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Set the Night on Fire
The legendary Doors guitarist and member of the Rolling Stone 100 greatest guitarists of all-time list, Robby Krieger, shares his explosive, behind-the-scenes stories of the band’s rise, Morrison’s fall, and his own evolution as a musician
As Robby Krieger pulled a drunk and naked Jim Morrison back in through the window of their room on the twelfth floor of the Henry Hudson Hotel he asked himself: why do I put up with this? It wasn’t the first time Morrison had willfully flung himself out of a building and it likely wouldn’t be the last. The Doors were on their way to rock n’ roll stardom, but any given night could be the night they scraped their gifted, erratic front man off the pavement.
At only twenty years old, Robby Krieger was the youngest member of The Doors by far. Though no stranger to partying and debauchery, having had a few run ins with the cops while growing up, the band’s level of sheer chaos stunned Krieger. Few other guitarists would have stuck around through the booze fueled antics, the drug induced tirades and the reckless stunts, but Krieger did. He became an unofficial guardian to the Lizard King, one of the greatest guitarists in rock history, and, miraculously, lived to tell the tale.
For the very first time The Doors’ infamously quiet member is ready to tell all. From Morrison’s plan to go mad from syphilis to the time he was beat up by a pack of Marines, Krieger has stories that will shock even the most devoted fan. But beyond rock folklore, SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE is the first real look into the evolution of Robby Krieger. How the son of a quintessentially square father became an acid tripping musician in Venice beach. How he pawned his acoustic guitar for a Gibson Melody Maker after seeing Chuck Berry play. How a kid who spent his afternoons listening to flamenco, folk, and jug band blues went on to write “Light My Fire” and “Love Me Two Times.” In SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE, Krieger finally tells his story. A story inherently tied to the fabled ascension of The Doors and one not to miss.
As Robby Krieger pulled a drunk and naked Jim Morrison back in through the window of their room on the twelfth floor of the Henry Hudson Hotel he asked himself: why do I put up with this? It wasn’t the first time Morrison had willfully flung himself out of a building and it likely wouldn’t be the last. The Doors were on their way to rock n’ roll stardom, but any given night could be the night they scraped their gifted, erratic front man off the pavement.
At only twenty years old, Robby Krieger was the youngest member of The Doors by far. Though no stranger to partying and debauchery, having had a few run ins with the cops while growing up, the band’s level of sheer chaos stunned Krieger. Few other guitarists would have stuck around through the booze fueled antics, the drug induced tirades and the reckless stunts, but Krieger did. He became an unofficial guardian to the Lizard King, one of the greatest guitarists in rock history, and, miraculously, lived to tell the tale.
For the very first time The Doors’ infamously quiet member is ready to tell all. From Morrison’s plan to go mad from syphilis to the time he was beat up by a pack of Marines, Krieger has stories that will shock even the most devoted fan. But beyond rock folklore, SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE is the first real look into the evolution of Robby Krieger. How the son of a quintessentially square father became an acid tripping musician in Venice beach. How he pawned his acoustic guitar for a Gibson Melody Maker after seeing Chuck Berry play. How a kid who spent his afternoons listening to flamenco, folk, and jug band blues went on to write “Light My Fire” and “Love Me Two Times.” In SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE, Krieger finally tells his story. A story inherently tied to the fabled ascension of The Doors and one not to miss.
433 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2021
149 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
October 23, 2021
I’ve been a Doors fan for more than three decades. I’ve read nearly every book about The Doors and every book written by a member of The Doors. Some are better than others, of course, but “Set the Night on Fire: Living, Dying, and Playing Guitar With the Doors,” by Robby Krieger and Jeff Alulis is not only among the best. It is an invaluable primary source for information on this iconic band.
After more than three decades of reading about The Doors, I didn’t believe that there was anything more that could be added to the story. I stand corrected. Robby Krieger provides insights that even the books written by fellow Doors John Densmore and Ray Manzarek can’t provide because he reports on events as only he saw them, and he is not shy about contradicting accounts provided by his two bandmates.
His accounting of events before, during, and after The Doors is straightforward and honest. Rather than feeding into the mythology surrounding The Doors, he dispels many of the myths in favor of a more down-to-earth story. The result takes a story that is too often mythologized and brings it to life in vivid detail.
After more than three decades of reading about The Doors, I didn’t believe that there was anything more that could be added to the story. I stand corrected. Robby Krieger provides insights that even the books written by fellow Doors John Densmore and Ray Manzarek can’t provide because he reports on events as only he saw them, and he is not shy about contradicting accounts provided by his two bandmates.
His accounting of events before, during, and after The Doors is straightforward and honest. Rather than feeding into the mythology surrounding The Doors, he dispels many of the myths in favor of a more down-to-earth story. The result takes a story that is too often mythologized and brings it to life in vivid detail.
October 20, 2021
Robby Krieger started writing his memoir 20 or 25 years ago but says he set it aside when he saw how Doors' bandmates John Densmore and Ray Manzarek's then-new memoirs causes rifts among the surviving three members of the Doors. It's great that he saved the notes, because his book is a wonderful look at both his own life and that of the band that made him famous. Honest, self-deprecating, often wryly funny, it's a great music memoir.
Here's my interview with Krieger:
Here's my interview with Krieger:
November 29, 2021
There are several books about The Doors but this may be the best one. Robby Krieger, the guitar player for The Doors finally published his story about his time with the band and his life afterwards. He has a dry sense of humor that I found humorous. There are lots of stories about Jim Morrison in the book that I have not read anywhere else that were quite interesting. If you are a Doors fan or love music from the 60's, you will enjoy this book.
August 8, 2022
Now that I finished Krieger's autobiography, I have now finished a few books about the band AND the autobiographies of Ray and John as well. Robby's was really solid because he not only wrote the lyrics to such songs as "Light My Fire", "Touch Me", "Love Me Two Times" and some other well known Doors songs, but he also acted as band mediator, early de facto manager, and had quite the upbringing and set of memories before, during and after the band.
I was not aware that he was a twin nor did I know that both he and his wife had heroin addictions.
He seems like the most easy going of the band members by far and the one that tells it like it was and is. The many jokes he makes about how bad his hair was in the 60's were priceless.
I was not aware that he was a twin nor did I know that both he and his wife had heroin addictions.
He seems like the most easy going of the band members by far and the one that tells it like it was and is. The many jokes he makes about how bad his hair was in the 60's were priceless.
December 26, 2022
It's been a long time since I've felt so engaged in a book.
Robby Krieger has written a brutally honest book about his time as The Doors guitarist, but also about his life before and after. The story he tells is not chronological, which makes it a very pleasant book to read, and he has a great sense of humor when he recalls happenings from the past (of which some he can't remember due to his past heavy drugs addiction and he's the first to admit that).
As a Doors fan, I have read several books about the band, but they mainly focus on Jim Morrison as their charming front man. The way Robby talks about Jim is with a lot of love and care, but he doesn't avoid the topics of Jim's alcohol abuse and the way he used to frustrate the other 3 members by not showing up for recordings, or being too drunk to perform properly, or...well, lots of examples pass the venue. He tries to fathom the elusive man Jim Morrison was, while at the same time he invalidates a lot of the controversial rumors surrounding him and the band.
He's brutally honest about his addiction to heroin, about his twin brother, and about the animosity there was between the 3 surviving band members. He talks about how all 3 of them grieved differently after Jim died, and he gives us readers his vision about Jim's death and the mystery surrounding it.
It's a very well written, nicely paced book and I got hooked from the first page. It doesn't feel like a 400+ paged book. Every chapter refers to a Doors song and in each chapter he talks about his memories of events. There's a lot of love there, and through his words you have the feeling you get to know him as the mellow, laidback man he always seemed to be. Honest is the word that comes to my mind when I think about this book. No tricks, no meaningless dramatics, just the way he remembered things.
I love the way he looks at life, how he is thankful for the way he has lived his, how he is still thankful for Ray to ask him to join the band for that set a lot of things in motion.
I'm so glad I picked this book to read, it's certainly one of my favorite books this year.
"I'm no scientist, and I'm certainly no religious scholar. I just look around and wonder. When I see a video of some little kid with inexplicable natural talent, it reinforces my belief that we carry our best traits into our next form of existence. When I see a young girl painting lifelike images in oils with uncanny skill: that's my mom. When I see a young boy sink a putt that most pros would miss: that's my dad. When I see an even younger boy sink an even tougher putt: that's my brother. When I see a child prodigy playing a spellbinding piece of classical music on piano: that's Ray. When I see...well, to tell you the truth, I've still never seen anyone quite like Jim. But I keep looking."
Robby Krieger has written a brutally honest book about his time as The Doors guitarist, but also about his life before and after. The story he tells is not chronological, which makes it a very pleasant book to read, and he has a great sense of humor when he recalls happenings from the past (of which some he can't remember due to his past heavy drugs addiction and he's the first to admit that).
As a Doors fan, I have read several books about the band, but they mainly focus on Jim Morrison as their charming front man. The way Robby talks about Jim is with a lot of love and care, but he doesn't avoid the topics of Jim's alcohol abuse and the way he used to frustrate the other 3 members by not showing up for recordings, or being too drunk to perform properly, or...well, lots of examples pass the venue. He tries to fathom the elusive man Jim Morrison was, while at the same time he invalidates a lot of the controversial rumors surrounding him and the band.
He's brutally honest about his addiction to heroin, about his twin brother, and about the animosity there was between the 3 surviving band members. He talks about how all 3 of them grieved differently after Jim died, and he gives us readers his vision about Jim's death and the mystery surrounding it.
It's a very well written, nicely paced book and I got hooked from the first page. It doesn't feel like a 400+ paged book. Every chapter refers to a Doors song and in each chapter he talks about his memories of events. There's a lot of love there, and through his words you have the feeling you get to know him as the mellow, laidback man he always seemed to be. Honest is the word that comes to my mind when I think about this book. No tricks, no meaningless dramatics, just the way he remembered things.
I love the way he looks at life, how he is thankful for the way he has lived his, how he is still thankful for Ray to ask him to join the band for that set a lot of things in motion.
I'm so glad I picked this book to read, it's certainly one of my favorite books this year.
"I'm no scientist, and I'm certainly no religious scholar. I just look around and wonder. When I see a video of some little kid with inexplicable natural talent, it reinforces my belief that we carry our best traits into our next form of existence. When I see a young girl painting lifelike images in oils with uncanny skill: that's my mom. When I see a young boy sink a putt that most pros would miss: that's my dad. When I see an even younger boy sink an even tougher putt: that's my brother. When I see a child prodigy playing a spellbinding piece of classical music on piano: that's Ray. When I see...well, to tell you the truth, I've still never seen anyone quite like Jim. But I keep looking."
