Info:
For their first and only appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Doors perform their newest single People Are Strange and their #1 hit Light My Fire. Although their songs are performed and broadcast live, pre-recorded visuals are intercut into the broadcast during the performance of People Are Strange. Also performing on this show are the Skating Bredos, comedians Rodney Dangerfield and Flip Wilson, and musical performances are given by Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gormé, Yul Brynner, and The Kessler Twins. The show is backed by the Ray Bloch orchestra.
The Doors are a last minute addition to the lineup. During rehearsals the band is asked to modify the word 'higher' in Light My Fire to keep line with the television standards of The Ed Sullivan Show, but during the live broadcast Jim Morrison sings the lyric the same way the song was originally written and recorded, ignoring the request of Ed Sullivan and the production crew. Robby Krieger can then be seen giving a defiant looking smile in the moment following Jim's surprise disregard for the acknowledged changes. When their set ends, the program quickly cuts to a commercial for Purina Dog Food in place of a usual congratulatory handshake by the host. Ed Sullivan is angered by Jim Morrison's conduct on his show, and The Doors are never invited back to perform. Ed Sullivan's own original suggested lyric replacement is "Girl, there's nothing I require."
As per their contractual agreement, the show is re-broadcast without edits on July 7, 1968. In 1991, the appearance is re-created for The Doors movie directed by Oliver Stone. On The Doors 1997 CD boxset release, Ed Sullivan's original introduction is jokingly edited into a track titled Hello To The Cities. In the 2021 publication of Robby Krieger's book Set The Night On Fire, Robby recounts the performance on Ed Sullivan, offering readers a new insight into the show and the chain of events. While this performance of Light My Fire on The Ed Sullivan Show is The Doors best known and most infamous appearance on television, the complete and original uncut performance featuring People Are Strange has never seen an official release.
Tracklist:
People Are Strange > Light My Fire
Photographers:
Unidentified (CBS Staff Photographer)
Broadcasts:
09/17/1967 - CBC - Canada (Nationwide)
09/17/1967 - WCBS (Channel 2) - New York, NY
07/07/1968 - WCBS (Channel 2) - New York, NY
PHOTOGRAPH:
The Doors Perform On The Ed Sullivan Show © Staff Photographer, CBS
LYRIC SUGGESTION:
Ed Sullivan's Original Lyric Suggestion For Light My Fire
PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS:
PROGRAMMING UPDATE:
TV GUIDE LISTING:
REVIEW:
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ARTICLE #1:
Newspaper: The Ottawa CitizenAuthor: Unknown
Publish Date: September 16th - 1967
Copyright © The Ottawa Citizen
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ARTICLE #2:
Newspaper: The Calgary HeraldAuthor: Unknown
Publish Date: September 16th - 1967
Copyright © The Calgary Herald
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