1968 February 17 Phoenix show

[Buda]

Hi Vince,

I wonder if you could remember this show which, judging by the photos made, seems to be a real good one.
I searched through the available threads if this came up before but found no mention if you might have ever recalled this event
from your viewpoint. It was the second and last gig in February, right before getting back Sunset sound to record/make Waiting For The Sun. Here are some information to help.

THE DOORS
Saturday February 17, 1968
Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

8 p.m. show

Break On Through
Soul Kitchen
Back Door Man
Alabama Song
Love Me Two Times
Light My Fire
The End

(setlist possibly incomplete)

-Approx. 7,000 in attendance.
-Paul Ferrara attends this performance and photographs Jim Morrison's 'sparkler' event during 'Light My Fire'.
(source from MildEquator)

"There is a bomb scare during the sound check and everyone has to exit the Coliseum (a 14,870-seat indoor arena) in Phoenix, Arizona.
Despite this disturbance, the show goes off smoothly and it is an excellent night for the band."
'The Doors On The Road' by Greg Shaw, 1997 p. 93


Also performing the Sunshine Company and Hamilton Street Car.
Promotion: Scenic Sounds/Richard Linell

[mystery_train67]

thats a great shot of jim robby and john all smiling.

[Roughie]

thats a great shot of jim robby and john all smiling.

Just the way the photo is composed, looks like they are hasseling Ray. lol just my warped sense of humour!

[mystery_train67]

heh yeah they're making fun of ray, and his face is saying 'oh come on you guyyyyys'

its just good to see them smile, because i usually get the impression the band was a bit pissed at jim a lot of the time.

i can imagine it would be frustrating sometimes when morrison extended songs and did extra lyrics on the spot...

[Roughie]

heh yeah they're making fun of ray, and his face is saying 'oh come on you guyyyyys'

its just good to see them smile, because i usually get the impression the band was a bit pissed at jim a lot of the time.

i can imagine it would be frustrating sometimes when morrison extended songs and did extra lyrics on the spot...

I don't think they minded that, I think it was when he was sloppy and or didn't care about the performance. They always seem proud of their imporvisations... maybe with the exception of Miami lol

[mystery_train67]

True, they have always expressed pride for their improvs.

The best thing about Miami is Away In India within WTMO. Very cool.

[Roughie]

True, they have always expressed pride for their improvs.

The best thing about Miami is Away In India within WTMO. Very cool.

I'll have to get a new copy of Miami as I lost mine a long time ago.

[mystery_train67]

yeah i was without it for years also, but you can pick up a decent version on The Traders Den I think.... I might have a better source, I'll have a look and let you know

[Buda]

Hi Vince, I just bump this thread in case you have missed it. See the first post and thanks for your time!

[Roughie]

yeah i was without it for years also, but you can pick up a decent version on The Traders Den I think.... I might have a better source, I'll have a look and let you know

That would be great, thanks.

[thedoorsbootlegs]

[Buda]

Bump - for Vince

[vince]

Hello Folks:

Oh My, Oh My - More rumors. Did I miss something long ago? There was no Bomb Scare in Phoenix. Things like that did not happen in the 1968 period. After all, I was there. Where is the news article? Where is the police report. I know one thing - I never left the place.

The show was nice.

Please understand - The Big Three were NOT in a constant pet over Jim. They knew he was unpredictable, sometimes fickle and eccentric. His stage behavior was either somewhat animated so he did the flop or a good imitation of the "Snake" on the floor. 1968 was basically a productive and well done year of performances. It was not until Miami that things got bad. BUT - I feel that Miami was triggered by Amsterdam when he learned that he was not a necessary fixture of the group. That would have been unsettling to someone who did not have a security issue, much less Jim.

Remember that Miami was a show done under duress - in fact, physical threat from the bully-boys of the promoter. Remember that before the show the guys knew they were to be cheated of a lot of money. The fight with Pam that resulted in a lot of alcohol on the place was just another bucket of gasoline on the fire. The crowd - and believe me it was crowded - was enthusiastic. Jim was dong a lot of talking to the audience. The "Little Lambie" thing went over well. Even when he flipped the Policeman's cap there was no hard feelings. They met with the fellow after the show and offered to pay for the hat. He thanked them but suggested that it was not necessary. The collapsing stange did not help. The heat and stink of excrement was suffocating. The problem at that show was political. The result was a guy who ran into the wall but could not break through it - to the other side, so to speak. It was after that incident and the disaster it caused to them in both financial losses and the behavorial reputation that caused the friction within the group.

On stage, when things were going well, they were a happy group. There was a bit of banter between songs - they never went on with a set list.

It was the hall managers and radio stations that got on the horse - before any trials he was guilty until proven innocent - and did the damage. By the time the trial ended, the Doors were selling records and performing again. As in all things USA, the initial reaction was the usual impulsive response to rumor. No one waited for the truth before making the condemnation.

