Doors Re-Light Fire
Nearly thirty years to the day after their final concert, a
reunited Doors returned to action with a new Lizard King: singer
Ian Astbury of the Cult. “The tragedy and loss of Jim Morrison
weighs heavily on all of us, but this ain’t no tribute band,” said
keyboardist Ray Manzarek backstage at the House of Blues in Los
Angeles on September 3rd, after the band’s first live appearance.
The new Doors lineup also includes founding guitarist Robbie
Krieger and drummer Stewart Copeland of the Police, filling in for
John Densmore, who suffers from tinnitus. Playing bass is Angelo
Barbera. Within days of the House of Blues show, a taping of four
vintage songs for a radio program, the Doors would perform a full
set at the Harley-Davidson Open Road festival at a racetrack in
nearby Fontana.
The surviving members are also planning to record an album of
new material for release in 2003 and to tour next spring. Krieger
and Manzarek have completed several new songs, and other material
is being co-written by poet-rocker Jim Carroll.
Astbury was one of the guest vocalists who appeared in the
Doors’ VH1 Storytellers episode last year. “Out of all
those guys, Ian was the one who’s always been here saying, ‘I’m
available,'” said Krieger.
As the man stepping into the boots of one of rock’s most
notorious frontmen, Astbury understood the risks. “It’s a huge
responsibility,” he said, “Jim is irreplaceable. But I’m thinking
of this as like a classical recital of very important musical and
political work. It’s a living tradition.”
The Cult, he added, “is on ice right now,” which makes the Doors
his central commitment. “This means more to me probably than
signing my first record deal,” he said. “”The Doors made me want to
play music. I want it to succeed and take this music to where it
should be.”