This is a popular show from our archives. We are re-dropping it because on this week in 1971 (on July 3) Jim Morrison was found dead in mysterious circumstances. As a tribute to Morrison and given that it is July 4th week, we are re-broadcasting the story of one of the most influential American bands in history.

You will taken from the mid-1960s through the early ‘70s Los Angeles, when a band would emerge that changed all of the rules of music. Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined joins us to tell the mesmerizing story of a band fronted by an electrifying, handsome poet named Jim Morrison. The Doors relentlessly challenged, confronted and inspired fans with their provocative songs and performances. In this episode you'll learn:

1) About a shocking highway incident that changed the lead singer forever
2) The strange origins of how The Doors formed in Venice, California
3) The incredible secret that nobody knew about the Vietnam War and Jim Morrison
4) Why The Doors were banned from radio and concert appearances in several US states
5) The reasons for the arrest of a key member of the band during various concert performances
6) How the band played a key role in the punk music movement

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1. Download the Official Garage to Stadiums The Doors playlist on Apple Music or Spotify
2. Visit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on The Doors, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.

Guest Bio
Jim Cherry is the author of The Doors Examined and was formally a columnist for the Rants, Raves and Rock and Roll Magazine radio show. He is also a novelist, having written several novels, short stories and poems.

While other 1960's bands warbled on about peace and love, The Doors explored the dark side of human nature with songs like People are Strange, The End, LA Woman, and Strange Days. They also possessed one of the most electrifying figures in rock history, Jim Morrison, their lead singer who was an incredibly well-read individual, and also a poet. Morrison possessed an intoxicating blend of charisma, good looks and a curiosity for the dark side of life that combined with the band's mesmerizing music, often forcing audiences to straddle that fine balance between jubilation and mayhem. Accordingly, Morrison became the very embodiment of 1960's rebellion.

The Doors have sold over 100 million albums worldwide, and have been the inspiration for many bands that followed in various genres like alternative rock and punk.

A top 5% of podcasts in the world, Garage to Stadiums is a podcast for true music fans — the ones who want more than just headlines and hype. This show is for listeners who care about the full story behind the artists: their childhoods, musical influences, early gigs, personal battles, journey to stadium-level fame and the drama in between.

Why are we different? In each episode host Dave Anthony features guests who know their stuff and bring real insights from their time with the performers — from respected rock journalists to documentary filmmakers.

If you want smarter music commentary and behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else, subscribe now and get your backstage pass to music history.

Explore one of the most influential figures in modern music history - Brian Wilson leader of The Beach Boys. Known for layered orchestrations and an innovative approach to studio recording, Brian influenced artists like The Beatles, Elton John, Queen, The Eagles and more. Incredibly, Brian created one of rock’s great lost albums - Smile begun in 1966 - but it was shelved for 37 years. Decades later... our guest today, David Leaf, helped bring it to the world. You'll learn:

1) Brian's abusive upbringing and how it shaped him and his music
2) How 5 teenagers went to global stardom 6 months after forming
3) How Brian influenced The Beatles musical direction
4) The incredible story of how Brian overcame a corrupt psychologist controlling his life
5) How our guest helped rescue a "lost album" long anticipated in rock history

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Guest Bio
David Leaf is the author of Smile: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Brian Wilson, chronicling Brian Wilson’s lost album masterpiece which was shelved for 37 years before release. He also directed the Brian documentary Beautiful Dreamer and teaches music history at UCLA. David has won a Peabody award for powerful and intelligent story-telling.

Billy Joel is the fourth best-selling solo artist in U.S. history, yet most fans aren’t familiar with the extremely challenging and fascinating journey he took from little Jewish boy piano prodigy on Long Island to rock and pop icon of the 1970s and ’80s. In this episode:

1. How Billy's broken home challenged his childhood
2. His intense battles with mental illness and addiction
3. The part-time job that led to one of his biggest hits
4. How his wife became a key part of charting his career
5. Overcoming a corrupt manager that threatened his livelihood
6. The resurrection of his career with one of the most successful set of gigs ever

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Guest Bio
Fred Truers, author of Billy Joel: The Definitive Biography interviewed extensively a variety of people in Joel's circle to create a compelling and honest portrait of the man. Fred is a long-time feature writer for such publications as Rolling Stone and the LA Times.

