Rhino Factoids: The Doors’ Last Show

47 years ago today, The Doors performed their final concert with Jim Morrison as their frontman, and while it’s an event that we can’t let pass without a mention, the show itself wasn’t what you’d call one of the band’s all-time greatest performances. Indeed, it went so poorly that it led to the band – well, ¾ of them, at least – deciding to stop touring altogether.

The performance took place at The Warehouse in New Orleans, and it was one of only two shows the band had on the schedule at the time. Having been working on their L.A. WOMAN album, The Doors played several songs from the LP in their set, along with the requisite hits. Due to his tendency to…overindulge, let’s say, Morrison was forgetting lyrics to songs, and when the band went into their performance of “Light My Fire,” those present have suggested that he was using the microphone stand for support, and the fact that he sat down on the drum riser during the song’s solos lends credence to that premise. When he remained seated at the point when he was supposed to be singing the final verse, drummer John Densmore nudged Morrison with his foot to get his attention, at which point Morrison got up, went to the microphone stand, smashed it, and left the stage. Unfortunately, that wasn’t when the show was supposed to have concluded, but Morrison’s departure definitely meant that it was the end, beautiful friend.

Understandably frustrated with Morrison’s behavior, the other three members of The Doors met after the New Orleans concert and mutually agreed to stop touring. Morrison tolerated the decision and continued to record the L.A. WOMAN album with the band, but after the sessions had concluded, he went to Paris, and…well, we all know what happened there.

While it’s highly probable that The Doors would’ve done a 180 on their position on live performances if Morrison had cleaned up his act, they never had the chance, and neither did he.