Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Do you rate The Doors highly?
- Thread starter MidnightRunner
- Start date
The Secret History of the Doors' Bass Players
The secret history of the Doors' bass players.
ultimateclassicrock.com
I loved The Doors when I was a teenager, and I still like them. I learned a lot about bass playing by playing along their cassette tapes back in the day. They did have a bass player when they recorded.
Which is my principal gripe against them. If you are going to have a bass player on the record, then why not have one in the band?
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,136
- 256,322
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
The Doors is strange headspace. It's not a place I want to be often. Sometimes it hits the spot.
I give the band members high marks for putting up with Jim.
I give the band members high marks for putting up with Jim.
As others have said I never understood the bass on the record but not live thing.
Maybe they just assumed back in those pre-internet days that no one would know and the bass enhanced the sound of the recordings?
There was alot of talent in that band.
Maybe they just assumed back in those pre-internet days that no one would know and the bass enhanced the sound of the recordings?
There was alot of talent in that band.
Great players everyone of them. One of the first concerts I saw!
Jim had his problems, but good singer and lyricist.
Had some of the BEST bass players of the day playing for them in the studio!! Even had a chat with Doug Lubahn [RIP] here on TB about The Doors back when.
OT: As far as gripes about not hiring a bass player into the band, I had the same gripe when The Who started incorporating keyboards as a principle instrument = Who's Next = hire a keyboard player! Always gave Grand Funk kuddos for bringing in Craig Frost when "American Band" was a big hit!
Jim had his problems, but good singer and lyricist.
Had some of the BEST bass players of the day playing for them in the studio!! Even had a chat with Doug Lubahn [RIP] here on TB about The Doors back when.
OT: As far as gripes about not hiring a bass player into the band, I had the same gripe when The Who started incorporating keyboards as a principle instrument = Who's Next = hire a keyboard player! Always gave Grand Funk kuddos for bringing in Craig Frost when "American Band" was a big hit!
I think they're simultaneously under-and-overrated. They really scratch an itch every once in a while, but they're not a band I listen to often. Regardless of how one might feel about ol' Jim, the rest of the band were all stellar players, though. A very unique band at a very unique time in popular culture and history in general.
It’s not the lack of bass, it’s the calliope I can do without.
I love them and always have. I don’t love every single song, but I love most of it. Couldn’t care less if they had a bass player live or not.
They were a huge influence on a couple of my early bands, we did a whole Doors set at boys club dances much to the chagrin of the teenage girls looking to dance.
I still break out their albums once in a awhile.
I still break out their albums once in a awhile.
I saw what was supposedly a good Doors tribute band with my college drummer back in the day. They dressed the part, played the right gear, and had the same mannerisms as the actual band. I remember my drummer turning to me several songs in and saying, “you know what, I guess I’m not really a fan of The Doors.” Personally, outside of a couple of the biggest hits, they’ve never been a band I’ve enjoyed. I really haven’t been able to find or understand what the appeal is.
Unique? The Young Rascals, whose first album came out almost a year before the first Doors album, had the same lineup: singer, guitar, keys, drums.
Edit: and, also like the Doors, they used session bass players on their records. They considered the great Chuck Rainey an unofficial fifth member of the band.
Last edited:
Keyboard bass is bass
Also they had the great Leroy Vinegar on at least one record
Nevertheless I voted no cuz I think Morrison was a clown and the surviving members a little too self-important and precious about their music
Just my opinion, no judgement on those who like things I don't
Also they had the great Leroy Vinegar on at least one record
Nevertheless I voted no cuz I think Morrison was a clown and the surviving members a little too self-important and precious about their music
Just my opinion, no judgement on those who like things I don't
As much as I love the bass guitar, I think the concept of thinking less of a band because they don't have a bassist is a bit strange... particularly if the band has an instrument that covers the bass range anyway, such as piano/keyboard/synth. The Doors are cool with me, either way.
They were a massive band for me as a teenager, student. Not really played now. But special place in my heart.
The band were perfectly functional as a band, as proven in video evidence. A record is a product, and may therefore be embellished in whatever ways thought to be desirable. Hence the many, many examples of recordings with additional vocals, orchestra, sound effects etc.
It's a lot of fun to cover The Doors on an electric bass:
Last edited:
