Night Divides The Day: The Doors Anthology

'We were reflecting on our own career as it was happening. It’s not that we were trend-conscious, we were doing exactly what we would have been doing anyway.' - Jim Morrison 'We didn’t sit down and have a meeting to say, ‘Hey, we want to change the minds of people.’ We didn’t say it but we enjoyed doing it.' - John Densmore 'The Doors is bigger than any of us, and that only happens once in a lifetime and not to many people. It’s an honour to be one of The Doors.' - Robby Krieger 'We were just a bunch of psychedelic guys trying to spread the word and the feel of what it was like to be high in Venice back in the mid-sixties. And boy, was it a good feeling to watch that sun set into the middle of the ocean and feel that peace, and to feel at one with the universe.' - Ray Manzarek Night Divides the Day is the definitive chronicle of The Doors, offering an intimate and richly illustrated exploration of the band’s legendary journey. Featuring interviews with Robby Krieger and John Densmore and meticulously sourced archival text from Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek, their 50,000-word manuscript comes to life with a treasure trove of rare, unpublished photographs, original recording and production notes and exclusive memorabilia – all drawn from The Doors’ private archives. In this first-hand account, The Doors narrate the band's story from their early days playing local clubs on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles to the iconic, and sometimes infamous, moments that defined their career. From the electrifying release of anthems like ‘Light My Fire’, ‘The End’ and ‘Riders on the Storm’, to the notorious Dinner Key Auditorium performance in Miami, Night Divides the Day captures the essence of The Doors’ meteoric rise and the reverberations they left in their wake. Featuring new and insightful contributions from a diverse array of artists, including Van Morrison, Nile Rodgers, Slash, Nancy Sinatra and more, the book is anchored by a foreword from Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic and an afterword by maestro Gustavo Dudamel. These unique voices offer fresh perspectives on The Doors’ indelible cultural impact. Granted unprecedented access to the band’s archives, Night Divides the Day is a visual and narrative feast. The book showcases a stunning personal collection of historical artifacts – childhood photographs, handwritten song lyrics, poster art, movie stills and previously unseen album cover outtakes. Images of the band in the recording studio, along with work from celebrated photographers and trusted insiders, transport readers behind the scenes and on the road with The Doors. In addition, rare and invaluable items from the band’s history, including vintage instruments and recording equipment, are specially photographed to enrich this kaleidoscopic portrait of one of rock music’s most legendary bands. Night Divides the Day is the ultimate account of The Doors, capturing their incredible story and enduring legacy in a way that has never been seen before.

When The Doors formed in 1965, it would lead to a string of hit singles and albums that would become stone classics, but also something much bigger - a new and deeper relationship between creators and audience. Refusing to be mere entertainers, the Los Angeles quartet relentlessly challenged, confronted and inspired their fans, leaping headfirst into the heart of darkness. Though they've had scores of imitators, there's never been another band quite like them. And 60 years since their formation, The Doors' music and legacy are more influential than ever. With an intoxicating, genre-blending sound, provocative and uncompromising songs, and the mesmerizing power of singer Jim Morrison's poetry and presence, The Doors had a transformative impact not only on popular music but on popular culture. Morrison's mystical command of the frontman role may be the iconic heart of The Doors, but the group's extraordinary power would hardly have been possible without the virtuosic keyboard tapestries of Ray Manzarek, the gritty, expressive fretwork of guitarist Robby Krieger and the supple, dynamically rich grooves of drummer John Densmore. From baroque art-rock to jazz- infused pop to gutbucket blues, the band's instrumental triad could navigate any musical territory with aplomb - and all three contributed mightily as songwriters.