Robby Krieger is moments away from making an all-too-rare concert appearance in Northern California.
Yet, before greeting his highly appreciative audience — and delivering an amazing 2-hour-plus show of some of the best music in rock ‘n’ roll history at the 2025 BottleRock Napa Valley — the legendary guitarist for The Doors would sit down backstage with me for an exclusive interview.
It was an absolute honor for this massive Doors fan to chat with the 79-year-old Los Angeles native, who is one of rock’s finest guitarists and arguably an even better songwriter.
He certainly doesn’t get enough credit for the latter, which probably has a lot to do with the songwriting credits on The Doors albums often going to the band as a whole — Krieger, vocalist Jim Morrison, drummer John Densmore and keyboardist Ray Manzarek.
Yet, it was actually the guitarist who wrote (or co-wrote) many of the group’s most notable songs. That number includes “Peace Frog,” “Love Me Two Times,” “Touch Me,” “Love Her Madly” and, most famously, “Light My Fire,” which was the first tune that Krieger composed for the band.
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Review: Classic rock hero closes 2025 BottleRock in brilliant fashion
The BottleRock booking was ideally timed, as the guitar hero and his terrific band — consisting of drummer Ty Dennis, bassist Dan Rothchild, keyboardist Ed Roth and Krieger’s son Waylon on vocals — were in the midst of a multi-month celebration of the 60th anniversary of The Doors.
The celebration, which has included full performances of Doors albums at the famed Whisky A Go-Go on the Sunset Strip, is set to culminate with a big 60th anniversary concert on Oct. 30 at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Visit robbykrieger.com or lagreektheatre.com for more information.
Here’s my chat with Krieger, who — like Morrison — has a strong connection to the Bay Area. The guitarist attended boarding school as a youth in Atherton, not far away from where young Morrison once lived in Mountain View while his naval officer father was stationed at Moffett Field.
Robby Krieger, from The Doors, performs on the Prudential Stage during the 2025 BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival on Sunday. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)
Q: Hi, Robby. It’s great to get to meet you in person. I’ve had the chance to see you at the Whisky A-Go-Go a few times in recent years. It’s such a cool place to hear Doors music – especially with all the history that the group shares with the venue. And I just love that you have been spotlighting full Doors albums – one per show – at the Whisky.
A: Usually, for the past 30 years or so, I’ve probably played there once a year. But for this big 60th anniversary of The Doors, we figured we’d do it every month. Do all the songs from each album — in order — once a month.
Q: I was there when you guys did “The Soft Parade” at the Whisky and it was great. Of course, that album was pretty experimental and found the band exploring different musical avenues — using strings, horns, etc. And a lot of people didn’t dig it when it came out in 1969. I’m wondering what your thoughts are on “The Soft Parade.”
A: I kind of agreed with (the detractors). But I thought the songs came out really good — the arrangements and all that. I can see why people wouldn’t want to hear it, because The Doors weren’t that type of a band. And The Beatles weren’t either. And the Stones really weren’t. It was just the thing to do at the time.
Q: I actually love the horns, strings and embellishments on “The Soft Parade.” And the record gets off to such an incredibly strong start with “Tell All the People” and “Touch Me.” In particular, I think “Touch Me” is as great a single as The Doors ever put out.
A: Me, too. It’s one of my favorites that I wrote. I really love (“Tell All the People”). I kind of stole some of those lyrics from “Follow Me Down” by Lead Belly.
Q: Do you have a favorite Doors album?
A: Either the first (1967’s “The Doors”) or the last (1971’s “L.A. Woman”).
Q: I’m with you. Those are my favorite, as well. But “L.A. Woman” is No. 1 in my book. It’s such a great album.
A: We produced (“L.A. Woman”) ourselves and we kind of started writing all together more on that album. Before that, it was always either Jim’s song or my song – or me and Jim’s song. But the other guys really got into it on “L.A. Woman.”
Q: “Hyacinth House,” from that album, is an all-time Top 5 Doors song for me.
A: Oh, yeah? You like that one? For that one, Jim had come up to my house and we were just fooling around. I had my 12-string — which the (song) starts with — and I had this pet bobcat …”
Q: Wait a second … You had a pet bobcat?
A: Yeah. He stayed outside mostly. But that’s where Jim got the idea for the lion (lyric) in the song. And the “I see the bathroom is clear” (lyric) – our friend Babe was over at the house and he kind of monopolized the bathroom too much at that point. That’s where that came from.
Robby Krieger, from The Doors, performs on the Prudential Stage during the 2025 BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival on Sunday. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)
Q: What’s the most fun Doors song to play live?
A: Hmm. Fun? It’s pretty hard to beat “Light My Fire,” just because the middle of the song you get play as much as you want.
Q: What do you think makes a good guitar solo?
A: In my view, it’s to do stuff that nobody else would think of doing.
Q: Is there a better groove on earth than the one you find on “Peace Frog”?
A: The only thing about “Peace Frog” that I think should have been better is the bass part. Actually, I shouldn’t say that. The bass part is great. The first half of each lick is great. And then (session bassist Ray Neapolitan) does something. And it’s not bad. It’s just unusual. It’s just something I would never think of. It’s weird.
Robby Krieger, from The Doors, performs on the Prudential Stage during the 2025 BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival on Sunday. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)
Q: Why do you think people still care about The Doors 60 years later?
A: That’s a good question. Obviously, the music still holds up. The movie (Oliver Stone’s “The Doors” from 1991) had something to do with it. The Doors were kind of fading back into time when the movie came out. And the book before that – “No One Here Gets Out Alive” (by Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugerman). Even though, I didn’t really like the book or the movie. But I have to say they helped to bring The Doors back from oblivion.
Q: I’m going to ask you the same question I once asked Ray Manzarek during an interview: Do you think The Doors would have been as popular if Jim Morrison was ugly?
A: (Laughs) Obviously not. But I think there are a lot of good-looking rock ‘n’ roll singers. But it doesn’t always help. But there are not that many great-looking rock ‘n’ roll singers who are also geniuses.
Q: Of course, there were so many other acts making great music during the ‘60s. Do you have a favorite from that time period?
A: Dylan was my favorite at first – before I was even playing. So, I would have to say Bob Dylan. I loved the Stones, too. And The Animals.
Q: What keeps you motivated to keep performing?
A: It’s just fun. It’s fun to play these songs. I also play jazz. I obviously don’t make very much money on that. But The Doors songs are fun to play. There are so many guys who would pay me to play those songs with me. Usually, you have to pay people to play with them. There are probably more Doors tribute bands than for any other band.
Q: Yeah, it’s got to be right up there. Maybe the Grateful Dead has more.
A: We should ask Siri about that.
Robby Krieger, from The Doors, performs on the Prudential Stage during the 2025 BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival on Sunday. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)
