The Doors' Surviving Members Recreate 'Riders On The Storm' With William Barton, Sierra Ferrell & More

"Seeing musicians from different cultures come together around this song means a lot," said The Doors' guitarist Robby Krieger.

Sierra Ferrell

The Doors’ surviving members, John Densmore and Robby Krieger, have recreated their beloved hit single, Riders On The Storm, for the global non-profit organisation, Playing For Change.

Recreating the song for Playing For Change’s Song Around The World series, Densmore and Krieger were joined by more than 20 musicians and dancers from across the globe, showcasing The Doors’ enduring legacy.

In the video, directed by Playing For Change founder Mark Johnson, Densmore and Krieger honoured their bandmates who have passed away: legendary keyboardist Ray Manzarek and iconic singer Jim Morrison. Celebrating The Doors’ 60th anniversary, the new take of Riders On The Storm reimagines the song in a whole new light.

Additional musicians in the video include First Nations musician William Barton on yidaki, singer Sierra Ferrell, who shares vocal duties with Lukas Nelson, Foo Fighters’ keyboardist Rami Jaffee, the Lakota Drum Group, and many others. You can check out the video and full list of participating artists below.

The new release of Riders On The Storm coincides with the first Playing For Change Foundation music program established in the US, while also in partnership with the Indigenous-led non-profit organisation, First Peoples Fund.

“Vocally, Lukas Nelson filled Jim Morrison’s leather pants quite well!” said Densmore, per Consequence of Sound. “[Late Doors keyboardist] Ray [Manzarek] would be proud of the way Rami Jaffee ‘channelled’ the piano solo. Mark Johnson masterminded a beautiful video.”

Krieger added, “Seeing musicians from different cultures come together around this song means a lot. Playing For Change is doing important work to unite people across the globe.”

Riders On The Storm was released in June 1971. The second single from the band’s sixth studio album, L.A. Woman, it was the last song that Jim Morrison recorded before his sudden passing in Paris on 3 July 1971.

Inspired by the country song (Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend, written by Stan Jones and recorded by Vaughn Monroe, Riders On The Storm is recognised as a psychedelic rock song with elements of jazz and art rock throughout, while also being a precursor to gothic music.