History YMMV / TheDoors

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: Some people find this band's music to be incredibly boring, and Morrison insufferably pretentious. (Of course, they more or less ''[[TropeMakers invented]]'' [[TropeMakers the concept of a rock band being pretentious]], so they're easy to blame.) Likewise, they more or less invented (or at least popularized) the idea of a rock and roll front man being deliberately as controversial and provocative as possible. No matter who your favorite example may be, Music/OzzyOsbourne, [[Music/JohnLydon Johnny Rotten]], Music/AliceCooper, Music/MarilynManson, whoever, Morrison was the first to go that route.

* HesJustHiding: Quite a few people believe (or ''want'' to believe) that Jim Morrison faked his death so he could get away from fame. Some say he now writes poetry under one or more assumed names, and there are even conspiracy theories that he ended up as a secret agent.

%%** "Father?" "Yes, son?" "[[Main/OedipusComplex I want to kill you.]] Mother? I WANT TO..... [[spoiler:[[Main/CarefulWithThatAxe RAVAWJSJAHHYEAHYH COME ON BABY]]]]"

* FountainOfMemes: "Light My Fire" survived far beyond its original context, being covered many times and sometimes by very unusual musicians. There was the Latin-flavored José Feliciano version (which rivaled the original in popularity and radio play), a 1930's-style "cabaret" version by a then-elderly Creator/MaeWest (!), a slower BaroquePop version by Music/TheFreeDesign, and a disco mix in the late 1970's by Ami Stewart. Classical pianist Friedrich Gulda even wrote a thirteen minute theme and variations piece based on the song and also performed a jazz trio cover of it, complete with drum solo.

* FaceOfTheBand: Jim Morrison, as much as he resented the implication. He once refused to go on stage after they were announced as "Jim Morrison and The Doors". While Morrison was the principal lyricist, the writer's credit for the music was generally given to "The Doors", or "Densmore / Krieger / Manzarek / Morrison", with few exceptions. Aside from the debut album and their first greatest hits album (''13'') where Morrison was prominent ([[ExecutiveMeddling a decision the band had no say in and upset Morrison]]), most other cover photos present the whole band equally or else Morrison sitting down to make himself look shorter. His status as the face was cemented after he died, as posthumous compilations usually just feature Morrison on the cover.

* SignatureSong: "Light My Fire", "Break On Through (To the Other Side)", "The End", "Riders On the Storm".

* FaceOfTheBand: Jim Morrison, as much as he resented the implication. He once refused to go on stage after they were announced as "Jim Morrison and The Doors". While Morrison was the principal lyricist, the writer's credit for the music was generally given to "The Doors", or "Densmore / Krieger / Manzarek / Morrison", with few exceptions. Aside from the debut album and their first greatest hits album (''13'') where Morrison was prominent ([[ExecutiveMeddling a decision the band had no say in and upset Morrison]]), most other cover photos present the whole band equally or else Morrison sitting down to make himself look shorter. However, posthumous compilations usually just feature Morrison on the cover.

* FaceOfTheBand: Actively defied despite otherwise being one of the straightest examples of this trope. Jim Morrison was ''clearly'' the face, but boy, did he resent the implication. Once refused to go on stage after they were announced as "Jim Morrison and The Doors". While Morrison was the principal lyricist, the writer's credit for the music was generally given to "The Doors", or "Densmore / Krieger / Manzarek / Morrison", with few exceptions. Aside from the debut album and their first greatest hits album (''13'') where Morrison was prominent ([[ExecutiveMeddling a decision the band had no say in and upset Morrison]]), most other cover photos present the whole band equally or else Morrison sitting down to make himself look shorter. Played straight with most recent compilations. They usually just feature Morrison on the cover.

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* FirstInstallmentWins: Their first album is considered their masterpiece.

* HeAlsoDid: Morrison was an accomplished poet, and some collections of his poetry published postmortem became bestsellers.

* HarsherInHindsight: After hearing that Music/JanisJoplin and Music/JimiHendrix had died at 27, Morrison told friends "You're drinking with number three". Needless to say, he was right. He also happened to die two years to the day after a fourth member of the "Club": Music/BrianJones of Music/TheRollingStones. Making the poem he wrote for Brian a lot eerier.

* MemeticMutation:
** "I am the lizard king. ''I can do anything.''"
** "Come on baby, light my fire!"
** "Father?" "Yes, son?" "[[Main/OedipusComplex I want to kill you.]] Mother? I WANT TO..... [[spoiler:[[Main/CarefulWithThatAxe RAVAWJSJAHHYEAHYH COME ON BABY]]]]"
*** "And he... [[MundaneMadeAwesome WALKED ON DOWN THE HALL!]]"
** "BREAK ON THROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE, BREAK ON THROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE...!"
** "Well, I woke up this morning and I got myself a beer!"[[note]]But then he sings it again, which means he actually got two beers. Also, that should be pronounced BEE-YAH. Thank you.[[/note]]