December 25, 2006     Glasgow pre-show story <> NYE Roundhouse schedule of events
The Herald ran a preview story today in anticipation of the return to the SECC in Glasgow of Riders On The Storm on this Friday night, December 29th.   read it

The Roundhouse in London has issued a schedule of events to ticket holders for the Riders On The Storm show there on New Years Eve.  Apparently not all ticket holders have received this info, and I have been asked to share it.  NYE Roundhouse schedule    (thanks, Mary-Beth)

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December 23, 2006     unconfirmed ROTS itinerary change <> several YouTube videos worth a look <> ROTS itinerary change confirmed
Riders On The Storm will be taking off next week for a 2-week tour around Europe, including New Years Eve at London's Roundhouse.   There is a possibility that the last show of that tour, January 15th in Athens, Greece is cancelled and replaced with a show in Valencia, Spain on January 14th.  Please note, this is UNCONFIRMED at this point.  Stay tuned.    (thanks, Mary-Beth)

'Ghost Riders On The Storm' by the California Guitar Trio is a nice blending of those two songs, now on YouTube.   To watch it, go here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W45HL7Dj0BI&mode=related&search=   (thanks, Tim)

Another interesting entry on YouTube is several minutes of Jim Morrison images morphing, set to 'Bird of Prey.'  Like I said, it is interesting!  To watch it, go here:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGenyAhiCG8   (thanks, Jochen)

Riders On The Storm management has confirmed that a show has been added in Valencia, Spain on Sunday, January 14th ... but the last show of that tour, scheduled for January 15th in Athens, Greece is cancelled.

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December 22, 2006     Mr. Mojo's Christmas 
Just in time for Christmas:  Mr. Mojo's Christmas by Michael Brian Case on YouTube ... I guess there are worse ways to waste 4 minutes, this is silly fun:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4baSntmh4w     (thanks, Gilles)

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December 21, 2006      Robby interview <> Tribaljazz review <> Jeff Jampol UCLA course <> Storymakers Studio opportunity
Robby Krieger gets quoted in an on-line story today from the Huntsville (Alabama) Times.   read it

John Densmore's Tribaljazz played at Santa Monica's Hear Music at the Starbucks on the Third Street Promenade.  A review of that performance appears in this week's L.A. City Beat.   read it

The Doors manager Jeff Jampol teaches a course called:  "The Music Business Now:  How It Really Works and the People and Events That Influence It" starting January 10th at UCLA, along with two other instructors.  For the full course description, go to:  http://www.uclaextension.edu/index.cfm?reg=S8128B&href=/courseListings/course_display/CourseDetails.cfm

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December 19, 2006      Doors suing Wolfgangs Vaults <> John on Latin rock mentoring show <> John interview in documentary <> Doors to get Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
The Doors, Led Zeppelin, the Grateful Dead and Carlos Santana are suing Wolfgang's Vaults over the memorabilia sales and streaming of performance footage claiming exploitations of the intellectual property and artistic success of the plaintiffs, who are described in the suit as "among the most legendary recording and performing artists of all time."   read story

John Densmore, Joan Jett, and Los Lobos are among the rock legends who will pair with up-and-coming Latino rock bands on a 30-minute TV show called 'Jammin on Sundays that launches on Si-TV in January.  read press release

John Densmore is one of the interviewees in "The Psychedelic Revolution", a 100-minute feature documentary and mini-series which explores the origin, flowering and long-term influence of psychedelia, a subculture that in the 1960s achieved a mass influence.  The movie is scheduled for release in Summer 2007.  read press release

The Doors are among the newest group of "Lifetime Achievement Award" honorees by The Recording Academy.  Other honorees named include Joan Baez, Maria Callas, Ornette Coleman, Booker T and the MGs, the Grateful Dead, and Bob Wills.  The Lifetime Achievement Award honors lifelong artistic contributions to the recording medium while the Trustees Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the industry in a non-performing capacity.  Formal acknowledgment of these special merit awards will be made at an invitation-only ceremony during GRAMMY Week, as well as during the 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards, which will be held at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007, and broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.   read press release

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December 17, 2006      John at Xmas
John Densmore is one of many whose interviews and greetings will be played on L.A.'s KLOS 95.5 on Christmas Eve, as part of their three hours of classic rock Christmas songs.   It begins at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve and replays at 10:00 a.m. on Christmas Day.   This is a nationally syndicated show.  For stations that will be broadcasting this programming, go to:  http://unclejoe.com/xmas06.html

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December 16, 2006      Rhino is 'sold out'
The Doors "Perception" box set is sold out (for now) at Rhino, according to a message to the website mailing list a few days ago.  There is also a statement to that effect on the official site at http://stores.musictoday.com/store/dept.asp?band_id=1195&dept_id=9669    The box sets are probably still available at on-line retailers and at stores, so don't despair!

