Break On Through

The song Break On Through (To the Other Side) by The Doors, featured on their debut album The Doors, is a electrifying track that captures the band’s raw energy and genre-defying spirit. One fascinating piece of trivia comes from guitarist Robby Krieger, who revealed that the song’s iconic guitar riff was inspired by Paul Butterfield’s version of Shake Your Moneymaker, originally by blues legend Elmore James. Meanwhile, keyboardist Ray Manzarek drew from the bossa nova sounds of Stan Getz and João Gilberto’s Getz/Gilberto album, adding a jazzy undercurrent to the track. Drummer John Densmore, enamored with the bossa nova craze from Brazil, incorporated a distinctive drum groove with a clave pattern, giving the song its hypnotic pulse. This fusion of blues, jazz, and Latin influences helped make Break On Through a standout, though it initially stalled at #126 on the U.S. charts in 1967.

Another intriguing story about Break On Through involves its early promotion. The Doors’ official X account has shared that Elektra Records head Jac Holzman commissioned one of the earliest music videos for the song, a groundbreaking move at the time. However, few broadcast outlets aired it due to the band’s controversial image. The song later gained traction as a concert staple and even made an appearance in pop culture, notably played on Mars during a 2012 NASA mission, as noted in a post on Wikipedia. In a 2024 post, TheDoorsPod on X highlighted how Holzman celebrated the song’s release by erecting the first-ever music billboard on the Sunset Strip, a bold move that cemented the band’s larger-than-life presence.

The Doors formed in Los Angeles in 1965, sparked by a chance meeting between Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek, who were acquaintances from UCLA’s film school. Morrison, a poet with a magnetic stage presence, recited one of his poems on a Southern California beach, prompting Manzarek to suggest forming a band. They soon recruited guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore, creating a quartet that blended rock, blues, jazz, and classical influences. Named after Aldous Huxley’s book The Doors of Perception, inspired by a William Blake quote, the band aimed to push boundaries. Their provocative lyrics and Morrison’s unpredictable persona made them counterculture icons, as detailed in their bio on Britannica.

The band’s rise was meteoric after signing with Elektra Records in 1966. They honed their sound at venues like the Whisky a Go Go, where their theatrical performances drew attention. Their self-titled debut album, released in January 1967, showcased their versatility, with tracks like Break On Through and Light My Fire defining their legacy. Despite Morrison’s tragic death in 1971, the band’s influence endures, with over 100 million records sold worldwide, according to Wikipedia. Fans can connect with The Doors’ official website, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X, or join fan communities like The Doors Fan Club and the Doors Fans Facebook group to celebrate their enduring legacy.