December 7, 2021
Robby Krieger is the last of The Doors to write a book about his experiences in and after The Doors but it's one of the more interesting books on the band. He tells it from his point of view (he admits he doesn't always remember specifics due to it being the sixties etc.) but he abused fewer drugs than many people of that time and he has also tried to fact-check as much as possible. He was also the peacemaker between band members that were at odds with each other (such as John Densmore and Ray Manzarek) so has a more balanced view of events. He also has a perspective that time has given him and has always kept busy playing since, so he's not as rigid in his views about The Doors as some of the other members have been in public. If you're a Doors fan, it's a really interesting read. - BH.
November 3, 2021
Informationally great, and narratively strange. There is a song reference there, but I won't indulge. The biggest take away was how crude Ray and John were painted. I always knew Ray was a ego-freak, but going in depth kept me on guard. A must read for any Doors fan out there, like myself.
January 29, 2022
I love the Doors music (I used to sing "People are strange" as a lullaby to my children), and have been looking forward to reading Robby Krieger's book for a while. This is not a chronological autobiography of Krieger, it is more of a series of vignettes of the Doors and his life. It jumps about back and forth in time, which bothered me at first, but maybe because I was expecting a basic memoir. I have read both Ray Manzarek's and John Densmore's books. Of the three, Krieger's book comes across as perhaps being more honest and truthful. He tells of the faults of his band-mates (and himself), and the issues he has had with them, but also tells of their extreme talent, the magic and harmony that they had when playing together, and he seems to have always considered them as close friends. His chapters on the deaths of Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison are very moving (John Densmore, of course is still alive). He also talks about his own family, the death of his twin brother, and his own drug addiction, along with chapters on the Florida concert incident with Jim that never happened and the Oliver Stone movie that was a complete fabrication of the Doors history (but he thought it entertaining film). If you like the Doors, you will enjoy this book. And pop some Doors records or CDs on while reading it...
October 23, 2021
Do it, Robby, Do it!
I’ve been a Doors fan for more than three decades. I’ve read nearly every book about The Doors and every book written by a member of The Doors. Some are better than others, of course, but “Set the Night on Fire: Living, Dying, and Playing Guitar With the Doors,” by Robby Krieger and Jeff Alulis is not only among the best. It is an invaluable primary source for information on this iconic band.
After more than three decades of reading about The Doors, I didn’t believe that there was anything more that could be added to the story. I stand corrected. Robby Krieger provides insights that even the books written by fellow Doors John Densmore and Ray Manzarek can’t provide because he reports on events as only he saw them, and he is not shy about contradicting accounts provided his two band mates.
His accounting of events before, during, and after The Doors is straightforward and honest. Rather than feeding into the mythology surrounding The Doors, he dispels many of the myths in favor of a more down to earth story. The result takes a story that is too often mythologized and brings it to life in vivid detail.
I’ve been a Doors fan for more than three decades. I’ve read nearly every book about The Doors and every book written by a member of The Doors. Some are better than others, of course, but “Set the Night on Fire: Living, Dying, and Playing Guitar With the Doors,” by Robby Krieger and Jeff Alulis is not only among the best. It is an invaluable primary source for information on this iconic band.
After more than three decades of reading about The Doors, I didn’t believe that there was anything more that could be added to the story. I stand corrected. Robby Krieger provides insights that even the books written by fellow Doors John Densmore and Ray Manzarek can’t provide because he reports on events as only he saw them, and he is not shy about contradicting accounts provided his two band mates.
His accounting of events before, during, and after The Doors is straightforward and honest. Rather than feeding into the mythology surrounding The Doors, he dispels many of the myths in favor of a more down to earth story. The result takes a story that is too often mythologized and brings it to life in vivid detail.
October 30, 2024
Autobiography of Robbie Krieger and the iconic Doors. I've never been a big fan of The Doors although I do like them. Pretty decent book, lots of pictures, some very good stories and he does his best to dispel some of the crazy rumors and untruths out there about Jim Morrison and the doors. Seemed a little long winded at times.
November 4, 2021
(3). I am a huge Doors fan. I fell in love with them after hearing the first album back in the late 60’s and then seeing them perform at a small club in NYC (Steve Paul’s Scene) before they took off. I have read two Densmore books, the Manzarek book and a couple of others. This one takes a different approach. It does not stay to a strict chronological schedule on events. It jumps all over. That mostly works, but it does lack in fluidity because of that. What it does not lack, however, is a myriad of great stories and very different spins on many well known events. Krieger comes off as a pretty damn civilized guy except for a period when he and his wife became hopeless dope addicts for a couple of years, and miraculously survived. This is mandatory reading for all Doors fans. You can’t help but root for a guy like Robby, he tried to make it work as best he could. Pretty good stuff.
November 5, 2021
A pretty fantastic book, well written and full of fresh stories when I didn't think there were many more to tell.
If you're a Doors fan, and read Sugerman, Densmore, and Manzarek's books, this is still essential. These four books will probably be the ones to have.
Robby has plenty of new perspective to add to the story and he writes in a vignette style, not always chronological, and usually on certain major themes or events. It's not an egotistical book at all either; Robby certainly talks about his role but it's a well balanced perspective. I even learned a few new things that I never heard from the other band members or books.
