Jim Morrison The Doors Original David Sygall 6x9 '68 Fillmore Backstage Photo

Description: This Jim Morrison Original 6x9 Portrait Photograph is one image from a set of David Sygall 1986 developed images of Jim Morrison Fillmore East Backstage in 1968 and is certified Authentic by REM Fine Collectibles. James Douglas Morrison (December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971) was an American singer, songwriter and poet who was the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band the Doors. On March 22, 1968, the legendary rock band The Doors performed at the East Village’s fabled Fillmore East. The performance is considered one of the most iconic in the band and the theater’s career — which is saying a lot, considering the near-mythic status each enjoy. Due to his energetic persona, poetic lyrics, distinctive voice, erratic and unpredictable performances, along with the dramatic circumstances surrounding his life and early death, Morrison is regarded by music critics and fans as one of the most influential frontmen in rock history. Since his death, his fame has endured as one of popular culture's top rebellious and oft-displayed icons, representing the generation gap and youth counterculture. The group spent two years in obscurity until shooting to prominence with their number-one hit single in the United States, "Light My Fire", taken from their self-titled debut album. Morrison recorded a total of six studio albums with the Doors, all of which sold well and many of which received critical acclaim. He frequently gave spoken word poetry passages while the band was playing live. Manzarek said Morrison "embodied hippie counterculture rebellion". Morrison developed an alcohol dependency, which at times affected his performances on stage. Rolling Stone, NME, and Classic Rock have ranked him among the greatest rock singers of all time. Together with keyboardist Ray Manzarek, Morrison founded the Doors in 1965 in Venice, California. Morrison and Manzarek, who had met months earlier as cinematography students, were the first members of the Doors, forming the group during that summer. Manzarek narrated the story that he was lying on Venice Beach one day when he coincidentally encountered Morrison. He was impressed with Morrison's poetic lyrics, claiming that they were "rock group" material. Subsequently, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore joined. All three musicians shared a common interest in the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's meditation practices at the time, attending scheduled classes, but Morrison was not involved in these series of classes. Although Morrison was known as the lyricist of the group, Krieger also made lyrical contributions, writing or co-writing some of the group's biggest hits, including "Light My Fire", "Love Me Two Times", "Love Her Madly" and "Touch Me". On the other hand, Morrison, who did not write most songs using an instrument, would come up with vocal melodies for his own lyrics, with the other band members contributing chords and rhythm. Davd Sygall was already a well known rock photographer when The Doors travelled to New York to play the Filmore East in 1968. His iconic shots of Jimi Hendrix made it easy to get front row seats to witness The Doors epic show at the Fillmore. He did not disappoint, capturing Jim at his prime at one of the premier venues in New York. The Fillmore East had been open just two weeks; The Doors, while internationally known, were nevertheless barely a year out from the release of their first album and single. Sadly, the meteoric rise and fall of both would follow similar brilliant but abbreviated paths; the Fillmore East would close just over three years later on June 27th, 1971, while The Doors — at least in their classic incarnation — would meet their demise just six days later, on July 3rd, 1971, with Morrison’s mysterious death in a Paris bathtub. But what a night they both had on March 22nd, 1968. Two nights, actually — as they played again on the 23rd, with two shows each night at that. The first was scheduled to begin at 8, and the second at 11; according to at least one reviewer, the later show did not end until 3:25 am. You can view a partial setlist here. Anyone who is a Doors fan will recognize some of the more memorable images of Morrison and the band which came from this show. And anyone who is a fan of the baroque stylings of the Fillmore’s hall will be impressed by the images captured by Life Magazine of The Door’s performance, amply illustrating how the Fillmore earned the sobriquet “the church of rock ‘n’ roll”. The Fillmore of course had been built as a Yiddish Theater as part of the “Yiddish Rialto” which lined Second Avenue in the East Village. Read more about the Fillmore’s history here. Highlights of the evening included the psychedelic stylings of Bill Graham’s ‘Joshua Light Show’ — a standard feature at the Fillmore, but in this case supplemented by a showing of The Door’s short film “The Celebration of the Lizard,” which was anticipated to the be the title of their third, as yet unrealeased album (they eventually went with the somewhat more circumspect “Waiting for the Sun”). After a long night at the Fillmore, The Doors and Bill Graham nourished themselves on classic New York deli at Ratner’s, just one door north of the Fillmore in the Saul Birns building.

Price: 289 USD

Location: Beverly Hills, California

End Time: 2025-02-02T17:32:23.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD