles) alumni