Robby Krieger came to popularity in the 1960s as the guitarist and lyricist for “The Doors“, a legendary rock band. His solo records that mixed rock, jazz, psychedelia, and world music, played through a clean, expressive, and straightforward guitar approach, garnered him critical recognition and a loyal fanbase when the trio disbanded in 1973.
After the death of frontman Jim Morrison, Krieger’s fluid approach was initially widely recognized on “The Doors” 1967 first album, and 1971’s Other Voices provided him more room to showcase his capabilities as a songwriter and vocalist.
Krieger’s jazzy, predominantly instrumental approach dominated his solo work on 1977’s Robby Krieger & Friends and 1983’s Versions, while 2020’s The Ritual Begins at Sundown incorporated a more experimental approach informed by Frank Zappa’s work.
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| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Robert Alan Krieger |
| Nickname | Robby Krieger |
| Profession | Guitarist, Musician & Songwriter |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 8th January, 1946 |
| Age (as of 2022) | 76 years |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, U.S |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Hometown | Los Angeles, California |
| Current Residence | Southern California |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| School | Menlo School, Menlo Park, California |
| College/University | University of California |
| Educational Qualification | Graduated |
| Physical Stats | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters- 173 cm in meters- 1.73 m in feet inches- 5'8" |
| Weight (approx.) | in kilograms- 78 kg in pounds- 172 lbs |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Hair Color | White |
| Career | |
| First Song | "Light My Fire" [1967] |
| First Solo Studio Album | "Robby Krieger & Friends" [1977] |
| Relationships & Affairs | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Lynn Krieger (m. 1972) |
| Family | |
| Parents | Father- Stu Krieger Mother- Marylyn Krieger |
| Siblings | N/A |
| Children | Son- Waylon Krieger |
| Income | |
| Net Worth [approx.] | $15 million |
| Social Media | |
| @officialrobbykrieger | |
| @OfficialRobbyKrieger | |
| @officialkrieger | |
| YouTube | Visit Now |
Early Life & Biography
Robby Krieger was born on January 8, 1946, in Los Angeles. Krieger was first exposed to music through his father’s marching band recordings when he was very young, and at the age of seven, he became enthralled by Sergei Prokofiev’s orchestral piece for children, Peter and the Wolf, but while his exuberance was dashed when he accidentally broke the record by sitting on it.
He first heard rock & roll on the radio, listening to early classics by Fats Domino, the Platters, and Elvis Presley. Krieger began taking trumpet lessons when he was ten years old, but soon ran out of steam in the instrument and attempted to train himself to play blues tunes on the piano.
He began learning to play the guitar when he was 17 years old and attended a private school in Menlo Park, California. A year later, while on vacation in Puerto Vallarta, he purchased a Mexican flamenco guitar.
For a few months, Krieger underwent flamenco lessons and began mixing blues, folk, and jazz songs into his repertoire. He was proficient enough to join a jug band called the Back Bay Chamber Pot Terriers with his classmates before graduating from high school.
Family & Parents
Krieger was born into a Jewish household in Los Angeles, California. His engineer father liked classical music, whereas his mother liked “Frank Sinatra and stuff like that.” The first album that captivated him was Peter and the Wolf.
Krieger is married to Lynn Veres Krieger, an American television personality who is recognized as the “wife of Robby of The Doors.” After dating for four years, the couple married in 1972.
Waylon Krieger, their only kid, is their blessing. Waylon Jennings is an aspiring actor and accomplished musician who is presently the lead vocalist for the Robby Krieger Band, which includes former Doors guitarist Robby Krieger.
Education
In Menlo Park, California, Krieger attended Menlo School. He went on to the University of California, Santa Barbara, to study.
Robby Krieger’s Career
In 1965, Krieger joined the Doors. He joined as a guitarist alongside Ray Manzarek on keyboards, John Densmore on drums, and Jim Morrison on vocals. Morrison, the Doors’ frontman, observed Krieger playing bottleneck guitar during an early session and was blown away.
He was so taken aback that he demanded that the method be used on every tune on their debut album. Robby’s finger-style technique to the electric guitar, his diverse musical tastes, and his imaginative songwriting helped the Doors become a popular rock band in the 1960s.
At the Kinnara School of Music in Los Angeles, he received his guitar and musical skills from Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar. He sang lead vocals with the Doors on occasion, for example, in the song “Runnin’ Blue,’ ‘ when his voice can be plainly heard.
Krieger also led the singing on the last two Doors albums, Other Voices, and Full Circle, which have been recorded after Morrison went dead. In 1971, Robby, Ray, and John formed a trio after the death of their colleague.
Before the Doors disbanded in 1973, they issued two additional albums. Despite their split, they reunited a few years later to compose poetry music, which Morrison recorded shortly before his death. An American Prayer, a collection of poetry music, was released in 1978.