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December 13, 2006      signed books <> 2007 calendar
Book Soup now has a limited quantity of signed copies of 'The Doors By The Doors' available for sale through their website for $100.   Go to:  http://www.booksoup.com/thedoors.html

Last month I reported that Amazon.com had a listing for The Doors 2007 Wall Calendar from Signatures Network, and thought that a minor miracle had occurred on that matter.   Today I got an email from Amazon that they were canceling my order as they have discovered that it is not available after all.  C'est la vie.

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December 12, 2006      Botnick interview <> Walk of Fame star <> Doors movie release <> John's family
An interview with Doors engineer Bruce Botnick is part of a review of the 'Perception' box set in today's Detroit MetroTimes.    read it

The Doors will get their star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in February 2007, according to The Doors manager Jeff Jampol's interview a few days ago.   I have not found the 2007 schedule yet on the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce site, but I'll share that info here when I know it. 

"The Doors" 15th Anniversary Edition DVD was released today.  The oranges and reds of the original packaging are now silver and purple ... much easier on the eyes!   The website for the new release is http://www.thedoors15thdvd.com/    (thanks, Matthew)

The news that John filed for divorce last week is all over the media now.  All the stories report that John and Leslie have a daughter named Luka ... but Luka is their son.

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December 11, 2006      John Densmore divorcing
John Densmore has filed for divorce from his wife of 16 years, documentary filmmaker Leslie Neale, according to a story today on TMZ.com.   John filed divorce papers in LA Superior Court on December 8th, citing "irreconcilable differences."

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December 8, 2006      HB 2 JM <> Jeff Jampol interview <> Doors concert on radio <> Jim Coke exhibit & 'birthday bash'
Jim Morrison would have turned 63 today.  I wish he was still with us for so many reasons ... but not the least of which because there will be so many excellent events in the future to honor the band and their 40th anniversary as recording artists. 

The Doors manager Jeff Jampol is the subject of an interview on "Classic Rock Branding" that appears on-line at EditorialEmergency.com    read it

The Doors live in San Francisco is a rare concert scheduled to be on the Front Row program at 9:00 p.m. tomorrow, December 9th on L.A.'s 95.5 KLOS according to a radio promotion that my friend Larry heard this morning.  I don't know what concert this might be, but it was touted as being a rare recording.  (thanks, Larry)

Photographer Jim Coke was in the right place at the right time on July 15, 1967 when he photographed several rolls of black & white film and some color slides of The Doors performing at Devonshire Downs in Northridge, California.   Jim Coke's photos are on exhibit in Seal Beach, CA at J. Moore Gallery through next Saturday, December 16th.  In honor of Jim's birthday, there is a special "Birthday Bash" event at the gallery tonight from 7 to 10 pm, with live music between 7 and 8.  There was a misprint in the local papers which indicated that the event was last night ... but no, it IS tonight.  J. Moore Gallery is located at 317 Main Street in Seal Beach.  Phone # is (562) 430-8861.

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December 7, 2006      'The Doors' movie screening <> John appearance this Saturday
Oliver Stone, Val Kilmer and Kyle MacLachlan were on hand last night for the screening of "The Doors" at the Mann's Chinese 6 Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.  Kathleen Quinlan was also supposed to appear but had to cancel due to a personal matter.  Attendees got small black & white Doors buttons/badges, and there were also free Tribaljazz postcards and posters on the check-in table.  As I stood in line waiting to get admitted into the theater, I saw Robby walk through the lobby accompanied by The Doors management Jeff Jampol and Cory Lashever.  Robby was there before the screening started and was in the 'green room' doing press.  I was escorted there before the screening began so I could see Robby (thank you, Gordon!).   Kyle was in there relaxing, as well.   The 7:30 screening was postponed about 30 minutes due to Val Kilmer's late arrival due to traffic.  The premiere of Leonardo DiCaprio's "Blood Diamond" movie next door at Graumanns Chinese Theater had Hollywood Boulevard traffic in the vicinity tangled more than usual.   Robby left when it was nearing time for the event to begin.   Inside the theater, Gordon Meyer from Storymakers Studio introduced Val and Kyle, who then went up into the audience to watch the movie with the rest of us.  The screening was the original theater release, and did not contain any of the deleted scenes or extras that are part of the 15th Anniversary Edition DVD that gets released next Tuesday, December 12th.  Historical inaccuracies aside, it was great to see Val's performance on a big screen and to hear the music on that kind of sound system.  I sat with friends Larry, Beverly, Linda, and David my son ... and we all applauded when we saw Robby's quick walk-through in a scene that so many people have never even noticed.  When the screening ended, John Densmore and Oliver Stone were introduced and emerged from the rear of the audience.  They joined Val and Kyle at the front for questions from Gordon Meyer.  Gordon also asked questions that had been turned in on cards passed out to audience members before the movie began;  the people whose questions were used were given a Doors Greatest Hits CD.  Some of the discussions dealt with Oliver's working methods, filming of the live concert sequences, Val's inhabiting of the role and the use of his own vocals, Bill Graham's involvement in getting buy-in from the Morrison and Courson families and Ray, Paul Rothchild's contributions, comparisons of working with Oliver -vs- working with other directors, and much more.  Since the Q&A was being filmed for a later Pay Per View broadcast, I don't want to reveal too much detail.  Val did say that when the shooting wrapped, Paul Rothchild gave him a gift of one of his copies of Jim's "An American Prayer" poetry book.   Gordon introduced Paul Rothchild's son, who was seated a few rows behind us in the audience.  Gordon mentioned John's recent Tribaljazz release.  As the evening ended, John said he had brought a taste of Jim's poetry as he unwrapped his hand drum.  Val held the mike for John as he quoted some of Jim's poetry from 'An American Prayer'.   A few quick fans were lucky enough to catch Oliver, John and Kyle for an autograph before they disappeared from the auditorium.   It was apparent that Val was having a private after-party, as he had his own guest list at the check-in area.  Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top was one of the unmistakable arrivals.  Val seemed anxious to get on with his own party and mentioned it several times as the Q&A wound down.   My son and I ended up getting onto the same elevator as Val going to the parking garage.  To my son's chagrin and astonishment, I was totally clueless and didn't even notice Val in the elevator car!  Oh well .... 