The thing that really broke the groups confidence was Jim's behavior at rehearsals and recoding - Being late, not shoing up at all, and of course the problem with his voice. The real back-breaker was the Isle of Wright where the guys were on stage with some of the greatest performers who put on some really exciting performances. Jim stood at the mike as though he was made of stone. It was lackluster performance at best and downright boring at worst. That was the first manifistation of the decision not to perform again.

They were not constantly angry with Jim, Especially 1968, was a really happy and productive group. After Miami, when they saw their hard won popularity crash, the loss of 20 performance dates, no air time and records being cleared off the shelves that thing began to sour.

Take a look at their history - New Haven was a far worse incident than Miami. That did not hurt them at all. Miami became a problem when some bible thumping, red necked politician ran for office on a campaign of putting Morrison behind bars.

Have a nice holiday folks

[Roughie]

Take a look at their history - New Haven was a far worse incident than Miami. That did not hurt them at all.

Never thought about that, and yes you're right, New Haven was worse.

[Buda]

Hello Folks:

Oh My, Oh My - More rumors. Did I miss something long ago? There was no Bomb Scare in Phoenix. Things like that did not happen in the 1968 period. After all, I was there. Where is the news article? Where is the police report. I know one thing - I never left the place.

The show was nice.
...

Thanks Vince for providing the truth. It was strange for me too to read about a bomb scare as noone else mentioned this happening, even the review below. So I wonder where Greg Shaw took this info from. Also I guess you would surely remember if this bomb scare had happened on another occasion. On the other hand, it should have been thrilling to see how the audience put on a great vibe before the night even took off, as stated in the article.

[vince]

This is obviously a newspaper excerpt. No mention of bomb scares, riots or invasion by Orcs. There is one thing I am sure of. This Troy character is making criticism for the sake of criticising. I absolutely know that John did not drop any beets on the Whisky Bar piece. I would have found them on the stage when we packed up.

I wonder if this guy was there at all. This is, if I remember aright, that this was the show where the amp failed. I was left standing at the airport by Bill and was got to the show only by the Good offices of Rich Linell who was putting on the show with Bill.

Anyone see the Hobbit movie? I am watching the first of the trilogy on the CGV channel. For those who read the original book this is a disgusting mockery of the original story. For those who didn't read the book - a rare event in these days, I feel a great deal of sorrow that you have missed one of the greatest works of the 20th Century.

Anyway. Here it is. No riot, plenty of sparklers, good time for all even myself after I recovered from my nervous breakdown. Certainly no beets on the floor. How could and why would, John have beets to drop?

Ray, singing stronger than Jim. How unprofessional to suggest such a thing.

Glad to see someone has the origial story and proof positive that no beets did ocur and John didn't drop any riots. Did I get that right....?

[Buda]

Thanks Vince for your take. It is refreshing to drop all these nuances of false suggestions and bad intentions even after 40 yrs. Great to have somebody who can put things straight.

I haven't seen the Hobbit as of yet but planning to do so (and even more so a new gangster flick called "Killing Them Softly" - check that out!) though have to tell you I am with low expectations as I'm aware of all the mish-mashing aspects that were done compared to the original novel.

[vince]

I suppose everyone here knows that I like to read - and write. I don't know when my thirst for books became a dominant driving force but it was at a young age. I can remember so many winter evenings sitting together with my Father in the big living room, embers of a dying fire glowing on the hearth while he read to me from the "Classics. Such a world of adventure. Of course, the hero always triumphed and the bad guys somehow got their due. But the language was always ellegant and eloquent, descriptive. You could see the place, the people, the situation. There was no need for swearing. People used real adverbs and adjectives for description rather that everything being relagated to being a "Fucking" this or that.

Note the query to which I reply - Thanks for your "Take". Just what in blazes is a "Take". What is an "Uptick"?

The Tolkein books are classic for a number of reasons. What to me is the most important is the way they are written. Once again, no need for slang, fould language, swearing to make a description or make something clear. Precise English that flowed from his pen (He did, literally, write these books) and became the entry into a wonderful work of people, places, languaged and an epic struggle to save a changing world. All the books I read were like that. It is from reading these hundreds, perhaps thousands of tomes that I have the joy of writing and the task of trying ti understand what people are too lazy to put into words today.

We return to the topic of the Hobbit as book and movie - I suspect that the Hobbit has been as badly distorted as the Lord of the Rings was. AS such the whole feeling of the story is lost. Already reviews of the Hobbit are suggesting that a lot of liberties have been taken. By the way - Hobbiton has now been made a permanent tourist attraction. How nice. I am packing my bags to rush off to see it I wonder if they got that right. Bilbo's house was the last one in Bagshot row.

Don't patronize the movie, people - Take the time from twitter, facebook and gaming to sit down and read the book. Forget the outside world and all your cares. Enter into a wonderful world of Hobbits, Dwarves, a few men and a place called Middle Earth.