VH1 STORYTELLERS-THE DOORS

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

What did it matter if Ray played the spoons on Storytellers....it was not The Doors in any way shape of form....just 3 blokes who were once The Doors but were now old and rich and had probably forgotten most of the reasons why they were in a band in 1965....pretty much the curse of all musicians.....they brought in all those losers in leather pants to appeal to the MTV crowd....it was a wasted opportunity and if the 3 of them had any decency they would apologise for that shit.....a decent tribute would have been to sing the songs with just the three of them...

[jym]

I thought the Storytellers was a good exercise, I liked STP's BOT, I even liked Ian doing Wild Child, & it was a good example of how to make The Doors available to younger audiences, while later shows how ill advised it has gotten. The only thing I found lacking was um, actual storytelling about the songs, band, times, etc

[othercircles]

What did it matter if Ray played the spoons on Storytellers....it was not The Doors in any way shape of form....just 3 blokes who were once The Doors but were now old and rich and had probably forgotten most of the reasons why they were in a band in 1965....pretty much the curse of all musicians.....

Well alex it's apparent you're both tonedeaf and ignorant. :-) And I say that in the nicest way ;-) Honestly tho.. if you were a musician you wouldn't say some of those crazy things. The rhoads bass was essential to live gigs and a real bass is not. Them having a new bassist was indeed totally unnessesary.

They most certainly were the doors in 97.. just.. the doors+douchebags. Without John tho now I don't feel like they are at all. John was too essential. Jim wasn't as essential to them making good music but Ray's ego got the better of him and he split to do solo albums. The 3 of em rocked in 72 and they rocked in 97. When John left they werent any damn good any more. Ty Dennis is a piece of shit amature. Without Jim they continued to rock.. without John they suck balls.

Of course they sold out by having a bunch of douche bag kids doing their best impersonations... but its because of guys like you pretending there's no doors without Jim.. that VH1 and other sponsers felt it essential for them to have Jim replacements for the show. This mentallity made it impossible for them to have been allowed to sing themself as so many of us CLAIM we'd rather see.

I honestly still don't see why people think of the doors as Jim Morrison and some other guys. Mabye if I was a girl..... but I dont center my attention on any one GUY in a band. That sounds pretty homosexual to me. lol

So alex you can beat off to your Jim poster and think about why the VH1 special had to have guest singers.



Seriously tho I don't mean to sound like I'm attacking alex. We're pals. hehe

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

It has nothing at all to do with the fact Jim was not there that these people were NOT The Doors.......I have never in my life ever said that The Doors did not exist without Jim and you know that mate.......I have been of the opinion that Full Circle & Other Voices were Doors albums since 1971/72. The fact Jim was dead was not relevant then and is not now.........I heard both these albums before I heard Morrison Hotel......its irrelevant of you to even bring up this point......these guys were not The Doors because they had long since forgotten what it was that made them The Doors in the first place....they are just the names we associate with the band thats all.....the people they were in 1967 etc are long gone......all these guys care about nowadays (including JD) is marketing an image that revolves around a photo of Jim Morrison which does not even reflect the person HE was let alone The Doors.
Storytellers was a cash in and it thankfully failed miserably due to the bands insistence of using your douche bags.....
American Prayer (which I love) was the same thing......but in a smaller scale ...............I dunno why Doors fans spend so much time arguing about Storytellers as its nothing really to do with The Doors ....just some people singing Doors songs..........
and I am not a musician mate which is why I look at these things differently to someone who is......

[othercircles]

Ah well.. I see what ya mean now... but I still disagree to a point. Only in so much as... as musicians the 3 of them were still the doors in 97... but you're right about everything else really. And while I like John probably best.. he's definately a hyprocrit in alot of ways.

I personally don't feel like he was totally thrilled with the VH1 thing. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that they begged him to do it and he grudgingly accepted. You can see the disgusted look on his face during some songs such as wild child. I don't think he liked Ian too much... and I bet one day in 99 or so Ray called up John and said..

"hey remember that guy Ian Astbury? What's say you and Robbie and I go and do some gigs with him? And well get a bass player from Robbies band to needlessly expand the band furthur"

John: Uh.. that d-bag that sang wild-child in 97? Are you out of your drug addled mind?

Ray: Naw man hes great.. he really brings the spirit of Jim alive.

John: No ray im not interested... and you better not go having a band with "the doors" in it. And that means modifying the name with stupid shit like... doors of the 21st century.

