Riders on the Storm (Alternate Version)

"Riders on the Storm (Alternate Version)" by The Doors is a haunting track from their 1971 album, L.A. Woman, steeped in intrigue and dark inspiration. The song’s lyrics were partially inspired by the chilling real-life story of Billy "Cockeyed" Cook, a spree killer who murdered a family of five in 1951 while posing as a hitchhiker, an event that also influenced Jim Morrison’s unproduced screenplay, The Hitchhiker (An American Pastoral). According to guitarist Robby Krieger, the song evolved from a jam session where the band was riffing on the 1948 country song "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend" by Stan Jones. Morrison altered the title to "Riders on the Storm," infusing it with his poetic vision. The alternate version, featured on the L.A. Woman 40th Anniversary edition, showcases a slightly faster tempo and a rawer feel, with Ray Manzarek playing piano bass instead of session bassist Jerry Scheff, giving it a distinct, almost electronic edge.

The track’s atmospheric quality, complete with thunder and rain sound effects, was a collaborative stroke of genius. Engineer Bruce Botnick recalled in 2013 that Morrison suggested adding the Elektra sound-effects recordings, and during mixing, the thunder aligned serendipitously with the music, enhancing its ominous vibe. Ray Manzarek, in a 1997 interview, described the song as a blend of "Apollonian rigor and Dionysian frenzy," reflecting the band’s fusion of classical precision and bluesy passion. The whispered overdub of Morrison’s vocals, added in January 1971 at Poppi Studios, was his final contribution to the band, creating an eerie echo effect that Manzarek called an "ephemeral" touch. The song’s legacy endures, with a 2009 Grammy Hall of Fame induction and covers by artists like Annabel Lamb and Snoop Dogg, the latter for the 2004 game Need for Speed: Underground 2.

The Doors formed in Los Angeles in 1965, sparked by a chance meeting between Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek on Venice Beach. Morrison, a UCLA film student with a penchant for poetry, shared his lyrics with Manzarek, a classically trained keyboardist. Their instant creative chemistry led to the recruitment of drummer John Densmore and guitarist Robby Krieger, forming a band named after Aldous Huxley’s book The Doors of Perception, itself quoting William Blake: "If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite." The Doors quickly became a counterculture icon, blending Morrison’s provocative lyrics and charismatic stage presence with Manzarek’s jazz-inflected keyboards, Krieger’s bluesy guitar, and Densmore’s dynamic drumming. Their self-titled debut in 1967, featuring "Light My Fire," catapulted them to fame, cementing their status as pioneers of psychedelic rock.

The band’s controversial and influential run in the 1960s was marked by Morrison’s unpredictable performances and lyrical depth, often drawing from literary influences like Nietzsche and Heidegger, whose concept of "thrownness" resonates in the song’s line "Into this world we’re thrown." After Morrison’s death in Paris in 1971, shortly after recording L.A. Woman, the remaining members released two more albums before disbanding in 1972. In 2002, Krieger and Manzarek revived the band as "The Doors of the 21st Century," later renamed "Riders on the Storm" after legal disputes with Densmore, who opted out. The Doors’ official website, thedoors.com, offers a wealth of history, music, and merchandise, while their social media presence keeps fans engaged.

Fans can connect with The Doors on Facebook, Instagram, and X, where the band shares archival content and updates, like the 2021 premiere of the "Riders on the Storm" official video for the L.A. Woman 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition. Fan communities thrive online, with groups like the The Doors Fans Facebook group, boasting thousands of members sharing memories and rare photos. Fan websites such as The Doors Guide provide detailed discographies and concert histories, while Mildred’s Doors Page offers a nostalgic fan perspective with vintage articles and images, keeping the Zoo Freaks’ love for The Doors alive.