THE DOORS PLAY FOR THE LOS ANGELES RIOTS (FEB. ’67)

 

In November 1966, the famous Sunset Strip boulevard in Los Angeles was engulfed in a series of harsh youth protests, resulting in clashes with the local police.

The demonstrations were motivated by the imposition of restrictive measures on nightlife, which was dominated at the time by young people experiencing a major cultural shift.

The lively protests were intended to express the growing and urgent need for greater personal and collective freedom among the younger generation.

Although the situation remained tense from the perspective of public order, assemblies were organized where young people could discuss the situation amongst themselves.

One such event took place at the Valley Music Theatre in Woodland Hills, California on 22 February 1967. The aim was to raise awareness of, and funds for, their cause.

Several Californian musical groups were invited to perform at the event to attract a larger audience, interspersing their sets with speeches by representatives of the youth groups leading the protests.

The Doors, who were relatively well-known in California at the time but still virtually unknown elsewhere in the United States, opened the night.

The quartet was trying to establish itself commercially, although their debut album, released less than two months earlier, was still struggling to gain widespread public acclaim.

Anyway, the first recording session for their second LP, "Strange Days", was also held in February 1967 (yielding “My Eyes Have Seen You”).

So, The Doors had the opportunity to perform in front of rioting youth on the same bill as groups that were far better known than they were at that time.

One notable act was Buffalo Springfield, fresh from the release of their debut album, "Buffalo Springfield", in December 1966, just two months before the concert supporting the Los Angeles riots.

That day, The Buffalo Springfield, who blended folk-rock and pop-rock into their music, formed a special bond with The Doors.

In fact, a technical problem meant that The Doors' drummer, John Densmore, had to borrow Dewey Martin's drums.

Densmore can be seen playing this drum kit in the photo at the end of this article (with the Buffalo Springfield logo on it), which was taken during The Doors' performance.

Also prominent among the bands in attendance were the Byrds, who had recently released their fourth LP, “Younger Than Yesterday”, in February 1967, under the musical banners of psychedelic pop-rock and folk-rock.

The Doors came to the 22 February event in Woodland Hills eager to contribute through their music to the change and emancipation occurring within younger portions of American society.

Soon after they began to lend their voice to the cultural and generational changes that the Los Angeles riots had loudly anticipated.

From spring 1967 to autumn 1968, their live shows forcefully inspired a generation fighting for a more progressive Western society.

Thanks to mildequator.com for the concert information and historical material.

P.S.: My book "The Doors Through Strange Days"- The most comprehensive journey ever made through The Doors' second LP, is available on Amazon.com, .uk, .mx, .it, etc.

Here’s a link:

Amazon – “The Doors Through Strange Days”