Doors fan? Must read. More periodic fan? Start with Sugerman I suppose, and then read the three band books. However, this is a good place to start as well!
If you're a Doors fan, and read Sugerman, Densmore, and Manzarek's books, this is still essential. These four books will probably be the ones to have.
Robby has plenty of new perspective to add to the story and he writes in a vignette style, not always chronological, and usually on certain major themes or events. It's not an egotistical book at all either; Robby certainly talks about his role but it's a well balanced perspective. I even learned a few new things that I never heard from the other band members or books.
Doors fan? Must read. More periodic fan? Start with Sugerman I suppose, and then read the three band books. However, this is a good place to start as well!
September 24, 2022
I've wondered what life must be like for someone like Robby Krieger. The Doors broke out when he was 21 (twenty-one!). Four years later, Jim Morrison died and it was essentially over. (I'm also always amazed how short these peak windows were for these bands and how productive they are while they're happening.) Now he's in his seventies, and while most anyone would love to have even his post-Doors life, having plenty of money and getting to just play music and do whatever he wants, nothing will leave the lasting cultural memory that those few years did. But it all happened when he was barely old enough to even appreciate it. Then he had to spend the rest of his life being asked about those days, with usually little or no interest in what he went on to do. And more so, people just ask about Jim Morrison.
Well, he had his struggles with the whole thing, and is honest about having escalating drug issues for decades in response to it. As he says, "Once you've been a part of something like the Doors, one way or another, you'll forever be chasing that first high."
Fortunately he seems to have settled into a well-adjusted and happy old age. I never appreciated Robby Krieger enough either as part of The Doors or as probably the least crazy guy in the band. He's self-effacing and a good storyteller. The book isn't linear, he jumps around to talk about the various albums, the other guys in the band, his personal life and later years. The statute of limitations is well in the past for most of these stories so he's brutally honest, setting out to clear up long-held misperceptions about the band and various legends.
Well, he had his struggles with the whole thing, and is honest about having escalating drug issues for decades in response to it. As he says, "Once you've been a part of something like the Doors, one way or another, you'll forever be chasing that first high."
Fortunately he seems to have settled into a well-adjusted and happy old age. I never appreciated Robby Krieger enough either as part of The Doors or as probably the least crazy guy in the band. He's self-effacing and a good storyteller. The book isn't linear, he jumps around to talk about the various albums, the other guys in the band, his personal life and later years. The statute of limitations is well in the past for most of these stories so he's brutally honest, setting out to clear up long-held misperceptions about the band and various legends.
December 28, 2021
This one is a page turner to say the least. Admittedly since I really like The Doors I had a strong interest in reading it, but it should appeal to anyone interested in the rock and roll scene in the 1960s. What was truly fascinating was Krieger's efforts to 'debunk' a great deal of the myth making that still revolves around The Doors as a band and Jim Morrison as their singer. In reality the tales he tells of their life together during their recording and touring years are in some cases even stranger than the tales that were created!
The book is told in a thematic rather than chronological fashion. It can at times be a bit disorienting as Mr. Krieger leaps about from one topic to another. However, the overall effect allows the reader to gain some perspective on the players in the saga while also giving the reader some sense of the craziness of that time in Mr. Krieger's and the bands lives.
A great, fast read. Highly recommended.
The book is told in a thematic rather than chronological fashion. It can at times be a bit disorienting as Mr. Krieger leaps about from one topic to another. However, the overall effect allows the reader to gain some perspective on the players in the saga while also giving the reader some sense of the craziness of that time in Mr. Krieger's and the bands lives.
A great, fast read. Highly recommended.
October 15, 2021
This for me was a really enjoyable read. I was growing up when the Doors were breaking into the music scene. There's nothing like getting the story right from the hoses mouth, so to speak. Robby takes you right inside the bands journey from beginning to end. If you ever listened to this band you really should read this, it's a trip.
September 14, 2021
As a lifelong Doors fan I was excited to read this. I like that the book was not written in chronological order as it jumped from the 60's/70's/80's/90's/current. I received this as a good reads giveaway
November 11, 2021
Robby Krieger tells Doors story for what it is, no bullshit added, no Jim Morrison god stories, no Oliver Stone, just the way it is. Nobody here is pictured as a villain, i like the approach of imparciality he had in the book, even when he is telling the story of how John Densmore sued him and Ray, he tries to picture both sides and their motivations withouth demonizing anybody. When it comes to Ray Manzarek the book often describes him as exagerating Doors stories and the one who broke up the band in the late 70s, but near at the end there is chapter dedicated to him which is beatiful, and tells how things ended for him, rest in peace Raymond Daniel Manzarek.
