L. A. WOMAN confidential . . . by Ida
Doors news, appearances and tidbits from a "lucky little lady in the city of lights" at www.idafan.com

latest news update: Sunday, July 5 9:10 a.m.

The Doors Ray, Jim, Robby & John

'When You're Strange' (with narration by Johnny Depp)

http://www.whenyourestrangemovie.com/

Riders On The Storm Ray & Robby
with Brett Scallions, Phil Chen, and Ty Dennis

latest Doors news:
July 5, 2009 July 3 in Paris <> 'The Beaches of Agnes' <> Robby on vintage TV <> John on vintage TV
I have received a bunch of YouTube videos from Pere Lachaise on July 3rd of fans sitting around playing instruments, singing, and/or reading poetry to commemorate the 38th anniversary of Jim's death. I'm sure you can find them with YouTube searches, if those interest you. I will include only one here, which has renowned Morrison grave photographer and friend Michelle Campbell in the background posing for photos and reading Jim's lyrics and poetry. Michelle is an American who moved to Paris from Texas several decades ago. Her amazing photos of Jim's grave through the years are prevalent in many books. See video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16I0krq88GI&feature=channel_page (thanks, Gilles and Stuart)

Jim Morrison can be seen in a brief segment in French film maker's new film 'Les Plages d'Agnès' ('The Beaches of Agnes') which has been showing at a few select theaters in the L.A. area. The Los Angeles Times recently ran some stories about her life and career. Read them at: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-agnes3-2009jul03,0,898119.story and http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-beaches3-2009jul03,0,1255725.story. Parisian Doors fan, collector and friend of Jim Morrison Gilles Yepremian sent me a YouTube clip from the movie which shows Jim and Alain Ronay on a film set of Agnes's husband, Jacques Demy. Check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qipn_EQ-Xdg&feature=related (thanks, Gilles)

Robby Krieger appeared on TV's "Married With Children" back in 1992. The episode is titled 'Rock of Ages' and includes other 60's rockers Spencer Davis, John Sebastian, Richie Havens, Peter Noone, and Mark Lindsay. The storyline is that Al Bundy won a contest to sell the most shoes to win a trip to Hawaii. During the last ten minutes of the show, the Bundy clan encounter Robby and the others in an airport lounge. Robby has both a speaking part and a singing part!!! This show is being re-run on TBS Channel on Wednesday, July 15 at 2:00 a.m. (west coast time). Check local listings. A MUST-SEE for Robby fans! For more info on this episode, go to: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0642364/

John Densmore appeared in an episode of "Beverly Hills 90210" in 1992, which is currently in re-runs on SOAP channel. Episode #2.23 is entitled 'Cardio-Funk' and was first broadcast February 27, 1992. John plays Ben, Dylan's sponsor. This episode is scheduled to air Sunday, July 12 at 6:00 a.m. (west coast time). Check local listings.

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June 26, 2009 Jac Holzman on 'WYS'
Elektra Records founder Jac Holzman was at a private screening of 'When You're Strange' last week, which was also attended by Johnny Depp and John Densmore, among others. Writer & Director Tom DiCillo has posted Holzman's letter to him on blog #60 Strange in LA at: http://www.tomdicillo.com/blog/?p=204 DiCillo's preface to sharing the letter should also be read, but here is the content of Holzman's email:

Tom - I saw the screening over the weekend and was just knocked out. There have been many attempts at a Doors film AND so many abject failures that I had despaired of anyone getting it “right.” And by “right” I meant just letting the band and their music hit a contemporary audience full blast.

I have lived with The Doors for 43 years and understand that the sheer power and danger of the group had to come out through their music even more than in live performance footage. You got that just right. In the context of all the music that flowed into the mighty rock ‘n’ roll tributary, The Doors still excite, chill, inform and challenge the listener.

The canny addition of the HWY material as context-within-context, the intense editing without showiness, sound mixing, Johnny Depp’s subtle phrasing and solid narration all fuse into one of the great films about music and the crazy, driven people who have no choice but to create it. Pondering the movie later I realized what guts it took for Ray, Robbie and John even to get on a stage with Jim. Only the best and most committed musicians could have made that work.

When You’re Strange viscerally plugs into that tremulous period when The Doors represented the furthest edge to which one might aspire without actually getting arrested. I’ve alerted my associates at Warner Music Group about the June 30th screening in New York. I’ve told them this is a “must see” music movie. Jac

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June 25, 2009 Westwood! <> more on L.A.F.F. <> Alta Cienega graffiti <> Mexico Restaurant
A few words about Westwood: what a week it's been for that town. The reinvigorated L.A. Film Festival started last Thursday and continues through this Sunday. The Federal Building was the site of large demonstrations and candlelight vigils for the political drama unfolding in Iran last weekend . Ed McMahon passed away at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center on Tuesday morning. And this afternoon, Michael Jackson was transported to that same hospital before the news of his death was confirmed. I apologize in advance if this sounds crass or callous, but it's from the perspective of a movie-goer: it is a lucky break for attendees of 'When You're Strange' screenings that none were planned for late this afternoon or this evening! It probably would have been near impossible to get into town, let alone find parking. 'Nuff said.