Tom Petty has one of the most popular and recognizable song catalogs and a legion of fans of all ages. Hear how Tom climbed his way to the top despite a difficult childhood, a series of heartbreaking music failures, and even a lawsuit that ended up changing the entire music industry forever. In this episode:

• How Tom overcame a difficult childhood in Florida
• How Tom participated in events as a teenager with Lynryd Skynryd and the Allman Brothers
• The details behind the groundbreaking Petty lawsuit that changed the music industry forever
• Why Tom was chosen by Bob Dylan & George Harrison into a supergroup
• How Tom's relationship with Stevie Nicks turned into a successful music formula
• The interesting second career as a cartoon voice on a popular show
• The details behind Tom's battle with a heroin addiction

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Guest Bio - Warren Zanes

Warren is the author of Petty: The Biography, a New York Times bestseller. He is also an Oscar-winning and Grammy-nominated producer of music documentaries. Earlier in his career, Warren was a member of the Del Fuegos rock band, recording three albums with Warner Brothers. The band served as an opening act for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on a few tours.

After his time in music, Warren earned a PhD in Visual and Cultural Studies and now teaches at NYU. He has also served as Vice President of Education at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was a producer on the Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom, which explores the lives of backup singers. His book on Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska album is the basis for an upcoming biopic starring Jeremy Allen White, where Warren also serves as a producer.

From music to hairstyles to the very fabric of pop culture, The Beatles changed everything. Having interviewed several Beatles himself, guest best-selling author Bob Spitz, (The Beatles: The Biography) shares astonishing, never-before-heard insights into their journey, influence, and the untold stories that shaped the most influential band of all time. Don’t miss this deep dive into Beatlemania like you’ve never heard before! You'll learn:

• The Beatles’ extremely difficult childhoods—and how it affected their personalities
• The fateful meeting that sparked John and Paul’s teenage friendship
• The wild tour debauchery they kept hidden—until now
• The unexpected influences that shaped their sound
• The Beatles & Bob Dylan’s game-changing impact on each other
• The "biggest mistake that led to their breakup", according to insider Bob Spitz
• John Lennon’s near-tragic spiral into hard drugs and its effect on the group
• How a rock-n-roll outsider created The Beatles’ image

Guest Bio:
Bob Spitz is a journalist and author of the million-selling book The Beatles: The Biography. Early in his career, Bob was a rock insider as manager for Bruce Springsteen and Elton John. He also authored a New York Times best-seller on Led Zeppelin and joined us as a guest on our Story of Led Zeppelin episode.

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Rewind to the early 1990s, when a high school dropout from Aberdeen, Washington, turned his angst into anthems. This is the story of Nirvana—a band that took Seattle-based grunge from garage floors to global stages - with a rebellious yet melodic sound that resonated with a generation.

In this episode, we uncover:

• How Kurt Cobain felt like a fish out of water in his small-town upbringing
• The two legendary bands that inspired Nirvana’s signature sound
• A hidden clue about Kurt in the Smells Like Teen Spirit video you likely missed...
• A previous surprising clue about Kurt in their first-ever demo single
• Bassist Krist Novoselic’s unheralded backstage role in the band's success
• How Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl became Nirvana’s seventh—and final—drummer
• Who the hit song About a Girl was really written for....

About our Guest
Michael Azerrad is the author of The Amplified Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana, an extensively illuminated version of his classic 1993 Nirvana biography Come as You Are, named as one of the 50 greatest rock books ever written by the UK's prestigious music magazine Q. Michael was also a former contributing editor for Rolling Stone, and he wrote the famous Rolling Stone cover story on Nirvana from 1992 in which Kurt wears a homemade T-shirt that says "Corporate Magazines Still Suck".

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