Classic Rock, Roll Of Honour – The Doors announced as recipients of the Inspiration Award

roll of honourThe 10th annual Classic Rock Roll Of Honour presented by Orange Amplification today announced that Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductee The Doors are this year’s recipient of the Inspiration Award. The all-star November 4 event will be hosted by multi-platinum Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Sammy Hagar and will air on AXS TV in December.

The honour will be presented on the night to The Doors’ guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore. Previous winners include: Rory Gallagher, Jon Lord (Deep Purple, Whitesnake), Steve Marriott (Small Faces, Humble Pie), Ronnie James Dio, John Bonham (Led Zeppelin), Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd), Mick Ronson and Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy).

John Densmore and Robby Krieger, The Doors – “In 1965 and ’66, our brothers across the pond were making a lot of beautiful noise, and we attempted to create our own magical sound out here on the west coast. It’s really nice to see them now turning around, coming back here to L.A., and recognising what the four of us accomplished together on a beach in L.A. To receive this award on our own soil, from the Brits, is an honor, and we take it as a sign of respect, so, thank you, from us and on behalf of our fallen brothers, Jim and Ray.”

In celebration of The Doors accepting the Inspiration Award, Classic Rock are running an online reader-voted pole of the greatest Doors songs of all time – have your say – http://classicrock.teamrock.com/news/2014-10-02/vote-for-your-favourite-track-by-the-doors

The Doors are one of the most iconic and important bands of all time. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, they were recipients of a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 and have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But above all, it is their unique and unmistakable sound combined with powerful, scintillating and, quite frankly, mind-blowing live performances that make them rightful recipients of the 2014 Inspiration Award.

Intoxicating, provocative, uncompromising, mesmerizing, ground-breaking and poetic are just some of the superlatives that surround The Doors. Lead singer Jim Morrison is renowned by many as the greatest frontman of all time, and along with Robby Krieger, John Densmore and the late organist Ray Manzarek, this formidable Los Angeles four-piece created an unforgettable legacy.

The band recently announced the November 11 street date of a previously unreleased documentary film that was produced by the band. Titled ‘Feast of Friends’, the intimate and rare look at the explosive rock band is, after 45 years, finally being made available. Shelved due to lead singer Jim Morrison’s legal issues, the film was only ever seen at a few film festivals and was never completed. Doors Property, LLC and Eagle Rock Entertainment have painstakingly remastered the audio and video and compiled bonus footage as well, including an historic British documentary from 1968 called The Doors Are Open.

Classic Rock editor Siân Llewellyn says: “In the year that we bring the Classic Rock Roll Of Honour to Hollywood, it’s only fitting that we pay tribute to The Doors – one of the most quintessential Los Angeles bands of all time. The music Robby Kreiger and John Densmore made with Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek is some of rock’s most influential. It’s high time we honoured them, and this is the perfect time and place.”

Evan Haiman, AXS TV VP of music programming and production, says, “The 2014 Classic Rock Roll of Honour is destined to be one of the most ground-breaking events of the year, as music’s biggest names come together to honor one of the most iconic and influential bands of all-time. This eclectic lineup truly has something for everyone to enjoy, from up-and-coming acts and established favorites, to classic rock n’ roll royalty. Music fans cannot miss this historic night and we’re proud to be its official U.S. broadcast partner.”

As previously announced, multi-platinum Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Sammy Hagar will serve as this year’s host and voting is now open for the listener and fan-voted categories (list of nominees and link to vote below). Also announced is that this year’s recipient of the prestigious Living Legend Award will be Gregg Allman, one of rock’s most acclaimed and beloved icons.

Here is the list of nominees for this year’s listener and fan-voted categories:

Best New Band – awarded to the best new rock band
BlackWolf
Blues Pills
Deaf Havana
Massive
No Sinner
Purson
Royal Blood
The Cadillac Three
The Golden Grass
The Strypes

Band Of The Year – awarded to the most exciting rock band
Black Sabbath
The Black Keys
Guns N’ Roses
Iron Maiden
Metallica
Queen + Adam Lambert

Film Of The Year
Inside Llewyn Davis
Joe Bonamassa – Tour De Force: Live In London
Metallica – Through The Never
Rolling Stones – Sweet Summer Sun, Hyde Park Live
Supermensch – The Legend Of Shep Gordon
The Doors – R-Evolution

Album Of The Year
Augustines – Augustines
Black Stone Cherry – Magic Mountain
Bruce Springsteen – High Hopes
California Breed – California Breed
Judas Priest – Redeemer Of Souls
Motörhead – Aftershock
Pearl Jam – Lightning Bolt
Rival Sons – Great Western Valkyrie
The Black Keys – Turn Blue
The Temperance Movement – The Temperance Movement
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Hypnotic Eye
Wilko Johnson & Roger Daltrey – Going Back Home

Reissue Of The Year – awarded to the best-embellished reissue
The Beatles – The US Albums
Deep Purple – Made In Japan: Deluxe Edition
Kiss – 40th Anniversary Kissteria Vinyl boxset
Led Zeppelin – I, II and III Deluxe Editions
Pink Floyd – The Division Bell: 20th Anniversary Edition
Ramones – The Sire Years 1976-1981
Soundgarden – Superunknown: 20th Anniversary Edition
The Clash – Sound System boxset
Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat Super Deluxe boxset
Yes – The Studio Albums 1969-1987

Vote now at www.classicrockmagazine.com/awards. Voting closes on Wednesday, October 22.

About David Farrell

General Manager and 'THE' competition guy at planetmosh.com. Manager of The Goddanm Electric www.thegde.co.uk, Tour manager for Serpentine, and ex-general Dogsbody at Hammerfest.co.uk. Media partner to numerous bands. Also takes photos, writes reviews and likes classic rock, with a touch of thrash to get the blood flowing.