Back in 1970, The Doors delivered one of their best albums, Morrison Hotel, with the album cover shot at the same establishment. Right after Christmas 2024 (Dec. 26), the four-story building was significantly destroyed by fire.
The reports note that the former hotel burned for almost two hours before over 100 firefighters controlled the situation. It has been vacant for more than a decade, but there were some people inside who escaped without injuries.
It is also worth noting that photographer Henry Diltz who took the photo claimed that the band didn’t have permission to take the picture, so they waited until the front lobby clerk was called away from their desk.
Morrison Hotel was The Doors’ fifth studio album and showcased a return to their blues rock style and was largely seen as a return to form for the band. The group entered Elektra Sound Recorders in Los Angeles in November 1969 to record the album which is divided into two separately titled sides, namely: “Hard Rock Café” and “Morrison Hotel”. Blues rock guitar pioneer Lonnie Mack and Ray Neapolitan also contributed to the album as session bassists.
