LoVE and The Doors similarities

[silentseason]

After some consideration, I see only two aspects (discounting they are both from LA, played the Strip at the same time) between the two bands. 1) The most obvious is the dark visions of the main lyricists, Jim and Arthur. 2) Perhaps more subtle but nonetheless evident is the drumming of John and Michael. Maybe different stylistically, but how they molded their drumming into the tapestry of the songs and enhanced the music without trying to overwhelm the overall feel is IMO a very strong bond of the two bands.

[jamestkirk]

Very good observations, John.


Also Jim's oft told infatuation for Arthur Lee couldn't help but infuse itself into Jim's songwriting. Arthur never wrote what could be called a "love sing" and neither did Jim...the darker side prevailed for both.

Whether Jim was naturally drawn to Arthur because of his fame and his dark side, which makes sense, or whether the dark side was innate in both, which also makes sense...the fact that for a while, LoVE was THE most popular band on the Strip, couldn't help but give Jim and the DOORS something to long for and strive for.

After all, Densmore said that Love was THE happening band in LA and LoVE was with Elektra, which made Elektra the coolest record label around. Which is why the Doors wanted to be on Elektra...and they were signed to Elektra pretty much entirely because of Arthur Lee pushing the Doors on Holzman until Jac "got them"!!

[silentseason]

Very true Scott.

I was also thinking that of the albums that both bands put out was there any familiar ground between the two? Perhaps in a bit of a stretch you could say that Da Capo and The Soft Parade in their jazzier moments have similarities, but otherwise the sounds of both groups were very different.

I wonder how much interpersonal contact Arthur and Jim really had. I believe Bryan and Johnny may have spent more time with JDM.

[jamestkirk]

Very true Scott.

I was also thinking that of the albums that both bands put out was there any familiar ground between the two? Perhaps in a bit of a stretch you could say that Da Capo and The Soft Parade in their jazzier moments have similarities, but otherwise the sounds of both groups were very different.

I wonder how much interpersonal contact Arthur and Jim really had. I believe Bryan and Johnny may have spent more time with JDM.

From what I've read, it was Bryan who befriended Jim and they hung out for a while before Arthur scared Jim away. But Jim did ultimately get Arthur girlfriend and Jim aso got a dog just like Arthur's...the list goes on. For a short while Jim was fairly obsessed with Arthur, if not Love, it seems.

Jim definitely had no desire to emulate Love's musical style in any way. Root influences for each band went back to the blues whether folk/blues, delta blues, Chicago blues or electric blues & early r&b, rockabiliy... With a bit of electric folk/rock thrown in.

What artist could help but be inspired at least or influenced by Dylan going electric?! To my mind that is the pivotal turning point of folk>rock.