The Doors, Madison Square Garden, New York

The Doors play one performance at 8:30 p.m. to a sell-out crowd of over 20,000! For the occasion, Jim and friend Alan Ronay leave for NYC a few days early to take in the town and do some interviews and The Doors take the stage tonight with an additional bass player, Harvey Brooks and a small orchestra. The Garden is not adjusted well or rigged for musical bands around this time and the sound quality is deficient due to the large size of the arena. Despite the shortcomings of the arena's acoustics, The Doors put on a marvellous show with the help of technician Vince Treanor who has created an incredibly powerful system for tonight's performance.

Jim begins the show without many theatrics but with every little pose he gets into - the crowd erupts. He is in complete control and heaves his leather coat into the audience early on as a show of submission and connection, yet not. New York loves The Doors! One of the most memorable moments tonight is where Jim announces to one side of the arena, "You are life!", and to the other, "You are death!", pauses for a moment, "I straddle the fence - and my balls hurt!".

Jim is larger than life tonight extending himself in the huge arena while putting out his grand persona amidst constant lighting changes that sets the arena on fire and gives the concert a strobe-like effect. He and the band are up to the challenge of the large venue and The Doors succeed to pull off one of their greatest accomplishments as a band, one that has just rocked the most significant indoor arena of its time!

Jac Holzman is in attendance tonight with his young son Adam and an entourage of Elektra personnel seated right in front of Patricia Kennealy on assignment for Jazz and Pop magazine. Tonight’s gate takes in over $125,000 and The Doors retain over $50,000 making them one of the highest paid acts in the business.



January 24th, 1969: Madison Square Garden, New York

January 24th, 1969: Madison Square Garden, New York