THE DOORS AT "AMERICAN BANDSTAND" (12 JULY '67): REACHING FAME

On July 12, 1967, The Doors appeared for the first time on a national television show. In fact, they were guests on "American Bandstand", a well-known music program widely watched by a young audience of fans.

After their first album ("The Doors") and first single ("Break On Through"), both released in January 1967, the California based band had yet to receive any significant response from the market.

In March, the second single, "Light My Fire" (in its abbreviated version), was released. This time the song began to climb up the charts, and its run would eventually end at #1 by the end of July.

By July 12, '67, hand in hand with the success of "Light My Fire", The Doors' fame had already grown considerably, and within two weeks it would become permanent.

In this climate, the band went on the Dick Clark's show “American Bandstand”, which was taped in Los Angeles and aired ten days later (on July 22).

This appearance on "American Bandstand" marked a turning point in the quartet's career, which from then on would take on the characteristics of a national and, a year later, international musical phenomenon.

The part of the show in which The Doors participate began with the host in the audience announcing the group and the song they will perform, "Crystal Ship".

In addition to its inclusion on the first LP, this wonderful song had also been used as the B-side of the aforementioned single "Light My Fire". Here it is played lip-sync, and Jim Morrison appears subdued, as he almost always was on television or when concerts were filmed.

After the song all members of the group were interviewed.

Manzarek prefered not to define the genre of The Doors' music, leaving that task to the audience.

Morrison took the opportunity of this very short interview to tell America one of his most famous phrases: "The West is the best”.

If John Densmore anticipated that the band was working on their second LP, Morrison revealed its title, “Strange Days”, with a tone somewhere between aloof and enthusiastic.

Robby Krieger, on the other hand, announced a UK tour that will not take place until one year and two months later.

After this talk, the music returned and this time it was the hit of the moment that was played lip-sync: "Light My Fire". At that time, the song had already entered the top ten of the best-selling singles and was set to keep climbing it rapidly.

In the song, Morrison sang the word "Higher" without any problems. This is the same word that about a month later on the "Ed Sullivan Show" (also on television) would cause The Doors no small amount of inconvenience.

With this television appearance, the group was finally breaking the ice with the American public, showing itself and its music to a young generation that was in the midst of cultural and social change.

With the help of music and television, in mid July 1967 The Doors achieved stardom. They were ready to use their fame to disrupt the established certainties of a still predominantly traditionalist society.