Doors Want Faithful To Love Them Two Times

[darkstar]

The Doors Want Faithful To Love Them Two Times
By Mike Boehm and Geoff Boucher
Los Angeles Times

HOLLYWOOD – This is the end? Not for the Doors, not even close. Jim Morrison died in Paris in summer 1971, but his music not only keeps playing, it’s getting louder. The surviving band members – Ray Manzarek, John Densmore and Robby Krieger – have been mired in legal disputes in recent years, but word is coming from their reunifying camp that they believe it’s time to put their band’s legacy (and, ahem, potential profitability) front and center.

Official news came last week that Dick Wolf, the force behind the ubiquitous “Law & Order,” is producing a full-length documentary on the Doors for theatrical release – with all three surviving Doors as co-producers. Also on tap is a project from Stacy Peralta (a principal in the two “Dogtown” films) titled “Six Nights, Six Records, Six Years,” which Daily Variety describes as a “social history” documentary that plugs into the Doors jukebox.

Next year is the 40th anniversary of the band’s first album, and those films lead a flurry of tie-in projects that include lavish new coffee-table books, albums of poetry and, of course, plenty of music releases that range from the rare to the repackaged.

There’s even a plan to take the Doors to Vegas in 2008. Jeff Jampol of Doors Music Co. said the surviving members and Morrison’s estate are negotiating a deal in the “tens of millions of dollars” to build a special theater of 800 to 1,200 seats at a Las Vegas casino and tailor-design a standing show.

So how would the Doors handle it? One of the ideas is a midnight show with no live actors that borrows from Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion and those old Pink Floyd laser-light shows. The audience would enter the venue single-file through a dark hallway with piped-in Morrison poetry. Inside, the seats would be individually wired for sound and surrounded by an iMax screen, holograms, computer-generated special effects and all manner of weirdness. The story line would be fiction, not the band’s story.

“We’ve got something very special in the works. ... We’re creating something, but we’re not sure what it’s called,” Jampol said. “The overarching watch-phrase is we want to do something that speaks about the ethos and vibe and feeling and meaning of the Doors: dark, edgy, dangerous, questioning authority, otherworldly.”

www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/living/14323503.htm

[darkstar]

The Globe and Mail
April 11 2006

Will the Doors finally cash in?
MELINDA NEWMAN


As the Doors' surviving members gear up for the band's 40th anniversary -- with plans for a comprehensive boxed set, reissues, merchandise and an interactive Las Vegas attraction -- there is a possibility that their music may be used in commercials for the first time.

It almost happened in 1969, when drummer John Densmore, guitarist Robby Krieger and keyboardist Ray Manzarek agreed to license Light My Fire to Buick to advertise its German-made Opel. Singer Jim Morrison, who was out of town for the meeting, vehemently disagreed, and the deal never came to pass. From that point, Densmore has opposed commercial usage, although Krieger and Manzarek have opened up to the possibility.

All deals, licensing and otherwise, must be approved by all partners in the Doors' assets: The three surviving members have a 75 per cent share, and Morrison's families and his late girlfriend, Pamela Courson, share the other 25 per cent.

Why the consideration now? "With older music no longer getting played on the radio and listenership fragmenting, how do we penetrate a whole new generation?" manager Jeff Jampol asks. "Selling out the Doors is not an option. On the other hand, certain commercials can be effective at reaching listeners."

But Jampol adds, "We will never license a Doors song for a mundane product like toothpaste or deodorant."

Densmore says, "There's a possibility if something came along that's very 'green' that agreed with where we're at, then maybe" the band would consider commercial usage. But Densmore puts the emphasis on "maybe."

In addition to environmentally friendly products, Jampol says cutting-edge Internet or mobile platforms could be contenders. For example, Densmore says the SBC Internet commercial featuring Eric Clapton is "very cool."

Densmore hates that there has been industry confusion about the Doors' position on licensing and stresses that the group has allowed numerous song placements in movies (Apocalypse Now, Forrest Gump, Jarhead) and TV shows (Alias, Entourage and The Simpsons).

"People think I veto everything," Densmore says, "[but] we are open and excited by an artistic film."

The Doors 40th anniversary will be marked with a 12-disc box set due this fall via Rhino. It will pair the band's first six studio albums -- all remastered with bonus tracks -- with six DVDs featuring 5.1 remixes of the studio albums and bonus material. There will also be a vinyl boxed set of the first six albums and January will see two-CD versions of the albums released individually.

Targeted to open in 2008, the Las Vegas show will be helmed by video director Jake Nava, who describes it as "a one-hour acid trip, but you don't come down." A travelling Doors memorabilia exhibit is being planned and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum exhibit will open in April, 2007.

