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Los
Angeles Times Calendar, 9 September 2002
Retooled Doors find new magic in old hits
before revved-up fans at Harley Davidson fest
A strange tension gripped the California Speedway in Fontana on
Friday night, September 6, 2002, as The Doors, including ex-Police
drummer Stewart Copeland, took the stage. Striding up to the microphone
was not Jim Morrison but his doppelgänger, British rocker Ian Astbury,
complete with a head of natural black curls. As original keyboard
player Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger stepped up to a
roar of approval from the 5,000 bikers and classic-rock fans gathered
in the dusty infield for a concert celebrating the 100th anniversary
of Harley-Davidson, the legacy of The Doors hung for a moment in
the balance. But as Krieger laid into the loping opening riff to
Roadhouse Blues, it suddenly seemed that the band's risky
endeavor could work: there could be a new Doors. Astbury's
rich baritone picked up the verse with Morrison's inflections – "Keep your eyes on the road, your hand upon the wheel" – and the
crowd began to roar. Yes, it was The Doors' greatest hits, with
all that that implies. But it was more too. It wasn't Morrison,
it wasn't a tribute act, it was Astbury revealing that the familiar
songs – L.A. Woman, Break On Through, Five to One – held
new potential. Manzarek, visibly moved by what was happening before
him, couldn't help but shout out what he'd been waiting 30 years
to say: "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is The Doors! We're here to
witness the new Doors for the 21st century."
"We're going to offer Doors passion and Doors
spirituality to a new generation," said Manzarek, 63, "That looks
like right because now we could really use a dose of truth and reality
and making music just for the sheer love of making music." While
Ian Astbury and his hard-rock stance with the British band The Cult
might seem like a strange fit for The Doors, he suits the combination
of romantic poet and spiritual warrior that drove the original band
members, Manzarek and Krieger. Now it looks as if the new Doors
will give him the opportunity to write new lyrics as well. After
a bit of touring, Manzarek and Krieger plan to work on the first
new Doors material since 1978's AN AMERICAN PRAYER, which featured
Morrison vocals and poems. Krieger says they've been writing for
six months, the first time they've written together in decades,
and have eight to 10 new songs. The core band will be the one that
appeared in Fontana: Manzarek, Krieger, Astbury, explosive drummer
Copeland and young bassist Angelo Barbera. Densmore may work on
the project if his current bout of tinnitus, a ringing in the ears
common to rock musicians, improves. They'll also be working with
other poets such as musician-actor John Doe of the seminal Los Angeles
rock band X and "Basketball Diaries" author Jim Carroll, whose 1980
rock album CATHOLIC BOY remains a touchstone of urban punk poetry.
Doe came out at Fontana to read Jim Morrison's
poem Ghost Song. Stewart Copeland, whose virtuoso drumming
pushed the old songs toward a new aggression, says his new role
couldn't have been more natural. "I already knew all the songs,"
he said with a laugh. "I used to play Doors songs when I was 14
years old in a cover band in Beirut. These are such great songs,
so well structured, I haven't had this much fun since The Police."
The only Doors song they won't do, say Manzarek and Krieger, is
The End. That song was Jim's. Everything else is being put
back in the lineup, and they're finding the old feelings are flooding
back. "I don't think it's any different 30 years ago than it is
today," said Manzarek. "Human beings are sentient, they want to
be hit in the loins with a good beat, and they want to stimulate
their brain, and they want to feel their heart chakra just pumping
love. We all want exactly the same thing: We want to get off. We
want to rock."
Set list: 1. Roadhouse Blues / 2. Break On Through / 3. When
The Music's Over / 4. Love Me Two Times / 5. Alabama Song / Back
Door Man / Five To One / 6. Strange Days / 7. Awake / Ghost Song
/ The Hill Dwellers (recited by John Doe) / 8. Love Street / 9.
Moonlight Drive / Horse Latitudes / 10. Wild Child / 11. Summer's
Almost Gone / 12. L.A. Woman / 13. Light My Fire / Encore:
14. Riders On The Storm / 15. Roadhouse Blues (with Waylon Krieger
on guitar).