After the Doors broke up in 1973, Krieger and Densmore created the Butts Band. He had moderate success as a jazz-fusion guitarist in the 1970s and 1980s, with albums such as Versions (1982), Robby Krieger (1985), and No Habla (1986) and (1989).
Krieger collaborated with rock artist Jim Evans to produce an album package for his debut solo release, Robbie Krieger & Friends, in 1977.
Krieger was featured on four tracks on the Acid Casualties’ Panic Station album in 1982 (“Shadow Street,” “Solid Sound,” “Armies of the Sun,” and “She’s a Lost Soul”).
Krieger founded the ‘Robby Krieger Organization’ with Skip Van Winkle (electric organ, organ pedal bass) and Dale Alexander in the early 1990s (drums, backing vocals).
In 1991, Krieger founded the Robby Krieger Band, which also included his son Waylon Krieger on guitar, Berry Oakley Jr. on bass, Dale Alexander on keyboards, and Ray Mehlbaum on drums (drums).
Between 1991 and 1998, the band toured North America and Europe. Krieger released Cinematix in 2000, a totally instrumental fusion album with Billy Cobham and Edgar Winter as guests.
In 2002, Krieger and Manzarek regrouped with Cult vocalist Ian Astbury as the “Doors of the 21st Century.” (On the compilation album Stoned Immaculate: The Music of The Doors, Astbury did a solo performance of “Touch Me” and a cover of “Wild Child” with the Cult.)
Krieger has collaborated on a variety of tribute projects coordinated by Billy Sherwood and has played guitar on a couple of tunes by Blue Oyster Cult.
Daryl Hall’s weekly performance livestream From Daryl’s House included Krieger and Ray Manzarek as special guests in April 2009.
Robby Krieger toured with the Roadhouse Rebels in May 2012, a trio side-project featuring original founders Particle’s (and Rich Robinson’s keyboardist) Steve Molitz (Hammond organ, keyboards), and Oingo Boingo/John Mutaytor’s Avila (bass), but with two additional musicians, the Black Crowes’ Rich Robinson (guitar/vocals) and Rich Robinson’s drummer Joe Magistro.
Just on Fuel album Puppet Strings, Krieger is featured. At the Beacon Theater on December 31, 2013, Krieger performed with Gov’t Mule, a Southern rock band (New York City).
Krieger threw out the first pitch during a Dodgers ballgame in Los Angeles in July 2017.
Krieger accompanied Alice in Chains onstage at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on August 29, 2018, to wrap out their sold-out show with a rendition of their smash song “Rooster.”
Krieger’s solo album, The Ritual Begins At Sundown, was released on August 14, 2020. Krieger was announced as a headliner inside the Asian Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on September 10, 2020, alongside Maki Mae.
During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020, Krieger began uploading guitar instructions for different Doors songs to the band’s official YouTube page, which by December of that year had amassed hundreds of thousands of views.
Set the Night on Fire: Living, Dying, and Playing Guitar With the Doors, co-written by author and musician Jeff Penalty Alulis, was released on October 12, 2021.
Some Guitars that Robby Used
Throughout his tenure with the Doors, Robby used a number of electric guitar types, including the following:
- Gibson SG Special, 1964
- National ‘Town & Country’ in 1958 (Model 1104)
- Gibson SG Special, 1967
- Gibson SG Standard, 1968
- Gibson Les Paul Custom (‘Black Beauty’) from 1954
- Gibson SG Standard in Black
Relationship, Wife & Children
Robby started dating with Lynn Krieger in 1968 and after four years they married in 1972. She is an American dancer. In 1973 they gave birth to their son, Waylon Krieger. Their son is also a Guitarist as well as an Actor.
Net Worth
As of 2022, Robby’s net worth is expected to be $15 million dollars. This includes his property, funds, and earnings. His main source of income comes from his work as a guitarist and songwriter.
Krieger has amassed a large wealth from numerous sources of income, yet he likes to live a humble lifestyle.
Interesting Facts about Robby Krieger
- Since he was a teenager, he has been a blues enthusiast.
- He was once a member of a jug band.
- “Light My Fire” was the very first song he ever wrote.
- With a black eye, he appeared on The Smothers Brothers Show.
- He and John Densmore collaborated on an album with The Comfortable Chair.
- Elvis Presley, David Bowie, and famous promoter Bill Graham are all Rock & Roll Hall of Famers with the same birthday.
- His Gibson SG guitar was connected to 54 acoustic amps at the Hollywood Bowl in 1968, the most ever built on one stage.
- In 1993, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of The Doors).
Read More: Eddie Van Halen | Jeff Porcaro
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robby_Krieger
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471211/
https://robbykrieger.com/#x-content-band-3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Doors_(album)
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