Robby Krieger of the Doors: On songwriting and more

The music of The Doors for the longest time represented to me a dark, moody and almost creepy perspective on life.

The focus for me was always lead singer Jim Morrison’s mystical, almost warlock-like approach to his singing, songwriting and stage presence. Ray Manzarek’s signature organ sound was mesmerizing — but rarely took me to a happy place when it came to stoking my emotions.

There came a moment, however, when my focus shifted to Robby Krieger’s guitar playing. It was different. It sounded like a sitar. It colored what I would call the dark world created by Morrison and Manzarek. Krieger avoided the sugar. But he certainly added a lot of spice. And I couldn’t get enough.

All of this was running through my head recently, when I had the opportunity to speak with Krieger on the phone in advance of his concert on Saturday at the Tarrytown Music Hall in Westchester County.

Asked about the legacy of The Doors, Krieger, who is familiar with The Chance in Poughkeepsie, said, “They were good songs and we recorded them right and it was kind of being at the right place at the right time. I don’t know if that will ever happen again. It seems like, I don’t know, it was just a magical time.”

According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, just six years passed between the band’s formation in 1966 to Morrison’s death in 1971. Speaking about the 1960s, during which The Doors achieved staggering success, Krieger said, “It was amazing. It was like, all things are possible. It was a great time.”

Asked about songwriting, Krieger, who wrote “Light My Fire,” said, “Back in the day, I used to start off with the guitar, playing the guitar — something sounds good, you get an idea that way. Usually, I would do that and the words would come later. The first Doors songs were ‘Moonlight Drive’ and a couple of other ones Jim Morrison came up with. He just heard them in his head. He said it was like having a rock concert in your head. He would just write them down.”

When it comes to songwriting now, Krieger said, “I grab my iPhone and put the voice memo thing on.”

And speaking of Morrison, Krieger said, “He was so great to work with. He was not judgmental at all. He didn’t care who wrote what. He would try it and he would try to make it work. He was just super creative. He was the most influential person in my life.”

Krieger, performing with a band, is set for 8 p.m. April 4 at the Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main St., Tarrytown. Tickets cost $68, $58 and $38. Visit www.tarrytownmusichall.org or call 1-877-840-0457 for information.

John W. Barry’s column appears every Friday: jobarry@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4822. Twitter: @John BarryPoJo