Speaking of the L.A. Film Festival and 'When You're Strange' again .... I have seen some pix on-line from the LAFF that indicate that Johnny Depp was there for the premiere of his newest film last week. Maybe he got to attend a private WYS screening before he took off on the promotional tour for 'Public Enemies.' I also heard that Jac Holzman saw it. I know I've been grousing about there being no Q&A sessions following the two screenings here this week; I should clarify that the absence of Writer & Director Tom DiCillo was not intentional on his part, but was due to his own schedule and the producers' decision to keep the film 'low profile' at this film festival. (But I still missed them!)

When I left Westwood yesterday afternoon after the WYS screening, I decided to kill some time to wait out the rush hour traffic. I headed for the intersection of La Cienega and Santa Monica Boulevards to visit the new Mexican restaurant that occupies 8512 Santa Monica, formerly Benvenuto. As I sat waiting for the light to change, I spotted new graffiti on the wall beneath Room 32 at Alta Cienega, so I returned on foot to take a photo. It says: Jim's Joint is the best in the west. see photo here. You'll notice HWY written on the wall to left of the window.

The new Mexican restaurant called Mexico Restaurante y Barra was my actual destination before I detoured to take the photo at Alta Cienega. I will upload some of the photos I took within the next few days. For the time being, I can report that the latest incarnation of the former rehearsal space and office of The Doors in the 1960's appears to be doing very well so far. Mexico opens at 5:00 p.m. 7 days a week and closes at 11 p.m. Thursday thru Saturday, and at 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday. And there are 'happy hour' prices, too! The beautiful upstairs lounge is open until 1:00 a.m. To say that this place is colorful is an understatement, and it has many authentic touches! I was glad to see that many of the wait staff from the Benvenuto era were still there, especially Sergio and Luis! The brass plaque that was installed on the front pillar explaining The Doors history there, is still in place!!! Until I get my own pictures uploaded, check out their website at: www.gogomexico.com The L.A. Times featured them in their 'Scene Setter' piece last week which you can read (and check out photos) at: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-earlybird22-2009jun22,0,5955877.story

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June 24, 2009 'When You're Strange' screening #2
'When You're Strange' had its second and final screening at the L.A. Film Festival this afternoon at The Regent in Westwood, just south of the UCLA campus. I am pretty sure this show was sold out because before the screening began, the theater people were scurrying around looking for empty seats and then directing late arrivals to those. Ray & Dorothy Manzarek, along with Robby Krieger and his son Waylon, entered the theater from a front side door to audience cheers and applause. I also spotted Jim's oldest nephew, Dylan Graham (Anne's son). Once again, a festival employee read a statement from Writer & Director Tom DiCillo before the film rolled. The film was applauded and cheered as the credits rolled by. As I mentioned in my Sunday night screening re-cap, it is unfortunate that the WYS audiences at this film festival in particular did not have the benefit of the Q&A segment with DiCillo, which he conducted after every Sundance showing. What with the proximity to UCLA, and the 'hometown' nature of this locale, there may have been some interesting and lively discussion points brought up by attendees! Next week there is a buyer's screening in New York City. Here's hoping this film gets a theatrical release very soon!

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June 23, 2009 'When You're Strange'
It should be noted that Tom DiCillo is not only the Director of 'When You're Strange' but he is also the Writer. I keep neglecting to credit him for the terrific script that weaves together all the footage and tells the story in a new and fresh manner. I've inserted that descriptive in yesterday's news story and will try to remember to give him that credit going forward! That being said ... in the News section of DiCillo's website today at http://www.tomdicillo.com/blog/?page_id=192 he mentions that there will be a buyer's screening in NYC on June 30th. Now, this is important! The film needs a buyer in order to get it into distribution as a feature film so audiences everywhere can see it as it is intended: in a theater on a large screen with a great sound system, with that pristine HWY footage and outtakes! DiCillo has been really good about communicating what is going on on his website, so we can look forward to more blog updates. He goes on to say that Johnny Depp saw the film over the weekend and was 'extremely complimentary.' It's all good! By the way, if you scroll down to the bottom section of DiCillo's blog at http://www.tomdicillo.com/blog/?p=181, you will find some comments from others who were in the audience on Sunday night, and his responses.