Other plans include a documentary film directed by Bill Guttentag, a summer 2007 multi-night TV special (Six Nights, Six Years, Six Records) and a pair of coffee-table books.

www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060411.DOORS11/TPStory/Entertainment

[darkstar]

Starpulse News Blog

04/11/06

10:53:50, Categories: Music News

The Doors Music May Finally Be Used in Commercials

For the first time, the three surviving members of The Doors are considering allowing their music to be used in commercials. In 1969, guitarist Robby Krieger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek and drummer John Densmore agreed to let car manufacturer Buick use “Light My Fire” for a TV advertisement, but late singer Jim Morrison - who was not present at the original meeting - famously vetoed the deal.

But Densmore now concedes that, if the right proposal comes along, The Doors' music could be used for commercial purposes. He says, "There's a possibility if something came along that's very 'green' that agreed with where we're at, then maybe."

Manager Jeff Jampol adds, "With older music no longer getting played on the radio and listenership fragmenting, how do we penetrate a whole new generation? Selling out The Doors is not an option. We will never license a Doors song for a mundane product like toothpaste or deodorant. On the other hand, certain commercials can be effective at reaching listeners."

www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/04/11/the_doors_music_may_finally_be_used_in_com

[darkstar]

Doors Re Opening
By Melinda Newman Apr 11, 2006, 7:45 GMT


In his book 'Riders on the Storm,' Doors drummer John Densmore writes, 'As long as there`s young people, they can look to Jim to help them cut the umbilical chord.'

But even Densmore is surprised that the Los Angeles band and its iconic leader, Jim Morrison, who died in 1971, have such potent appeal to recent generations. After all, it has been 40 years since Elektra released the quartet`s first album in January 1967.

'I`m astounded,' he says. 'There must be some magic that was captured in a garage in Venice [Calif.]

'We`ve had our disputes,' Densmore says of his well-publicized differences with fellow surviving Doors Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger, 'but I`m honored that whatever came through us, that was bigger than us. If each generation seems to glean some inspiration from that, I`m available.'

Densmore and his bandmates will have many demands on their time over the next few years as their management team rolls out a 40th anniversary campaign with the intention to appeal to fans old and new.

'We`re not trying to remake them or spin the Doors, just expose them to the next generation,' Doors manager Jeff Jampol says. He has partnered with the Firm, which represents the Doors for licensing and assists in other management issues.

The Doors` appeal to younger generations could be due to the band being frozen in its prime. '[The Doors] were not able to grow old in front of the eyes of the world like the Stones [or] the Who. The Doors that people know are forever young, and the image of Morrison is that of young rock god,' the Firm`s Jeff Rabhan says. 'With that image in hand, and the legacy being what it is, our entire outreach is simple exposure and basic education as the history will sell itself.'

That means spreading word to the younger market through remixes, videogames, high-end clothing and online and mobile platforms. Meanwhile, the older, existing audience will be targeted through coffee-table books, boxed sets featuring 5.1 surround-sound versions of the group`s first six studio albums and more.

An interactive experience in Las Vegas, a touring memorabilia attraction and a filmed documentary are intended to appeal to all fans.

Naturally, a rollout of the Doors` studio albums also plays into the birthday plans. By September, Rhino/Elektra will delete the existing Doors` catalog to make way for a 12-disc boxed set, priced at $149.98. The fall release will include the Doors` first six studio albums remastered with bonus tracks and paired with six DVDs featuring 5.1 remixes of the studio albums and bonus material. There will also be a vinyl boxed set of the first six albums.

In January 2007, the studio albums will individually come out as double discs with the remastered original and the 5.1 DVD version.

As early as May, a deal with merchandise services company Music Today will allow Doors fans to go to the band`s Web site and create their own virtual boxed sets, selecting from previously unreleased live tunes.

The Doors` catalog has already been licensed for mobile downloads, ringtones and ringbacks.

The Doors` merchandise business is already soaring. Dell Furano, CEO of merchandise company Signatures Network, says sales have boomed since the introduction of new lines over the last few years. 'In 2005, we probably sold close to $8 million in Doors shirts and apparel at retail. It was $2 million in 2003.'

Furano says the Doors are at the top of the merchandise heap alongside such acts as the Beatles and Led Zeppelin.

It has not hurt that celebrities like Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson have been photographed wearing Doors merchandise. 'The amount of shirts we`re selling to preteens and teenagers is staggering,' Furano says.

Hilton and friends are likely buying from a high-end Doors line developed two years ago by Trunk Ltd. in partnership with Signatures. The line is sold through stores like Fred Segal, Barney`s, Kitson and Nordstrom.

'The first piece, the Jim Morrison Lizard King image on one of our classic shirts, became one of our top sellers overnight,' Trunk Ltd. founder and creative director Brad Beckerman says. He says teens respond to Morrison`s 'irreverence.'

Signatures will launch another high-end line, 5:1, this fall. Last year, Signatures introduced a mainstream line, Love Street, which is carried in stores like Target, Wal-Mart and Hot Topic.

