The Doors Tapes a.k.a. The Interview Tapes

3 July 1992 saw the 21st anniversary of the death of Jim Morrison, lead singer with the legendary rock group, The Doors

To celebrate that, Final Vinyl, a Scottish based venture released a very limited interview box set. It consisted of 2 seven-inch singles playing at 33 1/3 r.p.m. and totalling more than 40 minutes as well as a variety of memorabilia. The run was limited to 500 numbered copies. It has not and will not be re-issued.

The interviews came from more than 5 hours of taped conversations with the surviving members of the group. Some parts were aired on radio and also used as background for the Sky News documentary (in which I appeared) on the Oliver Stone film, "The Doors".

Much of what is discussed contradicts the accepted myth surrounding The Doors and shows that even group members have, over the years, become confused by their own press releases. The interviews are not meant to cause controversy but rather be of interest to rock fans wanting a better insight into one of the 'sixties most iconic groups.



Jim's Grave

The Cover

The front cover of the box features an atmospheric unpublished photograph of Jim's grave while it still had the bust. Each box is numbered just below the photograph.



The Singles

1/A: Ray and Robbie talk about their roots and influences, hanging out with Jim (in 1963!!), Rick and The Ravens, conning club owners into getting gigs and the formation of The Doors.

1/B: Ray recounts the hilarious details of how Jim couldn't make the Amsterdam gig in 1968 (dope, paramedics and rubber sheets!!). He then explains the story of Jim and the soul of the dead Indian. After that, he goes on to "An American Prayer."

2/A: Ray again, on bringing The Doors "Full Circle" and getting back together to work on Jim's poetry. Details of the drunken poetry sessions (Jim's birthday present to himself) and the famous 'phone call to Michael McLure.

2/B: Back to the start of The Doors with the previously unheard story of signing to CBS and being put on the "drop list". Ray then picks some of his favourite Doors tracks as a personal choice and covers "Celebration Of The Lizard".



The Memorabilia

The Contents

Each box carries a selection of cuttings reproduced actual size and in the style of real cuts covering Jim's arrest and death.

All boxes include a reproduction of the 1967 interview with the legendary "Mojo Navigator" magazine and a framable advert for the "Middle Earth" gig, which carries the same number as the box.



The tapes were recorded on full I.B.A. spec equipment for radio broadcast but these 40 minutes are unheard until now. They were recorded in 1983 (at Anouska Hempel's Blake's Hotel) during The Doors visit to London to promote "Alive She Cried". Mastering and cutting were done at the world famous Abbey Road Studios. It should, however, be remembered that these were informal discussions with the band and include some background noises.



There are less than 35 copies left!

According to Discogs, the last one to sell was back in 2015, for £ 52. I recently sold one on eBay for £ 100, so these have definitely increased in value.

After 29 years of storage, the boxes are foxed. Some more than others. Where the foxing is extremely bad, another unused box with no number and little or no foxing will be included in the package.

Please note: The boxes are very fragile, so I am carefully flattening them and posting them out in rigid corrugated card envelopes. Also for the duration of November, these benefit from an 80% reduction in eBay fees. As a result I can sell the boxes for £ 80, plus UK shipping.

As the majority of buyers will, I think, be outside the U.K. I have put two-thirds of the remaining stock on eBay. That means customs and shipping are all handled by eBay's Global Shipping. If any boxes are damaged between being received by Global Shipping and delivered to the purchaser, we're both covered. All the boxes I've put on eBay can be accessed HERE.



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