In 1968, screams could be heard in a recording studio in Los Angeles by The Doors lead singer Jim Morrison, but the screaming was not part of a song.
Morrison had just learned that his other band members were about to let Buick use the band’s hit song “Light My Fire” in a television commercial for it’s new fuel efficient sports coupe, the Opel.
It’s corporate! You guys just made a pact with the devil! shouted Morrison, The Doors keyboardist described in his biography of the group.
The band, from the beginning had pledged they would split everything four ways and all band decisions would be made based upon all four agreeing. If one said no, then it would not happen.
General Motors had met with the band while Morrison was in Europe and upon his return, the band wanted to run the idea by him. Well, if the deal went through Morrison warned, he’d smash a Buick to dust on stage … the band backed out of the deal.
Buick Didn’t Get The Song – But Used the Message in 1970
Fast Forward – The Corporate Message
This past Super Bowl included ads with the biggest names in rock including:
Queen “We Will Rock You” – Dodge Ram
Foreigner “I Want To Know What Love Is” – Toyota
Nirvana “All Apologies” – T-Mobile
Aerosmith “Dream On” – Kia
Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler Driving a Kia in a Super Bowl Ad
The Corporate Stage
Rock is alive and well on the corporate stage today. Celebrity Direct has hired and produced celebrity level rock bands for convention ending galas, award shows, client appreciation events and trade shows nationally and the trend continues. Hire a Rock Star
Foreigner’s Lou Gramm – Rock On The Corporate Stage Produced By Celebrity Direct Inc.
Coda
A number one on the charts in 1967, The Doors Light My Fire was their best selling song and took its place forever as a Rock ‘n Roll anthem. In 1968, Jose Feliciano put the song back on the charts with his flamenco guitar driven version.
After the Buick incident, Morrison referred to the other members of the group not as bandmates but as business partners.