The Doors - Live in Europe 1968

While many are moved by the adulation of the crowd, almost all are moved by the admiration of their peers. Jefferson Airplane in the 60's were prime purveyors of psychedelia. When Grace Slick and Paul Kantner, two of the prime creative forces of the Airplane, are moved by your work ... that speaks to something unique.The Doors and the Jefferson Airplane toured Britain and Northern Europe in 1968. These are/were two prime players in the US acid/psychedelic Rock scene of the 60's. While some of Jefferson Airplane's work still chills the senses (i.e. White Rabbit), the majority of their work is slowly fading. Not so with the Doors. Their music seems as rich and powerful today, as it did MORE THAN FORTY YEARS AGO, when if first came out. That also speaks to something unique.What we have here is a mini documentary about the Doors' and Jefferson Airplane's joint European tour of 1968. Grace (Gracie) Slick and Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane narrate a significant part of the film. For those who don't know. Grace Slick and Janis Joplin were probably the two biggest female players in Rock in the 60's. It's good to see that Grace is still with us and in top form. Her insights about the band, their music, Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison are ALL worth seeing and listening to. She knows. ....And it shows.Some fascinating insights by Grace and Paul about the show in the Netherlands where Jim Morrison crashes after a Hash mishap are worth the price of admission alone. She admiringly and truthfully points out the way Ray took over the singing as well as the keyboards... and carried on with style after Jim crashed and was MIA for the concert. She, and Paul gave him (Ray) the kudos he deserved. The video of him (Ray) singing part of "Light my Fire", while also doing the keyboards was insane. Ray was/is a true MVP in Rock, and certainly in the Doors. Remember, although the Doors used a Bass player in all but the first album, they did their shows WITHOUT a bass player. Ray did keyboard work on a Vox organ with his right hand...and he played a Fender Rhodes Keyboard Bass, which was always mounted on the upper left of his organ, with his left hand. So, at least for that show...Ray sang the melody, played the keyboard and provided the majority of the melody with his right hand...and added the bass line with his left. It's enough to make your head explode just THINKING about doing that, and doing it CORRECTLY, in front of thousands of people, WITHOUT advance notice, planning or preparation. Most Impressive.All the scenes of the Doors performances were excellent. I have to admit...I can't get enough of seeing Jim, Ray, Robbie and John when they're playing together and in the groove. This is a most worthwhile addition to your Doors DVD collection. The Doors STILL rule!

I had the opportunity to see The Doors Live in Europe 1968 again recently and I was struck at the raw power The Doors were able to deliver to a live audience at the height of their career.In a change of pace from having the surviving members of The Doors tell their story, which after 40 years can at times sound rote, the DVD is narrated by Grace Slick and Paul Kantner of the Jefferson Airplane. Slick and Kantner are able to tell the story of The Doors European tour from the unique position of being there. They're able not only to understand what Morrison was going through and experiencing as rock stars in the 60's, they're able to relate that experience to the viewer.Most of the DVD is of The Doors in concert in England at The Roundhouse. You can't deny the power of The Doors performance. Morrison's lyrics and poems meld with The Doors music to create a theatrical experience that still has the power to draw you in.

I remember where I was the day Kennedy was shot, and I remember where I was when I heard of Morrison's death. Jim, together with Jimi and Janis, all shaped the world I lived in and then left it much too soon. Perhaps I was on my own death-trip at that time, and understanding what they had done helped me turn my life around. This video includes interviews with Grace Slick (looking much less like White Rabbit than I would prefer. What's with that hat?) and Paul Kantner, both of whom survived that era. I saw Jefferson Airplane at the Filmore East but Morrison was gone before I could see the Doors perform live. This is a poor substitute for that kind of memory, but it is a stunning flashback. Kudos to the team that made it happen.

This DVD is relatively short, about 1 hour. It is, briefly, narrated by GRACE SLICK and PAUL KANTNER (Jefferson Airplane). Some of the film is kinda' grainy, but for the most part, it looks good and the sound is good. It is an excellent SNAPSHOT IN TIME. The Star of the show is JIM MORRISON with his STRONG VOICE, THEATRICS, and, of course, his GORGEOUS looks. BUT of EQUAL POWER is the MUSIC, the BAND. RAY MANZAREK on KEYBOARDS is EXCEPTIONAL. JOHN DENSMORE on drums and ROBBY KREIGER on guitar compose the rest of the band. The band's EXCELLENCE is showcased in this dvd, UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, ESPECIALLY in an improvised LIGHT MT FIRE. They were/are INCREDIBLE MUSICIANS.THE DOORS, truly, were a PHENOM. Their IMAGE and MUSIC remains as strong now as it was 45 years ago. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this dvd for Doors fans.