SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL (SSMF) organizers are excitedly looking forward to Thursday, when the fifth annual three-day music festival--taking place on West Hollywood’s  SUNSET STRIP Thursday, August 16 through Saturday, August 18--will celebrate the music and legacy of THE DOORS.

THE DOORS--organist RAY MANZAREK, guitarist ROBBY KRIEGER, drummer JOHN DENSMORE and late singer JIM MORRISON

The festival will kick off with an exclusive VIP event honoring the iconic Sunset Strip band on August 16, which will feature an all-star band celebrating THE DOORS, and will conclude with an all-day street fest on Saturday, August 18. 

MARILYN MANSON will headline the outdoor street fest, which will also feature performances by THE OFFSPRING, STEVE AOKI, BAD RELIGION, very special guest BLACK LABEL SOCIETY,FAR EAST MOVEMENT, DE LA SOUL, DEAD SARA, DAS RACIST, THE MOWGLI’S and more. 

Many of the artists will celebrate THE DOORS by performing their take on some of THE DOORS’ legendary songs.

The venues within the street festival closure--The Roxy Theatre, Whisky A Go-Go and Key Club--will also host full lineups from more than 50 bands throughout the day.

Also performing at the House of Blues Sunset Strip, The Roxy Theatre, Viper Room, Key Club and Whisky A Go-Go during SSMF 2012 are RZA, Hank III, Peter Murphy, Matt Skiba, Mickey Avalon, James Ingram and many more. 

Tickets are on sale now via TicketWeb (TicketWeb.com/SSMF).

A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit IMPACT DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT CENTER in Pasadena, CA., which has been treating individuals struggling with the powerful force of addiction since 1969.

Impact is a residential treatment community for men and women from all walks of life and has outpatient clinics, transitional housing and in-custody programs throughout L.A. County.

Impact offers programs to everyone from the roadie to the rock star, with their simple and effective no-nonsense approach to substance abuse treatment.  For more information, go to http://www.impacthouse.com.

MARILYN MANSON will headline the outdoor street fest at Sunset Strip Music Festival.

As in years past, Sunset Boulevard will be closed to traffic between Doheny Drive and San Vicente Boulevard and transformed into a premier concert destination with two outdoor stages, beer gardens, an artist autograph tent, an outdoor VIP rooftop lounge, silent disco, VIP Lounge at On The Rox, food trucks and interactive experiences.

“We are happy to bring another amazing and diverse lineup to the boulevard as we celebrate the music and legacy of one of The Sunset Strip’s most influential artists, The Doors,” noted SSMF executive director Todd Steadman.

“We’re also excited to mark the fifth year of the music festival. SSMF is a homegrown, not-for-profit festival that continues to grow each year. It is shaped by a team of venue owners who partner each year to create a unifying event that celebrates The Sunset Strip and the community of musicians and music fans it has fostered. We look forward to seeing past attendees and welcoming new fans to this year’s event.”

THE DOORS--organist RAY MANZAREK, guitarist ROBBY KRIEGER, drummer JOHN DENSMORE and late singer JIM MORRISON--have earned worldwide notoriety for being one of the most influential rock groups of all time.

With an intoxicating, genre-blending sound, provocative and uncompromising songs, and the mesmerizing power of singer Jim Morrison's poetry and presence, THE DOORS had a transformative impact not only on popular music but on popular culture.

BAD RELIGION will also appear the the Sunset Strip Music Festival.

The band was formed in Venice, Calif., and remains a vital piece to the legacy and history of The Sunset Strip. It was on The Strip that THE DOORS got their start at the London Fog before moving down the street to perform as the house band at the Whisky A Go-Go.

A show at the Whisky in August 1966 helped them land a deal with Elektra Records, which would propel the band into international music icons.

Jim Morrison famously urinated on the bar at Barney's Beanery, his favorite hangout, and his last United States residence is in West Hollywood's Mic City area on Norton Avenue - and commemorated wth a brass plaque. It has been the subject of many historical tour.

Jim Morrison’s arrest and (later) conviction for public indecency after a Miami concert launched the activist career of Anita Bryant, hitherto a spokeswoman for the Florida Citrus Commission.

Ms. Bryant, who would later become an staunch opponent of gay rights, took center stage as socially conservative Floridians and their celebrity supporters spoke out against the counterculture at a massive "Rally for Decency" held at Miami's Orange Bowl on March 23, 1969.

"The Doors are honored to be celebrated by the magical, legendary Strip,” says RAY MANZAREK.  “A great leap forward from the Summer Of Love to today. What a great time we're going to have! The Sunset Strip. Live bands, loud music, Rock and Roll. It's the ‘60s all over again, and everyone is welcome. Dancing in the streets. Joy, Love, Peace.  

“And we want to get it all together just One - More - TIME! Could this be the beginning of the new Golden Age? Let it be so."  

ROBBY KRIEGER says, "It's a thrill to be honored by The Sunset Strip Music Festival this year. Venice was our home, but The Doors lived and came of age on the Sunset Strip. It's exciting to see that the legacy we helped create is still alive and thriving today!"  

JOHN DENSMORE adds, "The Sunset Strip in the ‘60s was the incubation canal for an entire renaissance in music, and its impact is still with us.  The Doors are proud to be honored this year at the 5th annual SSMF celebration."

Black Label Society will appear as a special guest.

Tickets for SSMF 2012 are on sale beginning today at TicketWeb and are free of additional ticketing fees. Ticket options include general admission August 18 street festival ticket for $75 and VIP options for $135, which includes access to the rooftop VIP area with views of the West stage, VIP areas in the beer garden and venues, access to VIP lounge On The Rox, a separate entrance and additional perks.

A very limited number of three-day VIP passes will also be available for $250. These special passes include access to THE DOORS celebration on Thursday, August 16, VIP access to the August 18 street festival and entrance to all of the Sunset Strip Venues on August 16, 17 and 18--House of Blues, The Roxy Theatre, Viper Room, Whisky A Go-Go and Key Club--pending capacity.

Previous SSMF performers have included Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue, The Smashing Pumpkins, Slash featuring Fergie, Public Enemy, Common, Bush, LMFAO, Kid Cudi, Neon Trees, Matt & Kim, Cobra Starship and She Wants Revenge, among others. 

Highlights from SSMF 2011--which drew a festival record of 15,000 music fans from Southern California and beyond--can be seen here:http://bit.ly/SSMF11vid.

Attendees traveling to SSMF can also enjoy a special offer on Virgin America flights to Los Angeles between August 13 and 21, when they book online at: http://www.virginamerica.com/vx/booking/ssmf.html?cid=PRO_338. 

SSMF2012’s proud supporting sponsors include Virgin America, Jack Daniel’s, Gibson Guitar, Bud Light, Monster Energy Drink, Los Angeles Hornburg Range Rover and Land Rover on The Sunset Strip, Glaceau Vitaminwater, Mondrian, 98.7fm, TicketWeb, City of West Hollywood, West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau and Clear Channel Outdoor.

Street fest/event production provided by Swing House Hollywood.

Festival creative provided by Signature Creative.

For the latest SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL news, visit www.sunsetstripmusicfestival.com, like www.facebook.com/sunsetstripmusicfestival and follow https://twitter.com/#!/SSMF.