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June 22, 2009 'When You're Strange' premiere
'When You're Strange' had its L.A. Film Festival premiere last night at the Mann Festival Theater in Westwood. It was the first screening at this festival, located in the heart of Westwood near UCLA where Morrison and Manzarek and Ferrara all fatefully came together. This was also the first public screening of the film with the new Johnny Depp narration. I never had a problem with the original narration by Writer & Director Tom DiCillo, but I certainly do like the Depp contribution. The new and improved narration is leaner (less talking over the footage) and Depp's nuanced inflections hit the right marks! This version includes some newly added footage that was not in the earlier, DiCillo-narrated version. The HWY footage edited in from the newly-surfaced original negative is nothing short of stunning! I can't stress that enough!! If you have ever seen a grainy, time-coded bootleg of HWY, you may understand what I'm trying to impart. The music is rich sounding and many of the songs get to play out in their entirety. Prior to the screening, one of the L.A.F.F. people read a statement from the absent DiCillo; that included a well-deserved acknowledgement of cinematographer Paul Ferrara who was in the audience with his wife Sandy. At the Sundance Festival screening I attended in January, the audience benefitted from both a brief introduction from Director DiCillo, as well as a Q&A with him following the film. In that regard, this festival audience missed out on something! I did not see any members of The Doors there, but that's not to say there were none just because I didn't spot any. Celebrity sighting: we noticed actor Adrian Grenier (of Entourage) walking past us to get into line. There is only one more chance to see 'When You're Strange' at this film festival. Tickets can still be purchased on-line for theWednesday afternoon (2:00) screening at The Regent: http://www.lafilmfest.com/tixSYS/2009/xslguide/eventnote.php?EventNumber=5305

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read more Prior News & Reviews here

Robby news only Ray news only John news only
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calendar of upcoming Doors events

radio Sunday, July 5, 2009 ~~ The Doors will be featured on 'Off The Record' with Joe Benson. The segment description says it will include discussions with Robby, Ray, John, and Bruce Botnick. 'Off The Record' is nationally syndicated, so check their website at: http://unclejoe.com/xotr.html for local stations.

T. V. - Sunday, July 12, 2009 ~~ John Densmore appeared in an episode of "Beverly Hills 90210" in 1992, which is currently in re-runs on SOAP channel. Episode #2.23 is entitled 'Cardio-Funk' and was first broadcast February 27, 1992. John plays Ben, Dylan's sponsor. This episode is scheduled to air at 6:00 a.m. (west coast time). Check local listings.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 ~~ release date of 'The Doors: From The Outside', a new unauthorized DVD biography on the band. To read the write-up in the L.A. Weekly, go to: http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/milking-the-band/milking-the-band-the-doors-get/. Patricia Kennealy, Doug Sundling, Richard Goldstein, Robert Christgau, and James Riordan are some of the contributors.

T. V. - Wednesday, July 15, 2009 ~~ Robby Krieger appeared on "Married With Children" in 1992. The episode is entitled 'Rock Of Ages' and includes other 60's rockers Spencer Davis, John Sebastian, Richie Havens, Peter Noone, and Mark Lindsay. The storyline is that Al Bundy is competing to sell the most shoes to win a trip to Hawaii. During the last ten minutes of the show, The Bundy clan encounter Robby and the others in an airport lounge. Robby has both a speaking part and a singing part!!!! This show is being re-run on TBS at 2:00 a.m. (west coast time). Check local listings. A MUST-SEE for Robby fans. For more info on this episode, go to: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0642364/

CD release date (approximate) Summer 2009 ~~ Robby Krieger will release a new solo CD titled 'Singularity' ... to listen to some music samples and see the CD cover artwork, go to: http://robbykrieger.com/singularity/singularity.html

appearance Sunday, October 25, 2009 ~~ Ray Manzarek and Michael McClure will perform at 'West Fest', a west coast free celebration of the Woodstock Festival that will take place at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.

Sometime in 2009 ~~ "When You're Strange" movie soundtrack will be released from Rhino Entertainment

more upcoming Doors events here

have you missed out on Doors appearances? see past Doors events listed here

order Paul Ferrara's "Flash Of Eden" here

order Doug Lubahn's "My Days With The Doors and Other Stories" here

order Alan Graham's "I Remember" here

The Doors "stuff for sale"

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Mexico Restaurante y Barra, the Mexican restaurant at 8512 Santa Monica Boulevard in the building that was formerly the site of The Doors office & rehearsal workshop read L.A. Times review www.gogomexico.com
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July 2007 interview with Webmistress Ida

2007 major exhibit honoring The Doors at Cleveland's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum

Jim Morrison 2003 exhibit at Cleveland's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum

Diary of a Doors Drama: the trial

stranded in Houston with Robby ... a/k/a, "My Most Favorite Flight Delay Adventure, EVER!!"

* profile of Ty Dennis, drummer *