Danny Sugerman

Danny Sugerman was an American music promoter, manager, author and political activist. He was best known as the manager of The Doors during the latter part of their career and as the author of books on the band and its late lead singer, Jim Morrison.

Born in Los Angeles in 1954, Sugerman was raised in the city’s Pico-Robertson neighborhood and attended Fairfax High School, where his interests in the counterculture developed. While still in school, he volunteered at Doors frontman Jim Morrison's home studio and began helping the band with their footwork, which eventually led to him becoming their manager.

Sugerman also took on several other management roles, such as helping to launch the band Van Halen and promoting punk icon John Lydon’s band Public Image Ltd (PiL). He also produced a documentary about the life of Doors’ lead guitarist, Robby Krieger. Through his managerial work, Sugerman gained thousands of admirers, especially amongst fans of the “L.A. scene” of the 1960s.

As an author, Sugerman wrote several books, which primarily focused on the musical legacy of The Doors. His first major publication in 1980 was No One Here Gets Out Alive – a biography of Morrison which Sugerman wrote in collaboration with Jerry Hopkins. This book is generally regarded as the definitive source for all matters related to Morrison’s life, as well as the definitive exploration of the creative journey of The Doors as a band.

In 1987, Sugerman published his first solo book, The Doors of Perception – A Biography. This book explored and analyzed the whole Doors experience from their beginnings as a locally-based band up through their break-up in 1974. In it Sugerman offered an overview of Morrison’s ever-evolving relationship with music, the band and the counterculture of the sixties.

In 1989, Sugerman wrote Wonderland Avenue – Tales of Glamour and Excess in Hollywood. This book was a fan-favorite and detailed in-depth stories of the excess and glamour experienced in Los Angeles in the late seventies and early eighties, as seen through Sugerman’s eyes. It was a wild ride, often containing stories of drugs, sex and excess, which readers found incredibly entertaining and fascinating.

In addition to these books, Sugerman wrote liner notes for a 1992-The Doors album entitled Doors 25th Anniversary New & Unusual Mixes. He also wrote essays for such magazines as Goldmine, Circus and RockExpress.

Sugerman also heavily campaigned against racism and organized fundraising events in support of various causes. He wrote for The Progressive, Blackbook and The Nation. Sugerman was involved in various social and political issues and organized several fundraising events for organizations like Amnesty International and the ACLU.

Sugerman passed away in 2005 due to lung cancer. Even in death, his legacy remains a source of admiration, especially amongst Door’s fans. He was awarded a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 by Magnetic Magazine for his life’s work.

The impact that Danny Sugerman had on the world of music and literature is remarkable and will be remembered for generations to come. He was a true pioneer of cultural activism, management and literary work. Through his iconic books and contributions to social and political causes, Sugerman made a lasting impact that will never be forgotten.