Released as The Doors’ first single in the U.S., it only got to number-126, missing the Billboard Hot 100. Its failure paved the way for their next single, “Light My Fire,” to “break on through” for the band. “Break on Through” was the first single of The Doors’ career and, initially, a flop. Robbie Krieger recalls that the song’s signature guitar riff was something he kind of borrowed from another future Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.

“Tell you the truth, I got the idea for the whole beat of the song from a Paul Butterfield song — ‘Mellow Down Easy,’ I think that’s it, yeah. [Sings the riff] I’m sure he stole it from somewhere else, too, so I don’t care about that [Laughs]. And Butterfield was a friend of mine before he died, by the way. Great harp player.”

Tie-in: The third Isle of Wight Pop Festival got under way 50 years ago today (August 26th). The five-day event included what would be Jimi Hendrix‘s final U.K. appearance, The Doors, The Who, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Free, Jethro Tull and many more.