Robby Krieger

Krieger first achieved prominence as lead guitarist and key composer for the legendary Doors, later pursuing an independent path that fuses rock, jazz, psychedelia, and global traditions through a guitar approach defined by clarity, feeling, and directness. The Doors’ self-titled 1967 debut introduced his fluid phrasing to a broad audience, while 1971’s Other Voices granted him expanded space as both songwriter and singer following Jim Morrison’s death. Once the Doors disbanded in 1973, Krieger built a respected catalog and devoted fan base with his own releases. The 1977 album Robbie Krieger & Friends and the 1983 set Versions emphasized the largely instrumental jazz direction that shaped much of his solo output, whereas 2024’s Robby Krieger and the Soul Savages incorporated R&B and soul elements into that established framework.

Born in Los Angeles on January 8, 1946, Krieger absorbed music early through his father’s marching-band records. At seven he became captivated by Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, only to shatter the disc moments later by sitting on it. Radio broadcasts introduced him to rock & roll via Fats Domino, the Platters, and Elvis Presley. Trumpet lessons began at age ten, yet interest soon waned; he next attempted to master blues tunes on piano by ear. At seventeen, while enrolled at a private academy in Menlo Park, California, he borrowed a classmate’s guitar and started practicing; a year later, during a family trip to Puerto Vallarta, he acquired a Mexican flamenco guitar. A few months of flamenco instruction followed, after which he folded blues, folk, and jazz pieces into his growing set list. Before finishing high school he proved skilled enough to perform with fellow students in the jug band the Back Bay Chamber Pot Terriers.

At the University of California, Santa Barbara, Krieger developed deep admiration for jazz guitarists Wes Montgomery and Larry Carlton alongside blues artists such as Albert Collins and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Although jazz remained his preference, the electrified energy of Butterfield’s ensemble revealed fresh possibilities within rock & roll. In 1965 he joined the newly renamed Doors, formerly known as Rick & the Ravens. Following local acclaim on the Los Angeles club circuit in 1966, the band secured a deal with Elektra Records; their debut album appeared in January 1967. The hit single “Light My Fire,” written chiefly by Krieger, propelled the group to widespread fame, yielding six studio albums before Morrison’s passing in July 1971 altered their trajectory. Alongside keyboardist Ray Manzarek and drummer John Densmore, Krieger continued as a trio, releasing the modestly received 1971 albums Other Voices and Full Circle, both of which highlighted his vocal and songwriting contributions. The Doors formally dissolved in 1973.

Krieger and Densmore promptly formed the Butts Band, whose style drew from blues and soul. The group issued 1974’s Butts Band and 1975’s Hear and Now—each featuring entirely different supporting musicians—before disbanding. Krieger launched his solo career with 1977’s Robbie Krieger & Friends, a predominantly instrumental jazz-fusion statement. In 1979 he participated in the short-lived rock outfit Red Shift, assembled after devoted Doors admirer Mack McKenzie invited him to collaborate; although the band released nothing at the time, seven studio recordings surfaced on a 2019 EP. The 1982 album Versions presented an eclectic mix of covers spanning rock, reggae, and jazz, with guest spots from Manzarek and Densmore. That same year Krieger appeared on the Acid Casualties’ retro-psychedelic release Panic Station.

He returned to jazz-centered work with 1985’s Robbie Krieger, then delivered 1989’s No Habla for I.R.S. Records’ instrumental “No Speak” series, featuring a fresh take on the Doors’ “Wild Child” and keyboard contributions from British jazz-rock pioneer Brian Auger. I.R.S. also compiled Door Jams that year, drawing from Robbie Krieger & Friends, Robbie Krieger, and Versions. The Robby Krieger Organization captured its live sound on 1995’s RKO Live!, and Krieger sustained his fusion explorations on 2000’s Cinematix, which featured Billy Cobham on drums.

In 2002, responding to ongoing demand for Doors material, Krieger and Manzarek began performing as the Doors of the 21st Century, enlisting Ian Astbury of the Cult to handle vocals. Densmore, who opted out, promptly objected and filed suit to prevent use of the band’s name; after briefly operating as Riders on the Storm, the duo simply toured as Ray Manzarek & Robby Krieger.

Krieger’s next solo album arrived in 2010 with Singularity, another fusion project co-produced with longtime associate Arthur Barrow. He contributed guitar to William Shatner’s 2013 release Ponder the Mystery, produced by Billy Sherwood, who subsequently invited Krieger onto multiple multi-artist and tribute recordings; eleven of those tracks were later gathered on the 2017 collection In Session. The 2020 album The Ritual Begins at Sundown reflected Krieger’s longstanding appreciation for Frank Zappa’s music. That year he also played on “All the Time in the World,” the closing track of X’s comeback album Alphabetland. Further session work included guitar on Ringo Starr’s 2021 album Zoom In and appearances on the Fusion Syndicate’s 2023 jazz-fusion/prog-rock outing Beautiful Horizon. For his most recent endeavor, Krieger embraced classic soul and modern R&B influences on 2024’s Robby Krieger and the Soul Savages, which also introduced his current ensemble of seasoned session players and touring musicians—bassist Kevin Brandon, keyboardist Ed Roth, and drummer Franklin Vanderbilt—recorded at his Love Street Studios in Glendale, California.