The Jim stories in the book makes me think he was an asshole, but unlike the movie, Robby describes both of his sides, the shy poet and the drunk asshole, and i like that, i loved the fact that he denied the infamous scene of the movie where he tries to set Pam on fire, what a bunch of direspectful bullshit was that, yeah the guy was a drunk jerk, but not a killer, as i said the book does well in denying al the crazy stuff that was considered a truth among the story of the band and Jim Morrison persona. In this book you can see how Robby matured over the ages over his personal issues, his family, couples, the sixties, and of course his music, he recognizes his mistakes in life and his wins, and gives credit to the people who supported him, which is very humble for him. As a great detail, i loved that he mentions that musicians play "Light My Fire" wrong, he says that in the verses he is playing Asus2, while us musicians play another chord: Am7, i was like, what? no way, i can´t believe i played bad all this years, is the first song i ever learn!, so i went to my Piano, played the chord and i learnt that the guitar is actually playing Asus2 while Ray's organ plays Am7 or Cmaj7. I quickly remembered that the Asus2 chord is what Robby played on the earlier versions of the song (check out the "Live at the Matrix (1967)" and check for yourself), for a musician is really cool to actually have music depth abouth the compositions, so i really apreciated that, even if it was for one song.
The only thing i disliked is that he did not talked about his solo carreer-discography that much (or the The Doors post-morrison albums, but i liked the fact that he recognizes them as good music at least), being this his autobiography, i hoped he would talk more about Butts Band, Red Shift or his jazz fusion albums, but he did not. However, there a few pages about Butts Band, i just wanted to know more about his music post-Doors, but as you read you understand he feels he will never do something as good as The Doors again in his life, thats his opinion and i respect it totally, but the die-hard fans still want to know and care about his other music, i dare to say he kinda doesnt respect his other music that much just because is not popular "If you want to get the masses, a jazz fusion album is not a very good idea" he states.
This is a great book and should be obligatory for Doors fans who want to know about the reality of the band and the story till this very year, because the story of The Doors didn't die with Jim Morrison, its still alive with Robby Krieger and John Densmore. God bless them, James Douglas Morrison (RIP), Robert Alan Krieger, John Densmore and Raymond Daniel Manzarek (RIP). I hope their souls reincarnate as Robby stated in the book, and inspire million of devoted artists to create, just like Raymond did with me the first time i listened his organ on "Light My Fire".
Psalm.
The Jim stories in the book makes me think he was an asshole, but unlike the movie, Robby describes both of his sides, the shy poet and the drunk asshole, and i like that, i loved the fact that he denied the infamous scene of the movie where he tries to set Pam on fire, what a bunch of direspectful bullshit was that, yeah the guy was a drunk jerk, but not a killer, as i said the book does well in denying al the crazy stuff that was considered a truth among the story of the band and Jim Morrison persona. In this book you can see how Robby matured over the ages over his personal issues, his family, couples, the sixties, and of course his music, he recognizes his mistakes in life and his wins, and gives credit to the people who supported him, which is very humble for him. As a great detail, i loved that he mentions that musicians play "Light My Fire" wrong, he says that in the verses he is playing Asus2, while us musicians play another chord: Am7, i was like, what? no way, i can´t believe i played bad all this years, is the first song i ever learn!, so i went to my Piano, played the chord and i learnt that the guitar is actually playing Asus2 while Ray's organ plays Am7 or Cmaj7. I quickly remembered that the Asus2 chord is what Robby played on the earlier versions of the song (check out the "Live at the Matrix (1967)" and check for yourself), for a musician is really cool to actually have music depth abouth the compositions, so i really apreciated that, even if it was for one song.
The only thing i disliked is that he did not talked about his solo carreer-discography that much (or the The Doors post-morrison albums, but i liked the fact that he recognizes them as good music at least), being this his autobiography, i hoped he would talk more about Butts Band, Red Shift or his jazz fusion albums, but he did not. However, there a few pages about Butts Band, i just wanted to know more about his music post-Doors, but as you read you understand he feels he will never do something as good as The Doors again in his life, thats his opinion and i respect it totally, but the die-hard fans still want to know and care about his other music, i dare to say he kinda doesnt respect his other music that much just because is not popular "If you want to get the masses, a jazz fusion album is not a very good idea" he states.
This is a great book and should be obligatory for Doors fans who want to know about the reality of the band and the story till this very year, because the story of The Doors didn't die with Jim Morrison, its still alive with Robby Krieger and John Densmore. God bless them, James Douglas Morrison (RIP), Robert Alan Krieger, John Densmore and Raymond Daniel Manzarek (RIP). I hope their souls reincarnate as Robby stated in the book, and inspire million of devoted artists to create, just like Raymond did with me the first time i listened his organ on "Light My Fire".
Psalm.
June 24, 2022
The Doors might be the only band where three of the four members wrote memoirs, while one who died at 27 left a considerable amount of poetry. It is perhaps fitting. Few bands had more literary pretensions (the band name references William Blake) and the band saw renewed popularity after the Jim Morrison biography No Here Gets Out Alive was published.
Densmore got there first with a moody, introspective, and surprisingly literary book. Manzarek wrote an entertaining, mythologizing read, but one weighted down by his insipid nostalgia and petty swipes at Oliver Stone. Krieger came out last and the book reads like a response to Densmore and Manzarek. Krieger's book is more funny, balanced, and he tries to get away from the mythologizing. It is very self-deprecating. He all but admits on the page 2 that he was bad at sex. This makes for an enjoyable if not a wild read. There is also a lot about his life after The Doors, and it provides some of the best parts of the book. The discussions of music can get technical and I enjoyed that. Yet, I think the book fails in one regard. I got no more sense of Morrison than in any other book. In undercutting the Morrison myth (while understanding its power and utility) he does not at the same time provide a stronger sense of who Morrison was. Indeed, of the band members only Manzarek is coherent in his view of Morrison. Densmore by comparison is obscure in this narrative.
