Set the Night on Fire: Living, Dying, and Playing Guitar with The Doors

Set the Night on Fire is Doors guitarist Robby Krieger's first-hand account of his life and time with the legendary rock band. As a founding member, Krieger provides his perspective on the formation, rise, and creative process behind The Doors from 1965 to 1973. The memoir follows Krieger's early life in Los Angeles, his musical development, and the relationships between band members during The Doors' active years. Through his lens as songwriter and guitarist, he details the creation of their albums and the realities of life on tour during rock's most transformative era. The narrative continues through Jim Morrison's death in 1971 and traces the band's evolution afterward, including Krieger's subsequent musical projects and personal journey. His account includes corrections to various myths and misconceptions about the band that have persisted over the decades. This memoir offers an essential counterpoint to existing histories of The Doors, presenting themes of artistic collaboration, the price of fame, and the complex dynamics of creating enduring music. The book provides context for understanding both the band's cultural impact and the personal toll of their meteoric success.

Readers value Krieger's calm, clear-headed perspective on The Doors compared to other accounts. Many note his honesty about drug use and interpersonal conflicts without sensationalizing. Several reviewers highlight the detailed musical insights, particularly around songwriting and guitar techniques. Likes: - New stories not covered in other Doors books - Technical details about recording sessions - Balanced portrayal of Jim Morrison - Personal family history and post-Doors life Dislikes: - Writing style can be dry and meandering - Some historical inaccuracies noted by longtime fans - Readers wanted more detail about specific songs/albums - Limited coverage of the band's final years Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (900+ ratings) "Finally a Doors book that focuses on the music rather than the mythology" - Common reader sentiment across platforms. "Could have used tighter editing but delivers authentic insights" - Goodreads reviewer

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🎸 Robby Krieger wrote this memoir at age 76, making it one of the last first-hand accounts of The Doors from an original member. 🔥 The book reveals that Jim Morrison didn't actually write "Light My Fire" - Krieger composed it as his first-ever songwriting attempt, though Morrison added some lyrics. 🎼 Despite being left-handed, Krieger learned to play guitar right-handed because his first guitar teacher insisted it would be easier to find right-handed instruments. 🌟 The memoir details how Krieger developed his distinctive flamenco-influenced rock style by studying with flamenco masters in Los Angeles as a teenager. 🎬 Krieger disputes Oliver Stone's portrayal of The Doors in his 1991 film, particularly the characterization of Morrison as consistently destructive and band relationships as consistently hostile.