Post by TheWallsScreamedPoetry on Feb 3, 2012 11:01:44 GMT
The Doors’ keyboardist on Jim Morrison’s death, keeping The Doors’ music alive, why he hates the movie The Doors, and what Jim would think of the re-formed band.
It’s been more than 35 years since Jim Morrison casually announced: “I’m off to Paris,” leaving his stunned bandmates – guitarist Robbie Krieger, drummer John Densmore and keyboard player Ray Manzarek – to finish off the recording of The Doors’ sixth studio album, L.A.
Woman, without their charismatic singer.
KEVIN MURPHY Classic Rock Magazine May 2006
Struggling with the pressure of fronting the darkly haunting group, an increasing dependency on alcohol and his impending appeal against a conviction for profanity and indecent exposure, in early 1971 the 27-year-old Morrison headed to the home of his literary heroes in search of inspiration and a little peace. On July 3, 1971, following a heart attack in the bath in his Parisian apartment, he found that peace – eternally.
Next year will be the 40th anniversary of the release of The Doors’ self-titled debut album.
Although Morrison is long gone, The Doors’ music is alive and well, with keyboardist Manzarek and guitarist Krieger teaming up with ex-Cult singer Ian Astbury and touring as Riders On The Storm (they had to cease using the name The Doors Of The 21st Century for legal reasons).
From his home in Napa, California, the passionate, eloquent, spiritual and youthful Manzarek discusses his old friend Jim, drugs, and how Paul McCartney almost became a member of The Doors.
Why did you re-form the Doors in 2002?
It seemed like a good idea. It seemed like the right time. The opportunity came around when Harley Davidson called Robbie and asked us to play for their 100th anniversary.
I said: “Sounds good to me. Let’s do it, and let’s get Ian.” All three of us had played together on a VH1 special called Storytellers.
What was it about Ian?
Dark, brooding, Celtic, Christian, shamanic, American Indian spirituality, Buddhism, poetry lover…
He’s very much like Jim Morrison. As a matter of fact I’d say he was Jim Morrison’s European cousin. They’re cut from the same cloth.
In your book Light My Fire you express some guilt over Morrison’s death. Do you think you could have prevented it?
Now, looking back on it, no. I would have done everything, had I known he was going to Paris to die. I wouldn’t have let him go, but I don’t know how I could have stopped him. I didn’t know anything at the time about alcoholism. I didn’t think Jim Morrison would go from being a psychedelic acid head to an alcoholic, but that was the path he took.
Do you think he went to Paris to die?
Yes.
It was premeditated?
No, not premeditated. It was the end of the line. The end of the era. Psychically he was being drawn into the madness that Paris swirls around itself. Certainly in that early- 70s era there were far too many bad intoxicating drugs going around in Paris.
As a poet, do you think it played into some sort of romantic notion of his to go to Paris and die?
Well, for him to go to Paris, yes, of course.
Absolutely. That’s what I thought was so great about him going to Paris, and he was going to write his poetry and rejuvenate himself. He was going to be the next generation of Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Henry Miller: Americans in Paris.
I thought, that’s perfect, get away from rock’n’roll, get away from the groupies, get away from the sycophants, get away from those so-called ‘friends’ of his who would just hang out with him at the bar. He had succumbed to fame, because fame allows you to be indulged. And Jim, being the wild man, the madman, went for everything that was proffered to him [laughs]. Grace Slick tells the story about Jim and her and Paul Kantner [Jefferson Airplane] in Amsterdam when we played together, and people were just handing them drugs. Grace puts the drugs in her pocket and says: “I’ll save these for a later day”; Jim consumed them all. It was impossible for Jim Morrison to say no.
Jim Morrison’s death has always been shrouded in mystery. Do you still have any doubts that he’s buried at Père Lachaise cemetery?
None. I never did.
In your book, you mention the casket being sealed before the band’s roadie, Bill Siddons, had a chance to view the body.
What a mistake that guy made, huh? I mean, the idea that a sealed coffin was buried in Père Lachaise was obviously going to give flame to an insane rumour that Jim Morrison was still alive. And that’s exactly what happened. Of course, wouldn’t it be wonderful if he was alive? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if he was in fact out in the Seychelles and had found a little brownskinned girl and had married her and had a couple of kids and was living the life of a recluse on the beach in the Seychelles? That’s my wish for Jim Morrison.
How big a part did drugs play in The Doors?
Drugs played a huge part in the individuals in The Doors, not in The Doors themselves.
We hardly ever played on drugs. A hit of grass and a beer, maybe a shot of whiskey, and you’re flying.
Following Morrison’s death you considered bringing in another singer. I understand Paul McCartney was one of the names mentioned?
Yes. Paul was going to play bass. That would have worked out great. Who knows what direction we would have gone off into had that actually happened.
And also Joe Cocker?
Yes. That would have been great.
Why do you think Densmore filed a lawsuit preventing you and the re-formed band from using the name The Doors?
Oh, well, he’s got his reasons, doesn’t he?
What do you think they are?
I’m not going to tell you. There’ll be more trouble. I’m in enough trouble with that guy.
What was it about Oliver Stone’s movie The Doors that you hated so vehemently?
The portrayal of Morrison. I think he really did a disservice to Morrison. There were a couple of things he got right: he got the name of the band, and the music was terrific.
I really liked the songs those guys have. But he didn’t get Morrison’s wit, his humour.
Morrison was very intelligent, very wellread, very witty, very charming; he was not this kind of bizzaro person.
What do you imagine Jim would think of the re-formed Doors?