Also, I know they played with The Who in 1968. Why does no account of The Doors talk more about this? Just asking as a Who fan. With that, this is a good read and the funniest of the sub-genre of Doors literature.
Densmore got there first with a moody, introspective, and surprisingly literary book. Manzarek wrote an entertaining, mythologizing read, but one weighted down by his insipid nostalgia and petty swipes at Oliver Stone. Krieger came out last and the book reads like a response to Densmore and Manzarek. Krieger's book is more funny, balanced, and he tries to get away from the mythologizing. It is very self-deprecating. He all but admits on the page 2 that he was bad at sex. This makes for an enjoyable if not a wild read. There is also a lot about his life after The Doors, and it provides some of the best parts of the book. The discussions of music can get technical and I enjoyed that. Yet, I think the book fails in one regard. I got no more sense of Morrison than in any other book. In undercutting the Morrison myth (while understanding its power and utility) he does not at the same time provide a stronger sense of who Morrison was. Indeed, of the band members only Manzarek is coherent in his view of Morrison. Densmore by comparison is obscure in this narrative.
Also, I know they played with The Who in 1968. Why does no account of The Doors talk more about this? Just asking as a Who fan. With that, this is a good read and the funniest of the sub-genre of Doors literature.
July 9, 2024
This was a very enjoyable read. In fact, I'd probably rank it among the best music autobiographies I've read. This is partly due to the fact that the writing is actually good (simple and conversational in style, yet done with care) unlike most of them, and partly due to all the great stories Krieger has.
One thing I was a little unsure of was the way the book is laid out. Set the Night on Fire does not follow the standard chronological approach. Instead, chapters jump back and forth in time in a random way. At first I found this off-putting because I couldn't pin down a linear history. But as I read, I found that the jumping around actually kept things fresh. You don't have to read through chapters and chapters of (often) dull childhood memories to get to the good stuff. Just as you don't have to read through chapters and chapters of less-than-interesting post-band career after the good stuff. You get a nice mix of everything this way.
Krieger definitely tells some stories that don't paint him in the best light, but he comes across as such a nice guy, and really funny. Some fans may have issues with his interpretation of events, and some things said about other Doors members, but that was neither here nor there for me.
My mom is like the biggest Doors fan ever, but I've only recently started coming around to the band. Set the Night on Fire was a great book to read as I made my way through their albums. It wonderfully chronicles the brief but insane years of the Doors and beyond.
One thing I was a little unsure of was the way the book is laid out. Set the Night on Fire does not follow the standard chronological approach. Instead, chapters jump back and forth in time in a random way. At first I found this off-putting because I couldn't pin down a linear history. But as I read, I found that the jumping around actually kept things fresh. You don't have to read through chapters and chapters of (often) dull childhood memories to get to the good stuff. Just as you don't have to read through chapters and chapters of less-than-interesting post-band career after the good stuff. You get a nice mix of everything this way.
Krieger definitely tells some stories that don't paint him in the best light, but he comes across as such a nice guy, and really funny. Some fans may have issues with his interpretation of events, and some things said about other Doors members, but that was neither here nor there for me.
My mom is like the biggest Doors fan ever, but I've only recently started coming around to the band. Set the Night on Fire was a great book to read as I made my way through their albums. It wonderfully chronicles the brief but insane years of the Doors and beyond.
December 31, 2022
This was a really good memoir/autobiography by Robby Krieger, the guitarist for the Doors. I liked it better than John Densmore's book [I haven't read Ray Manzarek's yet], because Robby seemed to understand Jim Morrison better and his explanations for things made more sense. It's hard to explain, but Robby just seems, well, like a smarter person. That sounds kind of mean, though, and I don't mean it that way. Maybe it's a sensitivity issue, like maybe Robby Krieger is just a more sensitive person in a similar way that Jim was sensitive. He also comes across as genuinely kind and humble. I just get the feeling that Robby understood Jim on a deeper level. He also dispelled a lot of myths and outright lies that have been told about Jim Morrison and the Doors over the years. I really respect that. He also included a lot of explanations about how songs were written, even discussing chord progressions and musical technicalities that were really interesting. And he revealed a lot about his personal life that took a lot of guts to tell, like about his drug use and some of his biggest regrets. This is a solid autobiography.
January 21, 2023
An honest memoir. Sad and heartbreaking about Jim. They had tried an intervention but in the 60’s rehab did not exist. Robby is quiet, introspective and a kind person.
August 15, 2023
I feel like I have a better and truer understanding of who The Doors actually were, rather than the what the salacious rumor mill has cooked up over the years, and I also appreciate Robby Krieger more than I did before. That's not surprising. Authors of autobios seldom paint themselves in a poor light, but I'm more or less referring to objective truths that I was just plain unaware of regarding the inner workings of the band. This is perhaps not a 100% completely accurate historical text of The Doors, but it might be as close as we ever get.
October 19, 2023
Honest book, if he can be trusted, seemed honest.
Interesting stories from his perspective. Mainly how it all started and how it went after the few years of superstardom. Interesting, historic, fun...no, good...yes. Spoiler, apparently Jim is dead. Worth the time especially if you have 50 Doors LP's.
Interesting stories from his perspective. Mainly how it all started and how it went after the few years of superstardom. Interesting, historic, fun...no, good...yes. Spoiler, apparently Jim is dead. Worth the time especially if you have 50 Doors LP's.
