Were the Doors progressive?

I think they were. Their music was quite a bit more complex than other bands back then. I'd like you to post your choice of song(s) that best demonstrate the Doors' progressive side. Thanks so much!

Silly question really. The Doors were perhaps the ultimate progressive rock band, that is without ever playing 'prog'.
They were among the very first acts who brought the arts into the rock template. Nietszche, Baudelaire, Kerouac, Ginsberg, ancient Greek tragedies, Native American spiritually and etc etc etc - and that is just in the lyrics.
The music mixed rock with classical piano sprees, cabaret, circus themes, folk, free improv, jazz, blues and flamenco.

One of the most progressive bands of all time imo.

At least we agree on where to put them. Proto is indeed the right place.

Gerinski wrote: Dean wrote: Bluesy Psychedelic Rock and Acid Rock, in what has later been seen as Art Rock (but wasn't at the time), they were never Progressive Rock, they followed a parallel path of their own that can be regarded as a progressive approach and mindset (which was not uncommon back then). Influential on the development of Prog certainly, (which is why we list them here in Proto-Prog), but none of their songs are Prog Rock within the late 60s early 70s framework, nor did it ever seem to be heading in that direction. Nothing else to add.

I disagree. The Doors were U.S. '60s progressive rock act without a doubt. The Doors just weren't a part of English Progressive Rock Movement what virtualy makes above mentioned "late 60s early 70s framework". The Doors regulary ought to be in Archives as Psych, or Eclectic, or Crossover prog act - nevermind in which one section of those exactly, but that section ought to be a progressive rock category, not "proto prog".

Edited by Svetonio - May 17 2013 at 08:46

I like them a lot, that's enough for me. Labels are something the industri needs for promotion, reviewers for categorization. As I listener it doesn't matter.

They certainly had their progy and experimental songs, but overall I don't consider them as a prog band.

Svetonio wrote: Gerinski wrote: Dean wrote: Bluesy Psychedelic Rock and Acid Rock, in what has later been seen as Art Rock (but wasn't at the time), they were never Progressive Rock, they followed a parallel path of their own that can be regarded as a progressive approach and mindset (which was not uncommon back then). Influential on the development of Prog certainly, (which is why we list them here in Proto-Prog), but none of their songs are Prog Rock within the late 60s early 70s framework, nor did it ever seem to be heading in that direction. Nothing else to add. I disagree. The Doors were U.S. '60s progressive rock act without a doubt. The Doors just weren't a part of English Progressive Rock Movement what virtually makes above mentioned "late 60s early 70s framework". The Doors regulary ought to be in Archives as Psych, or Eclectic, or Crossover prog act - nevermind in which one section of those exactly, but that section ought to be a progressive rock category, not "proto prog".

You cannot reinvent the history of Progressive Rock to make it fit your idealised dream of what happened back then or to slot in your favourite artists, that is simply revisionist and wrong. Nor can you redefine what Prog Rock is to make them fit - if they were not described as Progressive Rock in their own timeframe we cannot decribe them as such now.

NotAProghead wrote: They are THE DOORS. Nuff said. Bigger than any genre. That's it.

Open minded prog approach : check

Dean wrote: Svetonio wrote: Gerinski wrote: Dean wrote: Bluesy Psychedelic Rock and Acid Rock, in what has later been seen as Art Rock (but wasn't at the time), they were never Progressive Rock, they followed a parallel path of their own that can be regarded as a progressive approach and mindset (which was not uncommon back then). Influential on the development of Prog certainly, (which is why we list them here in Proto-Prog), but none of their songs are Prog Rock within the late 60s early 70s framework, nor did it ever seem to be heading in that direction. Nothing else to add. I disagree. The Doors were U.S. '60s progressive rock act without a doubt. The Doors just weren't a part of English Progressive Rock Movement what virtually makes above mentioned "late 60s early 70s framework". The Doors regulary ought to be in Archives as Psych, or Eclectic, or Crossover prog act - nevermind in which one section of those exactly, but that section ought to be a progressive rock category, not "proto prog". You cannot reinvent the history of Progressive Rock to make it fit your idealised dream of what happened back then or to slot in your favourite artists, that is simply revisionist and wrong. Nor can you redefine what Prog Rock is to make them fit - if they were not described as Progressive Rock in their own timeframe we cannot decribe them as such now.   The Doors do not fit into any of those subgenres, even Psych is wholly inapproriate because they never made a Psychedelic Progressive Rock record (if that less-than subtle distinction flies over your head then I suggest you read the Psych/Space Rock genre definition) ... we do not add every Psychedelic Rock band there ever was into that genre, just as we do nat add every Avant Garde composer into Avant Prog or every Electric Folk Rock artist into Prog Folk.

I can't reinvent history of Progressive Rock, but there are some musicologists who can do it and who alredy did it!


A long time ago I meet Koja ("Koya") who was leader of  Šarlo Akrobata, a Punk trio from New Belgrade, Serbia, because he use to live just a few blocks away from my place.

Šarlo Akrobata trio were 100% punk outfit when released that material what on very misterious way qualified them for Prog  Archives. Well,  because of so called "patriotic" reason, I would be happy because one punk bass player from my street is in PA'  RIO / Avant Prog section, where the legends like THE DOORS "can not be" included, because "not every avant band is prog" and so on, but ...  


I find one "prog" video of Šarlo Akrobata. I just wish that The Doors fan(s) notice how sounds a PUNK band that has an advantage as "RIO / Avant prog" over The Doors.


http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=3696
"... Today, we can take a broader look at the band from prog rock perspective: their inovation and elements of art rock / avant Rock ..."



This song is their athem. Maybe nice punk song, but Prog???!!

Regards!

Edited by Svetonio - May 17 2013 at 13:50