Furano expects the 40th anniversary activities to lift merchandise sales at least another 25 percent and has several new items planned.

For the 40th, Trunk designed a limited edition T-shirt featuring Blondie`s Deborah Harry and Morrison, touting the new Blondie vs. the Doors mash-up 'Rapture/Riders.' The tune is featured on Blondie`s new EMI greatest hits set.

But wait, there`s more.

The Doors are planning an interactive attraction that will open in Las Vegas in 2008. Jampol says video director Jake Nava, who is working on the project, describes it as 'a one-hour acid trip, but you don`t come down.'

'You won`t see the Rockettes kicking their legs up in this show, I can assure you,' Rabhan adds, noting management is in talks with several casinos to house the show. Sponsors, who 'understand the deep-rooted, philosophical beliefs of this band toward the world' are being targeted.

There will also be a traveling Doors memorabilia museum and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will feature the Doors in a major, yearlong exhibit starting April 2007. (The group was inducted into the Hall in 1993.)

A slate of coffee-table books will accompany the 40th anniversary, including 'The Doors by the Doors with Ben Fong-Torres,' out in November; and 'Jim Morrison: Treasures,' by Rock Hall curator Jim Henke, due in 2007.

A Doors documentary directed by two-time Academy Award winner Bill Guttentag will hit theaters by year`s end. The film includes new interviews with the band and Morrison`s family.

There are also plans to develop a multinight TV special for summer 2007 called 'Six Nights, Six Years, Six Records.' Each night will highlight a Doors studio album.

While the remaining members have had their spats - Densmore and the Morrison estate won a 2003 lawsuit that prohibits Manzarek and Krieger from using the Doors name while touring ('The Doors are Ray, Robbie, Jim and John,' Densmore says) - they all plan to promote the new projects, although it remains to be seen if they`ll do so together.

'The three of them are bonded brothers,' Jampol says. 'They`ve had disagreements over a side issue, they`re trying to sort that out ... [but] they`ve never let it stand in the way of letting the legacy move forward.'

music.monstersandcritics.com/features/article_1154333.php/Doors_reopening_?page=2

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

Well we got the Jampol version on the LL about how nothing is certain blah blah blah but we know what a liar Jeff Jampol is so anythings possible.
I find it so sad that The Doors I once knew are being sold down the river by liars like Manzarek and Nice Guy John who says one thing to one section of The Doors fanbase and something not quite the same to the media......personally I don't trust any of them to be custodians of The Doors legacy.
I think its only a matter of time before we see a Doors tune selling some shit on TV.

[jym]

I hope not! There is nothing 'GREEN" enough to sell the music for a commercial. The Vegas idea sounds disgusting, how is that going to be dangerous & to question authority. & the inconsistencies in Jeff's statement, I don't have time to get into here right now maybe later. I quess I'm losing some of my

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

The Vegas idea is indeed utterly disgusting but thats the kind of people who are in charge nowadays....the fake 40th which thankfully got shot down by fan power and is now a celebration of 40 years of the album was just one grubby little money making scheme in a long line of grubby little money making schemes to come.
The Doors in Vegas I cannot think of anything tackier than that one.......and as I said before on the LL its hard to know what is more sickening the fact the management want to have this sleazy sick fest or the fact they have the gall to try to justify it to the fans.....

[darkstar]

What amazes me is where is all this money coming from to finance such a project? Renovation to property on the Las Vegas Strip can be pricey. Can't imagine what the ticket prices to one of these shows would be considering the production costs.

I recall Manzarek and Krieger's attorney saying that if they lost this lawsuit it would ruin them financially. Fortunately, Judge Greg didn't buy the sob-story from the the Defense attorneys.

[jym]

I'm sure they're using other people's money. The Doors name & Ray, Robby, & John OKing the idea I'm sure has pulled in some money.

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

For me thats the hypocrisy of the lot of them...Densmore included......the families just want money and they have no idea about what The Doors stood for but the othere 3 sicken me with their selling out of what they themselves stood for.
Ray was always a greedy bastard but he has changed a lot since the 90s, Krieger just uses that spaced out look to hide the fact he is as bad as Ray and John plays the defending the legacy card all the time whilst giving his approval to what is in effect the biggest betrayal of what he tries to convince us he stands for imaginable....The Doors in Vegas.....God its sickening!
They are selling out The Doors by stealth really and thier mouthpieces justifications of this make me wanna vomit.
Its funny but I always thought that Paul Edge idiots accusations about Jeff Jampol were the insane ramblings of a tosspot but maybe he was not quite as nuts as I thought.......what the hell has happened to The Doors in the last 20 years.....getting old is one thing but selling your soul for money is despicable......people think that because I supported Densmore during the trial that I am a Ray hater who sucks up to John but none of them impress me that much anymore sadly....my fave musical Door has been Ray since 1974 and is today and I love all 3 as the people they were but I have little respect for any of them for the people thay became....and I find that saddest of all!