April 13, 2025
bonded with my cultural studies tutor over our shared appreciation towards the doors. can’t wait to tell him i’ve finally finished it and my recommendation still stands. a lovely read this was.
March 28, 2022
Legendaarisen The Doorsin tarinassa riittänyt muistelemista. Elämäkertansa yhtyeen jäsenistä ovat jo aiemmin julkaisseet niin rumpali John Densmore kuin kosketinsoittaja Ray Manzarek, joten nyt on aika antaa vuoro kitaristi Robby Kriegerille teoksessa "Set the Night on Fire: Elämää, kuolemaa ja kitaransoittoa The Doorsissa" (Like, 2022).
"Set the Night on Fire" etenee varsin vapaamuotoisesti, poiketen kronologiasta ja ottaen sivuaskeleita aina tarpeen niin vaatiessa. Krieger antaa itsestään ihan täyspäisen kuvan, kuvaa tapahtumia rehellisen oloisesti ja onnistuu olemaan hetkittäin varsin hauska ja itseironinen kuvatessaan niin omia edesottamuksiaan kuin 1960-luvun menoa yleisesti.
Onneksi Laurel Canyonin idyllinen paratiisi on ikuistettu niin moniin valokuviin, levynkansiin ja dokumenttielokuviin. Jos todella pysähtyy katselemaan noita utuisia auringon läikyttämiä kuvia, joissa nuoret hymyilevät ihmiset viettävät aikaa rennosti musisoiden ja meneillään näyttää olevan ikuinen kultainen hetki, voi ymmärtää, mitä merkitsee todella elää ja olla vapaa. Mutta samalla on hyvä muistaa: heillä kaikilla oli satiaisia. (s. 138)
Valokeilan The Doorsista puhuttaessa varastaa usein Jim Morrison, mutta on hyvä muistaa, että esimerkiksi yhtyeen suurin hitti "Light My Fire" oli etupäässä Kriegerin käsialaa. Hän kuitenkin muistuttaa kirjassa, että päätös jakaa krediitit kaikkien bändin jäsenten kesken oli oikea, sillä samanlaiseen lopputulokseen ei olisi päästy ilman heidän kaikkien välistä yhteistyötä.
Niin, siitä Morrisonista! Laulusolisti saa tunnustusta karismaattisena ja hypnoottisena esiintyjänä, joka oli myös lavalla aito itsensä. Morrison osasi olla todellinen herrasmies, mutta toisaalta hän oli myös alkoholisti, jonka tempaukset saattoivat olla vaarallisia niin hänelle itselleen kuin myös lähipiirille.
Vaikka Morrisonin kuoleman jälkeen yhtyeen jäsenet riitelivät ja kävivät käräjillä, kohdellaan kirjassa myös Manzarekia ja Densmorea kuvataan myös tasapuolisesti, niin hyviä kuin huonoja puolia muistaen.
Krieger käsittelee myös Oliver Stonen elokuvaa. Hänen mukaansa kyseessä oli enemmän ohjaajan omiin mielikuviin perustuva tarina, jonka tarkoituksena ei toki ollutkaan olla dokumentti. Lisäksi kitaristi tähdentää, ettei "the Doorsin historiasta ole olemassa yhtä oikeaa, luotettavaa ja lopullista versiota". Vuosien takaiset mielikuvat sekoittuvat, näkökulmat vaihtelevat. Jos kuitenkin haluaa tutustua yhteen täyspäiseen ja jalat maassa kirjoitettuun versioon, kannattaa "Set the Night on Fire" lukaista.
"Set the Night on Fire" etenee varsin vapaamuotoisesti, poiketen kronologiasta ja ottaen sivuaskeleita aina tarpeen niin vaatiessa. Krieger antaa itsestään ihan täyspäisen kuvan, kuvaa tapahtumia rehellisen oloisesti ja onnistuu olemaan hetkittäin varsin hauska ja itseironinen kuvatessaan niin omia edesottamuksiaan kuin 1960-luvun menoa yleisesti.
Onneksi Laurel Canyonin idyllinen paratiisi on ikuistettu niin moniin valokuviin, levynkansiin ja dokumenttielokuviin. Jos todella pysähtyy katselemaan noita utuisia auringon läikyttämiä kuvia, joissa nuoret hymyilevät ihmiset viettävät aikaa rennosti musisoiden ja meneillään näyttää olevan ikuinen kultainen hetki, voi ymmärtää, mitä merkitsee todella elää ja olla vapaa. Mutta samalla on hyvä muistaa: heillä kaikilla oli satiaisia. (s. 138)
Valokeilan The Doorsista puhuttaessa varastaa usein Jim Morrison, mutta on hyvä muistaa, että esimerkiksi yhtyeen suurin hitti "Light My Fire" oli etupäässä Kriegerin käsialaa. Hän kuitenkin muistuttaa kirjassa, että päätös jakaa krediitit kaikkien bändin jäsenten kesken oli oikea, sillä samanlaiseen lopputulokseen ei olisi päästy ilman heidän kaikkien välistä yhteistyötä.
Niin, siitä Morrisonista! Laulusolisti saa tunnustusta karismaattisena ja hypnoottisena esiintyjänä, joka oli myös lavalla aito itsensä. Morrison osasi olla todellinen herrasmies, mutta toisaalta hän oli myös alkoholisti, jonka tempaukset saattoivat olla vaarallisia niin hänelle itselleen kuin myös lähipiirille.
