Robert Alan “Robby” Krieger was born January 8, 1946. He was best known as the guitarist for The Doors. He wrote some of the band’s best known songs, including “Light My Fire,” “Love Me Two Times,” “Touch Me,” and “Love Her Madly.” He is currently listed as number 91 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.
Robby Krieger was born in Los Angeles, California. Some of the earliest music Robert listened to was classical mainly because his father was a big fan of marching music. It was among his largest listening until he heard Peter and the Wolf, which was the first music that really caught him. When he was seven, Krieger had an accident and broke his record player, which he then listened to the radio, which began to reach his ears playing the likes of Fats Domino, Elvis, and The Platters. At 10 he tried the trumpet, but found it wasn’t for him. He began playing the blues on his parents’ piano with much more success than the trumpet. At 14, he began to surf and it became an integral part of his life. Krieger’s parents began to worry that his surfing was distracting him from school and they enrolled him in a private school. Krieger mostly taught himself to play guitar in private school, and all the way through high school, when he reportedly first used LSD.
During his time with The Doors, Krieger’s approaching finger style to the electric guitar, eclectic musical tastes, and songwriting helped establish The Doors as one of the most successful rock bands in the 1960s. The only time he sang with the early Doors can be heard on the album The Soft Parade, on the song “Runnin’ Blue”.
After Morrison’s death in 1971, The Doors continued released two albums as a trio: Other Voices and Full Circle. Krieger and Manzarek shared vocals on the albums. After The Doors disbanded in 1973, Krieger formed The Butts Band with Densmore. He enjoyed some success as a jazz guitarist, recording a handful of albums as The Robby Krieger Band in the 1970s and 1980s, including Versions (1983) and No Habla (1986). For his 1977 solo release Robby Krieger & Friends, Krieger worked with rock artist Jim Evans to create a painting that became the album package.
Since then, Krieger has worked with musicians and artist such as Acid Casualties, Billy Cobham, Edgar Winter, Ian Astbury, Blue Oyster Cult, Billy Sherwood, Eric Burdon, and most recently has been working with “Experience Hendrix”; working with a number of high profile guitar players paying tribute to the musicianship and songwriting of the late Jimi Hendrix.