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Rocky Road From Classic Rock to Progessive to hip hop to today's hot new tunes! |
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Rocky Road From Classic Rock to Progessive to hip hop to today's hot new tunes! |
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In Reply to: Of all the supergroups of the 60s/70s why have The Doors continued posted by tinear on March 3, 2006 at 18:56:30:
The genre of classic rock currently exists primarily in 3 realms: the 250 songs (that used to be 500) that represent it on "classic rock" radio stations (though satellite radio of course offers expanded, deeper playlists); 5- or 10-second snippets licensed for car commercials; and in the collections of those who actually still listen to the stuff. The catalog of the Doors hasn't translated well to the CD age.In the 70s, they didn't need good management with marketing savvy to keep them relevant. Rolling Stone magazine did that job quite effectively, and well into the 80s. Ironically, they fell off the radar after the Stone flick, though that should've been a boost. And it may have boosted sales, but the buzz died off pretty quickly. That rock music was changing rapidly at the time probably didn't help matters much.
These days, Manzarek whines that Densmore won't allow him to license Doors songs for commercial purposes--on the basis that 'Jim wouldn't have wanted that' or some such nonsense. Like Densmore knows that Morrison wouldn't have changed his mind at some point.
To anyone who cares enough to pay attention, neither comes off well; Manzarek will appear to some to be a greedy sellout, while Densmore is clinging to some ideal that, for people in the positions of the surviving Doors relative to what to do about their catalog, probably makes less and less sense as time goes on.
Then there's movies...and if there's been a Doors song used on a soundtrack since 'The End' was placed in 'Apocalypse Now,' I probably haven't seen it (or, more likely, I don't remember). Pretty effin' stupid, since Doors songs are naturals for movies, there's plenty of hits to choose from, and, for those opposed to 'selling out,' movies are, uh, just a trifle more artistic than commercials, at least in theory.
I mean, come on. We may take it for granted, but think about this the next time you're channel surfing & pass a flick on the tube, especially the ones that are repeated with varying frequency on channels like TNT & FX: if you hang on it long enough, chances are you'll hear a pop song recorded within the past 40 years. Right?
Classic rock bands have benefited from this to varying degrees, some not very much. The Doors, pretty much, not at all.
Lastly, for the most part (and in large part due to the above reasons), I don't think there are a ton of prominent rock bands these days that are heavily influenced by the Doors. A few, perhaps (though certainly fewer than would be the case if their music was heard on a commercial or two or in a few movies), but I don't hear much in 'modern rock' that makes me think that a kid who digs them is going to seek out Doors records because they're the obvious influence. Kids into the White Stripes would be more likely to check out the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, or even the Kinks, I'd think. Oasis sounds more like the Beatles, of course. The Strokes...VU. And on & on w/the obvious observations. Who sounds like the Doors? Nobody I can think of, really. When Echo & the Bunnymen came out 25 years ago they were compared. I'm still trying to figure out why.
I'm not much of a Doors fan, but I don't dispute that they did some interesting & unique things. I surely wouldn't say that they were no good on the basis of not being particularly influential, at least among bands of the past few years, and unlike some of the other classic rock heavy hitters whose influence does actually rear its head in current r'n'r. I have a feeling that if Densmore is actually the caricature of the 60s holdout he's appearing to be, that we won't see any marketing campaigns trumpeting their catalog anytime soon. I have a feeling the catalog sells pretty well just as it is, and, unlike the Who, say, 10-15 years ago, I don't know that it's in need of a massive overhaul, remastering, etc.
The question I'll never stop asking is why they ever became as popular as they were in the first place. And it's not that I hate the music, I just never thought it was all that good; I've never liked Morrison's vocals, the guy could've been a very, very good singer but was caught up in his mostly-mediocre poetry & cared a hell of a lot more about 'performance' than he did about music. That he was talented is only one more example of talent being nothing but a measure of potential. I think a better result would've been achieved if the rest of the band had had an opportunity to work with someone who was as into what they wanted to do, as they were.
Gee, and I thought this was going to be simple. It started out that way.
Johnny Ramone LOVED the Doors, which I've always found interesting. I don't know what he thought of the Soft Boys, tho! I saw yr comment on Outside, Tin, just been too busy to email ya. I'll try, soon.
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Follow Ups
- Re: Because... - J 20:54:38 03/03/06 (1)
- Who sounds like the Doors? - OvenBun 08:59:05 03/04/06 (0)
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