The Doors come a knockin'
Nui Te Koha
02 Dec 04
THE Doors, one of the most influential
rock bands of all time, will play their first Australian shows in February.
And keyboardist Ray Manzarek predicts the ghost of their legendary frontman, Jim
Morrison, will be on stage for their show at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
"The last time we played Paris, oh my God, Jim was on stage with us. Jesus, you could feel him there," Manzarek, 60, told the Herald Sun yesterday.
"I am hoping he will join us for a gig or two in Australia."
Promoter Michael Chugg said the tour is historic.
"We never got to Australia," Manzarek said, "but then we barely got to Europe.
"That was difficult.
"It was a different time. Rock and roll and world travel wasn't going on back then."
Today The Doors comprise founding members Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger, and recruited singer Ian Astbury.
Manzarek is used to criticism about Astbury replacing the enigmatic Morrison.
"We knew the critics would say: 'How dare they play without Jim,' " he said.
"But it came down to this: does the guy who wrote Light My Fire (Krieger) and the keyboardist who put the band together with Jim Morrison, bring the music to all the fans out there and take it around the world one more time?
"Or do we stay at home? I knew what I wanted to do, and so did Robby. We wanted to take this music out there."
Astbury, former frontman of The Cult, was chosen for his voice and similarity to Morrison.
Manzarek said Astbury was respectful and not intimidated by Morrison's legacy.
"It requires a man with a lot of strength and a great deal of heart," he said.
Manzarek is also celebrating a legal victory. A jury found against former drummer John Densmore's lawsuit to stop Manzarek and Krieger touring as The Doors.
The Doors were formed in 1965. Drink and drug-ravaged Morrison died in 1971.
Their hits include Light My Fire, Riders On The Storm, The End and Love Me Two Times.
They will play at the Melbourne International Music Festival on February 26.
The tour includes Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.
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http://www.undercover.com.au/news/2004/dec04/20041202_doors.html
The Doors Added To Melbourne Music Festival
by Paul Cashmere 2 December 2004 Original members of The Doors, Ray Manzerek and Robby Krieger, will perform in Australia for the very first time in 2005 as The Doors of the 21st Century. The Doors of the 21st Century have been confirmed for the Melbourne International Music Festival in February 2005. Ian Astbury,, former lead singer of the Cult, is the vocalist for Doors of the 21st Century, taking the part of original singer Jim Morrison. The band once featured former Police drummer who replaced original drummer John Densmore who could not continue to perform with the band because of ill health. He found out he was out of the band after reading it in Billboard. He sued the band. Copeland lasted just one month and also sued the band, this time for $1million. The band had to change their name from The Doors to Doors of the 21st Century because of Densmore's legal action. Regardless of the name, The Doors of the 21st Century plays the music of The Doors. ""We are The Doors playing Doors songs, man. Light My Fire, Love Me Two Times, Break On Through To The Other Side, Love Her Madly, LA Women, Riders On The Storm. Everything!" says Manzerek. Tickets to the Melbourne International Music Festival
are less than $100 a day with early bird discounts available until December
17. return to Ida's LA Woman Confidential home page for more Doors news and reviews
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