Ray: yea yea.. (click)......hmmmmmm

A YEAR LATER

John: (thumbing through magazine).... hmmm *doors of the 21st century? FUCK!!!! ...oh now I'm gonna have to sue his ass. That'll make it right"

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

VH1 Storytellers: The Doors

The Movie:

Although the comparisons to original lead singer Jim Morrison are inevitable, the three remaining members of The Doors reunited earlier this year for this terrific VH-1 special. Joining them are various singers from newer bands (Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots, Creed, former Janes Addiction lead Perry Farrell and others). The newcomers pay tribute to the music that influenced them and do a stellar job in doing so, especially Creed's Scott Stapp and Weiland.

Most of all, the remaining members of the Doors prove that they can still rock extremely well after all these years, providing often amazing back-up for the lead singers who are joining them for this celebration of their music. Between songs, the members occasionally discuss the inspiration for that particular song.

Overall, a highly entertaining program that Doors fans should enjoy greatly.


The DVD

VIDEO: Although I didn't get a chance to watch this program when it was originally broadcast, I don't see how it could've looked as good then as it does here. Although Image provides a full_frame edition (as it was full_frame when broadcast), sharpness and detail are remarkably good throughout. I doubt the picture could have looked this well-defined and offered such nice depth to the image when originally on VH-1.

I noticed nothing in the way of flaws throughout that was worth mentioning. The most minimal amount of shimmer was noticed once or twice, but I didn't see any pixelation or edge enhancement throughout the show. Colors looked very well presented, coming through crisply and sharply, looking well-saturated and never smeared. A very, very enjoyable presentation image-wise.

SOUND: "VH1 Storytellers: The Doors" is presented in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1. Quite frankly, I was suprised at the sound quality of the presentation. Given that some of these specials produced for television come to DVD with surround sound presentations that either don't have the same kind of sound quality that is found on DVDs of concerts or have "processed" sounding surround sound, this show's audio surpassed my expectations.

Tastefully and appropriately mixed, the vocals by the various singers throughout the program are fixed in the center channel; the main front speakers provide a full-bodied sound for the instuments while additional instruments (mainly percussion) are re-inforced in the surrounds for a really superior-sounding and enveloping feel, positioning everything perfectly around the listener.

Again, I thought the audio quality was exceptionally good. This is a terrific recording of the event, capturing the music with such clarity and detail that I was instantly impressed. Every instrument really sounds well-defined and crisp, allowed to have an equal presence in the proceedings. Vocals also sounded wonderful, whichever singer was joining the group at that particular moment. A nice, although not overpowering, kick of low bass is also often felt through many of the more rockin tunes.

Both the DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 versions provided a high-quality and entertaining experience, but the DTS version did provide a slightly higher level of clarity and a mildly warmer, richer sound. Either way, I was impressed - going into a made-for-TV program like this one, I didn't expect the best from the sound, but I certainly got it.

MENUS:: Although menus themselves aren't animated, there they do have the music playing in the background and there is a nice animated transition between menus.

EXTRAS:: Two bonus tracks - "Riders On The Storm" with Strapp and "Wild Child", with Ian Astbury from The Cult. There's also a booklet included that has bios and a couple of terrific essays from the band's manager and the producer of the VH1 program.

Final Thoughts: Again, Image Entertainment doesn't dissapoint at all here. Image and especially audio quality is wonderful - this is really a top-notch presentation from the company. And hey, the show itself is extremely entertaining as well. Doors fan or not, this is definitely worth a look.

DVD Talk
Review by Aaron Beierle June 23, 2001

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

VH1 STORYTELLERS - THE DOORS (A CELEBRATION)

I first caught this VH1 Storytellers presentation a few weeks ago on, oddly enough, VH1. Coming in a bit late to the presentation, I was thoroughly impressed by how well this show was put on, even in the absence of Jim Morrison. The choices for honorary Morrison’s for each song was an odd thing at first to get used to, but as the presentation went on I was left speechless. There are some extremely great performances here, and any fan of the Doors, or for that matter fans of music would love this show. After viewing the DVD, I was even more impressed.

On this DVD, we get Love Me Two Times (with Pat Monahan from Train), Alabama Song, Back Door Man (with Ian Astbury from The Cult), The End (with Travis Meeks from Days of the New), Break on Through, Five to One (with Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots), L.A. Woman (with Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction), Light My Fire, Roadhouse Blues (with members of Creed), and “Riders on the Storm” (with members of Creed), “Wild Child” (with Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy of the Cult) which were off the broadcast version; featured as bonus tracks here.