[ensenada]

the dogtown films were class...so i am very excited about a docu directed by that dude on the doors....its about time something was done with class and style instead of ray M directed shite related to the doors on some vague bullshit manner

as for the vegas thing....errr i know i should say its sounds tacky and a bad idea...but i am not. cos its sounds quite cool. its obvious that the doors management is realkly trying to make a push now and promote the doors and boost their legend and legacy. as long as densmore doesnt go back on his word and we start seeing doors tunes on commercials....that would not rock!

[wtd]

ensenada said:

as for the vegas thing....errr i know i should say its sounds tacky and a bad idea...but i am not. cos its sounds quite cool. its obvious that the doors management is realkly trying to make a push now and promote the doors and boost their legend and legacy. as long as densmore doesnt go back on his word and we start seeing doors tunes on commercials....that would not rock!

I have to agree with Rick here on the Las Vegas idea. I think it might be something really cool to go see. The people who want to pay for this must have a good idea of what they want to do or they wouldn't want to invest in something like this. I'm surprise people want to put out the money to invest in The Doors in a project like this. I have seen a lot of the high tech theatrical effects they can do today, so the chance of this being something really cool to go see is a possibility. Just have to keep Ray out of offering any input into the project or will become a failure. I also like the idea of a theater dedicated to The Doors. A permanent structure to celebrate the words and music of Jim Morrison and The Doors. Sort of wraps up as part of the great American myth who will be immortalize into history as something great and not just another Rock & Roll band.

It is quite amazing all the things The Doors want to put out now. I don't think it's all about money. But maybe the reality that the "future is uncertain and the end is always near". They are getting up there in age. And if they want to promote legacy of The Doors for future generations, they need to get the message out there. I like what there doing.

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

I am not against some kinda 'permanent structure to celebrate the words and music of Jim Morrison and The Doors' guys but why not have it in LA which is The Doors home....a museum dedicated to educating music fans on the band would be a great idea.....but Vegas is designed to make a shitload of money and be an 'attraction' ....the Jim Morrison theme ride......thats what I find distasteful.....these guys have the right ideas but are so obsessed wityh making $$$$ out of Morrison that they have no real clue how to do this kinda thing.......greed has taken over The Doors totally......Ray Manzareks 'New Age Of Aquarius' is already with The Doors....their manager just spouts soundbites that make the proles happy.....the darker side was always part of the Doors psyche but it was supposed to be about art ..........now the dark side is just about milking another dollar out of Morrisons corpse......

[jym]

I'm finding it funny that whole argument now seems to be so teh legacy of The Doors & the poetry of Jim Morrison finds a 'permamnent structure'. My centuries poetry & music & art has survived down through the centuries, we have the lyric poems of Sappho for crying out loud, should Vegas have a permamanent structure so the words of Sappho can continue. Or do they already? Every rock & roll thing that has a stage show &/or in Vegas has been a parody of the original music, Queen may be doing it as a tribute to Freddie Mercury with Brian May being the creative force behind it but it comes off as tacky, surely a more fitting tribute can thought of to move that legacy into the future. Everything in Vegas is all flash & gilt, & ephemeral, people will pay their $15.00 or whatever, go WOW! when Jim's voice booms over the speakers 'is everybody in. Is everybody in?' and then take their seats when the voice intones 'the theater was darkend..." etc... & when they walk out after buying a t-shirt & baseball cap & the poetry especially will be forgotten or laughed off.

The way to ensure Morrison's survival as a poet is the same way poets are remembered today books, very little has actually changed, the internet is far from permanent websites go up they go down, messages on message boards are archived or deleted, files in computers are deleted.

[wtd]

admin said:

I am not against some kinda 'permanent structure to celebrate the words and music of Jim Morrison and The Doors' guys but why not have it in LA which is The Doors home....a museum dedicated to educating music fans on the band would be a great idea.....but Vegas is designed to make a shitload of money and be an 'attraction' ....the Jim Morrison theme ride......thats what I find distasteful.....these guys have the right ideas but are so obsessed wityh making $$$$ out of Morrison that they have no real clue how to do this kinda thing.......greed has taken over The Doors totally......Ray Manzareks 'New Age Of Aquarius' is already with The Doors....their manager just spouts soundbites that make the proles happy.....the darker side was always part of the Doors psyche but it was supposed to be about art ..........now the dark side is just about milking another dollar out of Morrisons corpse......

Yeah, I agree Alex it would be nicer in LA, but you know the rest of The Doors are to cheap pay for something respectable and nice. But since someone is fronting the money for this Las Vegas project that's the only way it's getting done anyway. I would say if it not done very well, it will be removed and replaced with something else. Because like you say, it's all about money.