Vaikka Morrisonin kuoleman jälkeen yhtyeen jäsenet riitelivät ja kävivät käräjillä, kohdellaan kirjassa myös Manzarekia ja Densmorea kuvataan myös tasapuolisesti, niin hyviä kuin huonoja puolia muistaen.
Krieger käsittelee myös Oliver Stonen elokuvaa. Hänen mukaansa kyseessä oli enemmän ohjaajan omiin mielikuviin perustuva tarina, jonka tarkoituksena ei toki ollutkaan olla dokumentti. Lisäksi kitaristi tähdentää, ettei "the Doorsin historiasta ole olemassa yhtä oikeaa, luotettavaa ja lopullista versiota". Vuosien takaiset mielikuvat sekoittuvat, näkökulmat vaihtelevat. Jos kuitenkin haluaa tutustua yhteen täyspäiseen ja jalat maassa kirjoitettuun versioon, kannattaa "Set the Night on Fire" lukaista.
September 12, 2024
Ronny Krieger & Jeff Alulis’s book, Set the Night on Fire, is refreshing in its humility & honesty. Krieger doesn’t take himself too seriously, although he wrote some of the Doors’ biggest hits and has been listed among Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.”
Interestingly, he doesn’t recount his bio or that of the Doors chronologically, instead, the book is written as a stream of consciousness piece. How appropriate for a ‘60s survivor and a serious student of meditation. But he includes most everything a Doors fan like myself would want to know: how many of the songs were written, the participation level of the other members, drummer John Densmore and keyboardist Ray Manzarek, and of course, lots of info on Jim Morrison. Krieger dispels a lot of the scandals and fabrications attributed to Morrison, specifically by Danny Sugarman in the book No One Gets Out of Here Alive and by Oliver Stone in the Doors movie. He doesn’t whitewash Morrison’s outrageous antics or alcoholism, but tries to set the record straight about his, and the band’s, serious commitment to the music.
What I really enjoyed was Krieger’s sense of humor, which permeates the story, and also his complete honesty in recounting his drug addiction phase. Krieger seems to have come to terms with his tumultuous life and to continue his passion as a musician, whether it be punk music, flamenco, reggae, or back full-circle to the eternal music of the Doors. I was lucky enough to see him & Ray in an incarnation called”Doors of the 21st Century” years ago and it was GREAT! Thanks, Ronnie, for such a truthful book and fantastic music!
Interestingly, he doesn’t recount his bio or that of the Doors chronologically, instead, the book is written as a stream of consciousness piece. How appropriate for a ‘60s survivor and a serious student of meditation. But he includes most everything a Doors fan like myself would want to know: how many of the songs were written, the participation level of the other members, drummer John Densmore and keyboardist Ray Manzarek, and of course, lots of info on Jim Morrison. Krieger dispels a lot of the scandals and fabrications attributed to Morrison, specifically by Danny Sugarman in the book No One Gets Out of Here Alive and by Oliver Stone in the Doors movie. He doesn’t whitewash Morrison’s outrageous antics or alcoholism, but tries to set the record straight about his, and the band’s, serious commitment to the music.
What I really enjoyed was Krieger’s sense of humor, which permeates the story, and also his complete honesty in recounting his drug addiction phase. Krieger seems to have come to terms with his tumultuous life and to continue his passion as a musician, whether it be punk music, flamenco, reggae, or back full-circle to the eternal music of the Doors. I was lucky enough to see him & Ray in an incarnation called”Doors of the 21st Century” years ago and it was GREAT! Thanks, Ronnie, for such a truthful book and fantastic music!
December 5, 2021
Two things I learned about Jim Morrison were that he grew a beard to hide a double chin and that he likely died of a congenital condition he was aware of and that his aberrant behavior was probably shaped by that knowledge.
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December 10, 2024I enjoyed this book of anecdotes and stories about the songs and lives of The Doors.
October 1, 2022
A beautiful and immersive narration combines with an eventful life to give me one of my favourite books.
February 9, 2024
More than anything, this is one of the most authentic autobiographies I’ve ever read. It reads like someone just humbly recounting their life without willful exaggeration. If anything, Krieger goes out of his way to downplay the legendary stories from his time with the Doors for the sake of assuring you he’s giving his honest perspective.
Kudos as well for the format. Instead of working to painstakingly construct a linear narrative of his life, Krieger offers stories as they occur to him. It’s like a conversation as opposed to a structured narrative.
His shockingly honest recounting of his battle with addiction is something that should be shared out with people to warn them about what a dangerous trap it is. The open way he talks of his father’s slide into dementia, and his brother’s mental health struggles is commendable.
Frankly, this is a model for how any celebrity should write their autobiography. Had trouble putting it down.
Kudos as well for the format. Instead of working to painstakingly construct a linear narrative of his life, Krieger offers stories as they occur to him. It’s like a conversation as opposed to a structured narrative.
His shockingly honest recounting of his battle with addiction is something that should be shared out with people to warn them about what a dangerous trap it is. The open way he talks of his father’s slide into dementia, and his brother’s mental health struggles is commendable.
Frankly, this is a model for how any celebrity should write their autobiography. Had trouble putting it down.
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