Standout performances on this DVD in the honorary Jim Morrison category come from Travis Meeks doing an excellent rendition of The End (truly amazing... ), Scott Weiland on Five to One and Scott Stapp on Roadhouse Blues. As always the original Doors sound phenomenal on percussion and backup vocals; truly a tremendous performance all around.

So how does a VH1 Storytellers concert sound on DVD? Not too surprisingly for a music DVD, it sounds great. Moreover, I was impressed to see that not only are we given a standard (now-a-days) 5.1 Dolby Digital track, but that we were also given a 5.1 DTS track to go along with it, and a standard (yet very solid) Dolby Digital 2.0 track. Both 5.1 mixes are done very well, with most vocals of course coming from the center channel, with the background music coming mostly from the front left and right channels, and added for a nice encompassing feel on the rears. If I had to give a nod to one of the mixes, I would have to go with the DTS track for a slightly richer sounding, more surrounding feel. Both are very good though overall; even the 2.0 track does a good job.

Video wise, this presentation looks great compared to the broadcast version; which looked pretty good already. We get the standard (for TV) 1.33:1 full screen format as expected. The picture is very sharp, clean and clear with no visual blemishing or digital artificating noticeable. Not much more can be asked in this department; it is a very solid transfer.

Extras? Why yes, when compared to the broadcast version seen on VH1. We get the aforementioned “Riders on the Storm” and “Wild Child” as bonus tracks along with a booklet with bios and show information, along with thoughts from the band’s manager and the Storytellers producer.

Overall, the VH1 Storytellers presentation of The Doors looks and sounds great on DVD. The performance is excellent and sometimes, if you close your eyes, you might be able to imagine that Jim Morrison is still there; it is really that excellent. Definitely recommended to any fan of music; and if you are a Doors fan, you already own this... right? Highly recommended.

On a side note - I'm (and obviously many others are) still waiting for that Counting Crows Storytellers DVD (maybe someday - Image? Anyone? Anyone?).

Logical Entertainment
Reviewed November 12th, 2001 by Dan Jones

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

20th Century Fox presents
The Doors: VH1 Storytellers (2001)

"The Doors! The Doors! The Doors! The real Doors! Look!"
- Perry Farrell

Stars: Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, John Densmore
Other Stars: Perry Farrell, Pat Monahan, Ian Astbury, Travis Meeks, Scott Weiland, Scott Stapp
Director: Dave Diomedi

Manufacturer: Wamo
MPAA Rating: Not Rated for (no objectionable content)
Run Time: 01h:02m:01s
Release Date: June 26, 2001
UPC: 014381101928
Genre: rock

DVD Review
For many, Jim Morrison is The Doors. Since the 1980s, a Morrison cult has taken root. As much as I like it, Oliver Stone's The Doors only increased the hold of the Morrison myth. But, as the true fans know, the magic of The Doors has always resided in the other three members. Yes, Morrison played his part, but he is not the be-all, end-all of The Doors. Where would the band be without Ray Manzarek's chugging organ, or Robby Krieger's lyrical guitar playing? Nowhere. And with The Doors: VH1 Storytellers, we now have proof (as if the original recordings weren't enough).

At their best, The Doors made intense, dark, powerful music. At their worst, they made pretentious music that fell flat on its face. This episode of VH1 Storytellers has a bit of both. In order to perform the songs, the band members picked singers they felt could do justice to the material. Sometimes they're right, and sometimes they aren't. The best of the singers here, Ian Astbury of The Cult, Travis Meeks of Days Of The New, and Scott Weiland, breath new life into the material, evoking Morrison while also putting their own stamp on it. The highlight of the show is, without a doubt, Ian Astbury's performance on Whiskey Bar and Back Door Man. Astbury is enigmatic and charismatic; his stage presence is palpably powerful. After one of the songs, Astbury exclaims, "Now that's rock 'n' roll!" And in his hands, it is. Travis Meeks makes a big impression singing The End, Morrison's signature song. And Scott Weiland is always fun to watch, regardless of what music he's performing. As John Densmore said, he's the only man who could fit Morrison's leather pants.

