The Doors 'When You're Strange'

To coincide with this week’s documentary release ‘The Doors’, Idea Generation’s dramatic photographic exhibition follows the equally dramatic life of this revolutionary and controversial band, through the lenses of four photographers: Henry Diltz, Joel Brodsky, Bobby Klein and Ken Regan.

The Doors were created in 1965 by lead singer Jim Morrison and fellow band member Ray Manzerak. Their first LP ‘The Doors’ shot to the top of the charts, yet concern over their ‘corruption of youth’ made promoters nervous and soon their reputation as bad boys overshadowed their chart success. In fact the Los Angeles quartet continued to relentlessly challenge, confront yet inspire their fans, leaping headfirst into the heart of darkness as opposed to what were the more current popular topics of peace and love.

We’re introduced to Brodsky’s photos first, in which The Doors stand united, huddled symmetrically together like a close knit family. His neat portraits capture them in reflections, or from above where they stare obediently up to the camera. Any hint of violence or rebelliousness is hard to decipher.

Brodsky’s most famous portraits of lead heart throb Jim Morrison are arguably his most successful and are positioned on a far wall across from a barrier which creates a stage-like space between him and the viewer. As I stare into Jim’s eyes, I become yet another fan trapped behind the railings desperate to get that little bit closer. Funnily enough, Brodsky claims that Morrison was “plastered” during this shoot, where he ironically seems so controlled; spreading his arms in a Christ-like pose further reasserting his iconic reputation.

From the look of his photographs, Henry Diltz seems to have submerged himself fully into the world of The Doors. His portraits are less posed than Brodsky’s and we often see them on the move, hanging out at their favourite ‘Ray’s Bar’ or playfully posed in laughter. He’s also included some contact-sheets where we spy The Doors driving in their car, and eating. Simple things yet somehow captivating when done by this group.

Klein’s depcitions are more similar to Brodsky’s, yet he takes The Doors and places them like puppets into various landscapes including palm and redwood trees as well as rocky terrain. They seem so compliant and calm, their unruly reputations dissolved by the strength of their tranquil poses.

My favourite photographer out of the four has to be Ken Regan. As opposed to Diltz’s, Brodsky’s and Klein’s intimate portrayals, he steps away from the band becoming more the invisible voyeur than official photographer and we start seeing them more objectivley. In ‘Jim Morrison, NY, 1970 III’ for example, Jim lies on the floor still clutching his microphone. We cannot see his face through the distance created and thus he becomes less Jim and more like any other rock star in the midst of destroying his set.

To end with a quote from Jim: " It's like gambling somehow. You go out for a night of drinking and you don't know where you're going to end up the next day". If do though, make sure it's at this exhibition.

The Doors, When You’re Strange: 9th July-27th August, Idea Generation Gallery

© Stephanie Wollenberg