John Densmore will perform in concert with Hani Naser and other special guests this coming Saturday, December 9th at Pasadena Civic Auditorium as part of 'A Celebration of Oneness.   For more information about how to purchase tickets or visit the event website, check out this event flyer.   (thanks, David my son)

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December 4, 2006      LM2X used on TV <> Jim's poem in Christie's auction
"Love Me Two Times" was used on last night's episode of 'Cold Case' on CBS.   About half the song got used, which appeared about 10 minutes into the episode called 'Forever Blue' as two Philly cops were busting a street heroine dealer.

Jim Morrison's hand-written poem 'The American Night' sold at Christie's auction for $50,400 today to a private collector in the United States (alas, not me).  It had been estimated on the Christie's site that it would sell for $8,000-$12,000.   It was part of six Morrison items that were auctioned which included another handwritten poem.  I do not know the results of the auctions for that poem or the photos by Gloria Stavers and Edmund Teske.  To see the details on the lots that were auctioned today, go to:  http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/search/searchresults.asp?T=Lot&entry=jim+morrison

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December 3, 2006      John's Tribaljazz re-scheduled <> Oliver Stone's DVD extras
John Densmore's Tribaljazz performance scheduled for this Thursday evening was postponed and has been re-scheduled to Wednesday, December 13th.   The performance will be at 7:00 p.m. at Hear Music at Starbucks at 1429 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica.  (thanks, David my son)

"The Doors" movie by Oliver Stone gets re-released as the "15th Anniversary Edition" on December 12th.  This new edition will feature a new interview with Oliver Stone, two new documentaries (The Doors in Los Angeles and The Jim Morrison phenomena in Paris), an older documentary (The Road To Excess), 43 minutes of additional scenes, and a re-mastered 2.35:1 transfer.  As a reminder, there will be a screening of the movie this coming Wednesday, December 6th in Hollywood, which will be followed by John Densmore, Oliver Stone, Val Kilmer, Kyle MacLachlan and Kathleen Quinlan onstage for a Q&A.  They will answer questions that are being submitted by audience members when they purchase their tickets on-line.   For movie screening info, go here.   To read more about the latest features of the 15th Anniversary Edition and see the new packaging, follow this link:  http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/the-doors2.html

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December 2, 2006      Doors interview in UK's Sun <> The Doors in Rolling Stone
Ray, Robby and John all contributed to a story that runs in today's The Sun UK.  Each band member answered the same questions, and their responses are grouped together.  It's a cool read.   (thanks, Nick)   read story

The Doors got a nice 2-page write-up in the new issue of Rolling Stone (cover:  Snoop Dogg). including a picture of the band onstage in 1966 credited to Paul Ferrara, a photo of  Ray and Robby onstage on November 8th with the guest musicians, and an inset photo of John at his Book Soup performance.  The title of the story is "Doors Party Like It's 1966."   There is also a small photo of 'The Doors by The Doors', the new coffee table book.  This can be found on pages 24-25.

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Jim Morrison joined Canned Heat onstage at The Hump at Miami's Marco Polo Resort Hotel on August 14, 1970.  This was just a few days before the opening statements began at his trial in that city.  A rare photo of Jim with the band can be found on the Canned Heat website under the PHOTOS link ... scroll down to the MEMORABLE section and there you have it.   (thanks, Joe)