The show does not always reach these heights. Pat Monahan's rendition of Love Me Two Times is instantly forgettable, and is actually overshadowed by Robby Krieger's story of why he wrote the song. Perry Farrell is an odd choice to cover a Doors song. Out of all the singers chosen, he has the least chance of sounding or acting like Morrison in any capacity (that wasn't the point, but it does become evident that the other singers are consciously imitating Morrison). And, considering Farrell's voice is such an acquired taste, I couldn't see why they chose him. And apparently neither could VH1, considering that his performance of L.A. Woman is used to play over the opening credits, and we hear only about a minute of it. After a while, I realized that what Perry Farrell brings to a performance is boundless energy and attitude, and now I wish he figured more prominently on the show. I especially feel this way after seeing Scott Stapp of Creed. I'll say this straight out: I hate Creed. They're just another generic modern rock band. The only distinctive aspect of Creed is Scott Stapp, whose vocals I can't stand. Can you take me higher? Well, I'll tell you that you can't get much lower. Stapp manages to mutilate Light My Fire and Roadhouse Blues, two of the best Doors songs.

But, true to my theory, the original band members sound great on every song. Robby Krieger in particular dominates the show. Since the band's demise, Krieger has expanded his style and now plays with a fluidity and power only hinted at on the recordings. Manzarek is in typical fine form, as he always was, and Densmore plays with gusto and assurance. Despite the fact that the band hasn't played together since 1973, the connection between them is still evident, and not just in their performances. The idea behind the Storytellers series is that famous musicians get on stage and tell an audience how they wrote the songs they will be performing. Sometimes a particular band member tells the story of a particular song, but sometimes they all tell the story in a conversational mode, adding details and little shadings to the overall picture. It was there that you could see the heart and soul of The Doors: three guys who love to make music.

Rating for Style: B
Rating for Substance: B+

Image Transfer
One
Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 - Full Frame
Original Aspect Ratio yes
Anamorphic no

Image Transfer Review:
Image gives us Storytellers in its natural TV full frame format. And thankfully, the guys at Image didn't make this transfer a rush job, because it looks great. In fact, it looks better than it did on TV. The image is crystal clear, without a hint of artifacting to be found. Thanks for providing such a great transfer, Image.

Image Transfer Grade: A

Audio Transfer
Language Remote Access
DS 2.0 English yes
Dolby Digital
5.1 English yes
DTS English yes

Audio Transfer Review:
I love a good DTS track. Don't get me wrong, Dolby Digital sounds very good, but when you get a well-done DTS track, it sounds phenomenal. So I'm very pleased with these Image music discs that include a DTS track. Both the Dolby Digital and DTS tracks give you a good sense of what it feels like to be in the room with the guy on stage. The music envelops you. I noticed that Ray Manzarek and his organ, who is on the left side of the screen, only comes out of the left speaker, while Robby Kreiger only comes from the right. John Densmore is anchored solidly in the middle. I really liked the directional aspect of the mix.

Now for the differences in the two tracks. It's hard to discern much difference between the Dolby Digital and DTS tracks here. The DTS track is a little more spacious than the Dolby Digital track, but so slight is the difference that you won't be missing out on any great sonic experience by hearing it in Dolby Digital. Still, I'm glad Image provided us with the option. Speaking of options, there's also a Dolby Digital 2.0 track, for those without surround sound.

Audio Transfer Grade: A-

Disc Extras
Full Motion menu with music
Scene Access with 9 cues and remote access
Packaging: Amaray
1 Disc
1-Sided disc(s)
Layers: RSDL
Layers Switch: Unknown

Extra Extras:

1.Bonus performances of Wild Child with Ian Astbury and Riders On The Storm with Scott Stapp

2.Collectible booklet filled with essays and biographies
Extras Review: Two bonus videos. The first is Riders On The Storm with Scott Stapp. True to form, Stapp ruins it. The other is Wild Child with Ian Astbury. Astbury gives a commendable performance, but Wild Child is an awkwardly written song for which I have never had much appreciation. We also get a collectible booklet, which has one essay on The Doors, a history of the band plus discography, and short biographies of the guest singers. The last two pages are an account of getting the episode made, written by Storytellers executive producer, Bill Flanagan. I really liked the booklet; it was informative and more convenient to read than if the information had been put on the DVD itself (although I may be in the minority on the issue!).

Extras Grade: C+

Final Comments
A great way to deflate the "almighty Morrison" myth, The Doors: VH1 Storytellers is noteworthy for some great performances as well as some informative stories.


Digitally Obsessed.com
Review By: Daniel Hirshleifer
Published: July 10, 2001

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

Goldmine magazine March 10th 2000

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

The DVD booklet