MUMBAI: Presenting a new way to showcase their music on the digital platform, legendary rock band The Doors have launched an interactive iPad app exclusively on the app store. The app will invite fans on a digital journey, telling their history through interactive content, music, photos, videos, memorabilia and a graphic novel.
Released by Warner Music Group’s Rhino Entertainment, the app brings the band’s story to life with an experience that delves deeply into every aspect of The Doors’ iconic career with interactive content, unpublished band images and artwork, rare videos, music, and more in a single download.
The app was conceived and produced by Elektra Records founder and Warner Music stalwart Jac Holzman, who signed the band to the label in 1966, and Robin Hurley; along with the participation of drummer John Densmore, guitarist Robby Krieger and keyboardist Ray Manzarek, and the estate of the late singer Jim Morrison.
Related Post
Holzman said, “The genesis of this project began with a desire to digitize the boxed set, to use new technology to improve upon a much-loved fan experience. It made total sense to choose The Doors. They have always been ‘ahead of the curve’ artists and their story is one of the great sagas in rock. Together with the band, we tell a compelling tale using materials from The Doors’ own archives and the Warner Music vault plus the hundreds of other sources we chased down. Delivered in a single download, this is a riveting approach to showcasing a band’s entire career. I believe Warner Music has set the bar higher for future music apps and that is a very good thing to do.”
The app has been divided into several sections, with ‘The Story’ button leading to the true centerpiece, with hundreds of photos, videos and interviews. All six albums recorded by the original Doors foursome, along with two albums recorded later by the Doors as a trio, are spotlighted here through essays from counterculture icons including Patti Smith and Hunter S Thompson, Doors historians like David Fricke, Greil Marcus and archivist David Dutkowski, pieces from the band and personal reminiscences shared by Holzman. The Story section also highlights extensive technical notes detailing all the equipment used to create every studio album.
Amongst the other centerpieces of ‘The Story’ section is a graphic novelization of the notorious Miami Incident, where Morrison was falsely accused of exposing himself during a 1969 concert. The infamous episode comes to life here through drawings by award-winning comic book artist Dean Haspiel, words by Adam Holzman and rare audio of Morrison recorded during the show. This section also includes the once-confidential FBI report, arrest report, a portion of Jim’s tongue-in-cheek testimony, Morrison’s mug shot and his posthumous pardon issued in 2010.
Also featured are a comprehensive Timeline, a Cast of characters listing key people in the Doors’ universe, an interactive Doors Map of LA that focuses on prime locations in the band’s history, a Gallery filled with rare and iconic images, all song lyrics, in-app links to social media and the iTunes store, and a customizable My Favorites area.
It features over 500 images including band photos, album art, singles, international releases and memorabilia (posters, ticket stubs, advertisements, press releases, contracts, and related correspondence). The app also includes 44 short form videos and 60 audio segments.
To coincide with the launch of The Doors App, each of The Doors’ studio albums have been mastered for iTunes by their longtime producer Bruce Botnick and are available on iTunes. Three new digital boxed sets (The Complete Studio Albums, Behind Closed Doors – The Rarities, and Strange Nights Of Stone Vol II – The Bright Midnight Archives Concerts) and two mastered for iTunes compilation albums (The Very Best Of and The Future Starts Here: The Essential Doors Hits) are also available on iTunes.
