The Los Angeles house where The Doors guitarist Robby Krieger wrote the band's psychedelic rock song “Light My Fire” was destroyed in the Palisades Fire.
Krieger – a founding member of the legendary Los Angeles band – wrote the lyrics to the classic song in the living room of his parents' house in Pacific Palisades in 1966.
The Alma Real Drive property, owned by Claudio and Kathleen Boltiansky since 2000, was one of more than 5,000 buildings consumed by the ruthless Palisades Fire, which carved a path of destruction through many of Los Angeles County's most attractive neighborhoods.
The couple told the Los Angeles Times they were devastated by the widespread devastation caused by the fire.
“Losing our home would be one thing, but the biggest loss we feel is our entire community,” Kathleen, 56, told the outlet. “It will never be the same.”
The couple said they plan to rebuild the house as their “forever home,” and said they believe the community will bounce back as well.
“Pali Strong is about community, and community is not the houses or the stores. It's the people. We pray that comes back,” Claudio said.
The Boltianski family also sought to set the record straight for the Times, that the neighborhood — much of which was reduced to ashes by the ferocious fire — is more than just an upper-class area.
“The misconception people have about barriers is that they think everyone is rich,” Claudio said.
“People need to know that this is not Beverly Hills, which has always been expensive. Before the 2000s, Palisades was a very affordable neighborhood like any part of Los Angeles.
“Light My Fire” was released in January 1967 on The Doors' eponymous debut album and spent three weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It is considered among the first and most important examples of the psychedelic rock genre.
