Sunday June 29, 2003

by Doug Pullen
Newhouse News Service

You can forgive Ray Manzarek for being defensive about the decision to resurrect the seminal '60s band the Doors.

Or not.

It depends which side you're on. Some fans -- and critics -- are happy just to have some semblance of the band out on the road playing bedrock songs like "Light My Fire" and "Riders on the Storm," even though Jim Morrison, the band's charismatic and enigmatic frontman, died 32 years ago.

Other fans -- and critics -- think what keyboardist Manzarek and Doors guitarist Robby Krieger are doing is downright criminal, artistically if not legally.

They have been bashed in the press and sued by drummer John Densmore, who is not a part of this revival (his breach of contract suit forced the group to change its name to the Doors 21st Century). Morrison's parents and those of his late wife, Paula Courson, joined Densmore's suit.

Densmore's replacement, Police drummer Stewart Copeland, also sued for breach of contract earlier this year. The suit was settled amicably late in May, Manzarek said, adding, "We hope to work with him again."

It's a wonder Manzarek's talking at all, but there are tickets to sell -- plenty, some say -- so he's been subjecting himself to questions about his reasons for doing this, and the controversy that has ensued.

"It's all petty," Manzarek said of the lawsuits in a recent telephone interview. "They're what are called nuisance suits, frivolous contractual disputes. I try not to take any of it seriously. I take the music seriously. It's all stupid little side stuff."

Not to some.

According to music trade magazine Billboard, Densmore's suit claims Manzarek and Krieger violated an agreement made after Morrison's death to split any profits and refrain from using the Doors name unless all three were involved. A judge recently rejected Densmore's request to bar them from touring, but the new group changed its name.

"John is suing because he doesn't want to see us use the Doors name, so we're not using it. We're making a distinction," the keyboardist said.

Besides, Manzarek said, Densmore chose not to tour because of tinnitus that developed after the three surviving members taped an episode of VH1's "Storytellers" a couple of years ago.

Among the guest vocalists on the VH1 show was Ian Astbury, lead singer for the Cult, whom Manzarek says possesses the same "shamanic quality that Jim had, without imitating Jim." He's also a big Doors fan.

Last September, the new Doors, with Astbury and Copeland, debuted at a centennial concert for Harley-Davidson in Los Angeles.

"It was fabulous," Manzarek said, "like going back in time, like riding a bicycle again. You get back on. . . . The 'Light My Fire' intro just sits under my fingers. The passion and the power of the performance was just thrilling."

More dates were booked early this year, but Copeland was out, due to schedule conflicts, Manzarek said. He was replaced by Ty Dennis. Angelo Barbera is the bass player (the original Doors didn't have a bassist).

The five-piece version has been touring off and on since April. Though he's defensive about the criticisms and lawsuits, Manzarek said he and Krieger did a little soul-searching before opening these new Doors.

"We had misgivings," he said. "People would say it's not the same without Morrison."

But this revival seems to be as much about emerging from the Lizard King's considerable shadow as it is about money.

"Guess what? Ray and Robby are playing music we wrote. We are the music of the Doors, and we have a different lead singer. He does a great job of singing Doors songs for an audience," Manzarek said.

"We knew we'd get lots of criticism."

Manzarek and Krieger have been writing songs for a new album they'll record later this year.

Manzarek offers up new song titles such as "Street of Crocodiles," "Cops Talk" and "Rain of Terror," with lyrics written by Astbury, poet-rocker Jim Carroll and John Doe of X.

Though he has said in a Billboard interview that this is a one-shot deal, he isn't so sure now.

"This is an ongoing process," Manzarek said. "I'll be doing it for the next 20 years.

(thanks, Beverly)

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