The
Press-Enterprise, Fontana, September 9, 2002
The Doors, headed by singer Ian Astbury of The Cult,
performed for the first time since 1972
Cathy Maestri
Friday's thin crowd swelled for The Doors' first public concert
since September of 1972. Several vocalists have stood in following
Jim Morrison's death in 1971, but the Cult's Ian Astbury looks like
the one with the right balance of reverence. The English singer's
voice is naturally blustery and powerful and he stayed true to it.
And instead of aping Morrison's theatrics, Astbury was straightforward.
"It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it," he said.
There were only two original members onstage – professional keyboardist and host Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby
Krieger, who looked frail but sounded strong. John Densmore's tinnitus
(a persistent ringing in the ears) makes it difficult for him to
perform live, so former Police drummer Stewart Copeland was his
crackling replacement.
X singer John Doe was the one who got to dive
into Morrison's poetic legacy. Accompanied by Navajo and Lakota
dancers, part-time actor Doe made a guest appearance for a riveting
recital of Morrison's poetry. Ghost Song was spoken atop
an updated groove, and The Hill Dwellers ended with a crescendo
that did the Lizard King proud.
Older fans seemed thrilled to be able to relive
the vibe. A number of teen and twenty something fans were ecstatic
with their first Doors experience. There was a bit of griping about
updated arrangements – Strange Days had Middle Eastern touches,
twinkling pianos added to the cabaret feel of Love Street
and the pace picked up noticeably on Light My Fire (which
included guitar riffs from the Beatles' Eleanor Rigby) and
Riders On The Storm – but there was nothing grievous.
And while the major complaint would be that they both opened and
closed with Roadhouse Blues, while leaving other standards
undone, it was interesting to compare the old Doors with the updated
encore version – with Krieger's son Waylon on electric guitar, it
sent waves of electricity through the crowd it hadn't before. It
would be a good idea to add The Doors' second generation for the
2003 tour.
CD
NOW'S ALL-STAR NEWS, September 9, 2002
The Cult's Ian Astbury Channels
Jim Morrison's Spirit At Doors' Harley Show
Corey Levitan
There are now two empty place settings at the feast of friends.
It wasn't only the late Jim Morrison's absence, but drummer John
Densmore's hanging ominously over The Doors' first concert in 30
years on Friday (September 6) night. Densmore was sidelined by chronic
tinnitus, so former Police drummer Stewart Copeland subbed as the
legendary band appeared for one night on the Harley-Davidson Open
Road Tour at the California Speedway, 70 miles outside Los Angeles.
The music was 90 minutes of surprising pleasure.
On rock radio staples such as Break on Through, Riders
on the Storm, and the show-opening (and closing) Roadhouse
Blues, The Cult's Ian Astbury perfectly replicated Morrison's
drony baritone, occasionally surpassing it with his better range
and vibrato. The singer even seemed to channel the Lizard King's
spirit, lapsing into shamanistic trances during Five To One
and Back Door Man. "I love Jim Morrison as much as you
do," said Astbury, 40, who in his short shag resembled a cross
between Morrison and Sammy Hagar. Robby Krieger, 56, shredded his
trademark Gibson SG more nimbly than ever, tapping like Eddie Van
Halen during an emotive When The Music's Over solo. And Ray
Manzarek, 63, has gotten better with age, too, executing eloquent
piano flourishes that nearly justified his hammy facial gestures.
Copeland, one of rock's most gifted drummers, was no slouch on the
stool – although some of his reggae off-beats didn't fit, and he
kept increasing Light My Fire's tempo until it resembled
a techno remix. And although The Doors never featured a bass player,
they were bolstered by young Krieger four-stringer Angelo Barbera.
Essentially, it was a better Doors band gracing the stage.
The Doors, who play another Harley anniversary
show at Molson Park in Barrie, Ontario, on September 29 intend to
tour and record a new album next year with Astbury. Densmore is
expected on the album, but not the tour.
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