He’d love it. That’s the irony. He’d love it because he’s a poet, and a poet would say: “Read my words aloud.” There’s nothing a poet likes better than having someone speak those words out to an audience.
It’s been more than 35 years since Jim Morrison casually announced: “I’m off to Paris,” leaving his stunned bandmates – guitarist Robbie Krieger, drummer John Densmore and keyboard player Ray Manzarek – to finish off the recording of The Doors’ sixth studio album, L.A.
Woman, without their charismatic singer.
KEVIN MURPHY Classic Rock Magazine May 2006
Struggling with the pressure of fronting the darkly haunting group, an increasing dependency on alcohol and his impending appeal against a conviction for profanity and indecent exposure, in early 1971 the 27-year-old Morrison headed to the home of his literary heroes in search of inspiration and a little peace. On July 3, 1971, following a heart attack in the bath in his Parisian apartment, he found that peace – eternally.
Next year will be the 40th anniversary of the release of The Doors’ self-titled debut album.
Although Morrison is long gone, The Doors’ music is alive and well, with keyboardist Manzarek and guitarist Krieger teaming up with ex-Cult singer Ian Astbury and touring as Riders On The Storm (they had to cease using the name The Doors Of The 21st Century for legal reasons).
From his home in Napa, California, the passionate, eloquent, spiritual and youthful Manzarek discusses his old friend Jim, drugs, and how Paul McCartney almost became a member of The Doors.
Why did you re-form the Doors in 2002?
It seemed like a good idea. It seemed like the right time. The opportunity came around when Harley Davidson called Robbie and asked us to play for their 100th anniversary.
I said: “Sounds good to me. Let’s do it, and let’s get Ian.” All three of us had played together on a VH1 special called Storytellers.
What was it about Ian?
Dark, brooding, Celtic, Christian, shamanic, American Indian spirituality, Buddhism, poetry lover…
He’s very much like Jim Morrison. As a matter of fact I’d say he was Jim Morrison’s European cousin. They’re cut from the same cloth.
In your book Light My Fire you express some guilt over Morrison’s death. Do you think you could have prevented it?
Now, looking back on it, no. I would have done everything, had I known he was going to Paris to die. I wouldn’t have let him go, but I don’t know how I could have stopped him. I didn’t know anything at the time about alcoholism. I didn’t think Jim Morrison would go from being a psychedelic acid head to an alcoholic, but that was the path he took.
Do you think he went to Paris to die?
Yes.
It was premeditated?
No, not premeditated. It was the end of the line. The end of the era. Psychically he was being drawn into the madness that Paris swirls around itself. Certainly in that early- 70s era there were far too many bad intoxicating drugs going around in Paris.
As a poet, do you think it played into some sort of romantic notion of his to go to Paris and die?
Well, for him to go to Paris, yes, of course.
Absolutely. That’s what I thought was so great about him going to Paris, and he was going to write his poetry and rejuvenate himself. He was going to be the next generation of Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Henry Miller: Americans in Paris.
I thought, that’s perfect, get away from rock’n’roll, get away from the groupies, get away from the sycophants, get away from those so-called ‘friends’ of his who would just hang out with him at the bar. He had succumbed to fame, because fame allows you to be indulged. And Jim, being the wild man, the madman, went for everything that was proffered to him [laughs]. Grace Slick tells the story about Jim and her and Paul Kantner [Jefferson Airplane] in Amsterdam when we played together, and people were just handing them drugs. Grace puts the drugs in her pocket and says: “I’ll save these for a later day”; Jim consumed them all. It was impossible for Jim Morrison to say no.
Jim Morrison’s death has always been shrouded in mystery. Do you still have any doubts that he’s buried at Père Lachaise cemetery?
None. I never did.
In your book, you mention the casket being sealed before the band’s roadie, Bill Siddons, had a chance to view the body.
What a mistake that guy made, huh? I mean, the idea that a sealed coffin was buried in Père Lachaise was obviously going to give flame to an insane rumour that Jim Morrison was still alive. And that’s exactly what happened. Of course, wouldn’t it be wonderful if he was alive? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if he was in fact out in the Seychelles and had found a little brownskinned girl and had married her and had a couple of kids and was living the life of a recluse on the beach in the Seychelles? That’s my wish for Jim Morrison.
How big a part did drugs play in The Doors?
Drugs played a huge part in the individuals in The Doors, not in The Doors themselves.
We hardly ever played on drugs. A hit of grass and a beer, maybe a shot of whiskey, and you’re flying.
Following Morrison’s death you considered bringing in another singer. I understand Paul McCartney was one of the names mentioned?
Yes. Paul was going to play bass. That would have worked out great. Who knows what direction we would have gone off into had that actually happened.
And also Joe Cocker?
Yes. That would have been great.
Why do you think Densmore filed a lawsuit preventing you and the re-formed band from using the name The Doors?
Oh, well, he’s got his reasons, doesn’t he?
What do you think they are?
I’m not going to tell you. There’ll be more trouble. I’m in enough trouble with that guy.
What was it about Oliver Stone’s movie The Doors that you hated so vehemently?
The portrayal of Morrison. I think he really did a disservice to Morrison. There were a couple of things he got right: he got the name of the band, and the music was terrific.
I really liked the songs those guys have. But he didn’t get Morrison’s wit, his humour.
Morrison was very intelligent, very wellread, very witty, very charming; he was not this kind of bizzaro person.
What do you imagine Jim would think of the re-formed Doors?
He’d love it. That’s the irony. He’d love it because he’s a poet, and a poet would say: “Read my words aloud.” There’s nothing a poet likes better than having someone speak those words out to an audience.