The Doors’ first regular gig was at the London Fog, a small nightclub on Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip. The band held a residency there from February to May 1966, shortly after forming.
The engagement was modest: the club was considered rundown, audiences were often small, and the band reportedly earned only a few dollars per night. Even so, the London Fog gave Jim Morrison valuable experience performing in front of live listeners, since he was still developing his stage presence.
The group also used the residency to shape its material. Songs such as “The End” and “Light My Fire” were worked out and expanded onstage before appearing in more polished forms on the band’s debut album. Some of the earliest known Doors live recordings were later issued on London Fog 1966.
The common confusion is with the Whisky a Go Go, where The Doors later became the house band and gained crucial industry attention. Their London Fog residency came first; Jac Holzman of Elektra Records saw them at the Whisky in August 1966 and signed them soon afterward.