Post by TheWallsScreamedPoetry on Dec 22, 2004 16:06:32 GMT
If The Doors had had the heart in 1972, to replace
Jim Morrison after realising that thier 3 piece experiment was going nowhere would they have been able to find someone with the necessary qualifications?
Thier sojourn in England showed that they were indeed keen to find a singer and as The Doors always had more of an affinity with English bands rather than American bands it made sense to look here....
Rumour still abounds that The Doors themselves were secretly auditioning American Mike Stull (who would later go on to link up with John and Robby for a second try at The Butts Band.) BEFORE Morrison left for Paris and also there were rumours about James Newell Osterburg the famous Morrison groupie who turned into Iggy Pop......This from Doors fan rokritr on the Steve Hoffman forum..
"The Doors did work on music while Jim was in Paris for several months after LAW was finished.
More than that, as then-Doors manager Bill Siddons told me during our interview in the early 1990s, the three remaining Doors also rehearsed with different singers while Jim was in Paris (and before his untimely death), because they weren't sure that he'd ever come back.
I know this breaks up more of the mythology, but here's Siddons's quote to me....verbatim:
"[Jim leaving the band] is not a rumor. That's a fact. I was in the meeting when Jim said that he was leaving the band and was going to pursue other avenues for the foreseeable future.
"We actually auditioned other singers to replace Jim as the lead singer of the Doors. I even ended up managing the guy who was gong to replace Jim. His name was Michael Stull. But after Jim died, the other three decided to go on alone."
Bill Siddons
But would it have been possible or for that matter desirable to fill Jim Morrisons shoes and get together for one more try after the dismal failure of Full Circle.
Ignoring current events, as this is a discussion about The Doors NOT a discussion of tribute acts, could Ray, John and Robby have pulled it off and found a niche for themselves during that rock Golden Age we know as the 70s?
My opinion THEN was YES! And one of the contenders in my humble opinion would have had to have been former Procul Harum drummer and Snafu vocalist during the 70’s Bobby Harrison. Bobby had a wonderful bluesy baritone not dissimilar to Jim’s and was an excellent showman which came to the fore during his Snafu days
Jac Holzmans preferred choice at the time was the brilliant Howard Werth who filled the front man spot in one of England’s finest ‘undiscovered’ acts, Audience. Any one who ever heard Howard sing would have been struck by the sheer uniqueness of his voice. He was a pure one off and his rendition of ‘Priestess’ on the Audience ‘Friends, Friends, Friend’ album was capable of sending a chill down the spine not unlike watching ‘The Blair Witch’ for the first time.
Jac introduced The Doors to Audience and they were impressed enough to rehearse with Howard during thier time in London.
Jess Roden was a fine vocalists with prog country rockers Bronco who were well thought of here but who never made it big in any way. Jess who was also in the frame went on to front The Butts Band with John & Robby and produced an excellent debut with them.
Third on the shortlist was Blues loony Kevin Coyne who was never a serious contender for me as his work with the mentally ill after dropping out of school left him far TOO quirky to ever fit in with The Doors. His band Siren were like Audience signed to Elektra and Jac Holzman had brought thier music to Ray and company as well as that of Audience.
John ‘Pix’ Pickford would also have been rather cool as a Doors front man. Great voice and always full of energy on stage with A Band Called O! 'Pix' was another Brit worthy of replacing rocks greatest icon.
There are a few Brit contenders who may or may not have actually pulled it off and I am sure a few American ones....John Kay from old pals Steppenwolf or even Peter Wolf from J Geils....
Hell Alex Harvey would have made an impression though probably not the one we Doors fans were looking for......
30 years on its plain to see that replacing Jim was a pie in the sky deal....but transport yourself back to the UK in 1972/1973 and induldge in a bit of Doors whimsey....
Who do YOU think might have pulled it off...?
Jim Morrison after realising that thier 3 piece experiment was going nowhere would they have been able to find someone with the necessary qualifications?
Thier sojourn in England showed that they were indeed keen to find a singer and as The Doors always had more of an affinity with English bands rather than American bands it made sense to look here....
Rumour still abounds that The Doors themselves were secretly auditioning American Mike Stull (who would later go on to link up with John and Robby for a second try at The Butts Band.) BEFORE Morrison left for Paris and also there were rumours about James Newell Osterburg the famous Morrison groupie who turned into Iggy Pop......This from Doors fan rokritr on the Steve Hoffman forum..
"The Doors did work on music while Jim was in Paris for several months after LAW was finished.
More than that, as then-Doors manager Bill Siddons told me during our interview in the early 1990s, the three remaining Doors also rehearsed with different singers while Jim was in Paris (and before his untimely death), because they weren't sure that he'd ever come back.
I know this breaks up more of the mythology, but here's Siddons's quote to me....verbatim:
"[Jim leaving the band] is not a rumor. That's a fact. I was in the meeting when Jim said that he was leaving the band and was going to pursue other avenues for the foreseeable future.
"We actually auditioned other singers to replace Jim as the lead singer of the Doors. I even ended up managing the guy who was gong to replace Jim. His name was Michael Stull. But after Jim died, the other three decided to go on alone."
Bill Siddons
But would it have been possible or for that matter desirable to fill Jim Morrisons shoes and get together for one more try after the dismal failure of Full Circle.
Ignoring current events, as this is a discussion about The Doors NOT a discussion of tribute acts, could Ray, John and Robby have pulled it off and found a niche for themselves during that rock Golden Age we know as the 70s?
My opinion THEN was YES! And one of the contenders in my humble opinion would have had to have been former Procul Harum drummer and Snafu vocalist during the 70’s Bobby Harrison. Bobby had a wonderful bluesy baritone not dissimilar to Jim’s and was an excellent showman which came to the fore during his Snafu days
Jac Holzmans preferred choice at the time was the brilliant Howard Werth who filled the front man spot in one of England’s finest ‘undiscovered’ acts, Audience. Any one who ever heard Howard sing would have been struck by the sheer uniqueness of his voice. He was a pure one off and his rendition of ‘Priestess’ on the Audience ‘Friends, Friends, Friend’ album was capable of sending a chill down the spine not unlike watching ‘The Blair Witch’ for the first time.
Jac introduced The Doors to Audience and they were impressed enough to rehearse with Howard during thier time in London.
Jess Roden was a fine vocalists with prog country rockers Bronco who were well thought of here but who never made it big in any way. Jess who was also in the frame went on to front The Butts Band with John & Robby and produced an excellent debut with them.
Third on the shortlist was Blues loony Kevin Coyne who was never a serious contender for me as his work with the mentally ill after dropping out of school left him far TOO quirky to ever fit in with The Doors. His band Siren were like Audience signed to Elektra and Jac Holzman had brought thier music to Ray and company as well as that of Audience.
John ‘Pix’ Pickford would also have been rather cool as a Doors front man. Great voice and always full of energy on stage with A Band Called O! 'Pix' was another Brit worthy of replacing rocks greatest icon.
There are a few Brit contenders who may or may not have actually pulled it off and I am sure a few American ones....John Kay from old pals Steppenwolf or even Peter Wolf from J Geils....
Hell Alex Harvey would have made an impression though probably not the one we Doors fans were looking for......
30 years on its plain to see that replacing Jim was a pie in the sky deal....but transport yourself back to the UK in 1972/1973 and induldge in a bit of Doors whimsey....
Who do YOU think might have pulled it off...?
but it all depends on what you like doesnt it!
.