The Doors Photography

The Doors burst out of L.A. in 1965 and quickly became the defining band of the entire decade’s counterculture movement. Much of their notoriety can be attributed to an unconventional blend of rock styles—including hard, psychedelic, blues, acid, and art—alongside frontman Jim Morrison’s unbridled charisma and headline-attracting antics.

Musically speaking, the original group only released six studio albums in five years, but they’re responsible for a collection of timeless tunes. “Riders On the Storm,” “Light My Fire,” “People Are Strange,” “L.A. Woman,” “Roadhouse Blues,” and “Break On Through (To the Other Side)” are just a few of the endless hit parade that only escalated in esteem after Morrison’s untimely passing in 1971.

Twenty years later, the band was further immortalized with a self-titled biopic directed by Oliver Stone, followed by a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1993. Even today, guitarist Robby Krieger continues performing the band’s material on tour, which—when combined with ongoing reissues—ensures the Doors’ legacy will truly last forever.