An icon for all eras, this Dionysus singer lived hard, died young but made quite an effect during his five-year stint as a '60s bad boy. When the Lizard King wasn't getting arrested for indecency or singing the rally cry of frat boys everywhere, "I woke up this morning and got myself a beer," the intelligent and naturally gifted baritone singer simultaneously challenged our morals and flipped the bird to the establishment.

He was as dark and mysterious in life as in death, which came to him at the age of 27.

Nevertheless, 36 years after the Doors' "Light My Fire" fueled the "Summer of Love" and 31 years after Morrison's death, the Doors 21st Century, featuring original members Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger, alongside Morrison-influenced Ian Astbury (the Cult), are touring with a Saturday show at the Scene Pavilion. There are two questions surrounding this Doors project: The first of which is why now and not, say, 25 years ago?

"I have no idea," said Ray Manzarek from his Los Angeles home. "Musicians work off their own time frame and it was something about the time that just seemed right. It was a confluence of energies that seemed to be in the right place at the right time, and the right gig came along.

"The Doors played the VH1 special 'Storytellers,' with various lead singers. Ian Astbury was one of them, and when Harley Davidson asked us to play a Los Angeles concert, Robbie called me and said they want us to get back together and play. And I said, 'Well, let's do it already man,' because Ian was available."

The other question revolves around whether or not the late Jim Morrison would've approved?

"Jim was a poet and his words are being spoken out to an audience for the first time in a long time, by living human beings to living people in the audience," Manzarek said. "Poets love to have their words said in public and Jim Morrison would love it."

During the decades that have passed since the Doors called it quits in 1973 (that's right, two years and two albums after Morrison's death), Manzarek has been the band's spokesperson, maintaining their image with a certain degree of '60s-hippie philosophy that borders on the nonsensical.

For example, when asked why the Doors didn't continue on years ago with a new singer (apparently they did contact Joe Cocker but the grouping never happened), Manzarek replied: "The difference between the '60s and today, you've ingested a psychedelic substance, you've found out the meaning of life ... you've blown your mind ... So, you begin to trust in the energy of existence, of creation, and you flow with the energy that comes from the sun and that is your father in the sky, who will take good care of you."

Back here on planet earth, Doors fans -- most of which weren't born when the band was together originally -- can expect quite a powerful set list including "Light My Fire," "When The Music is Over," "Whiskey Bar," "Five to One," "People are Strange," "Peace Frog" and new tracks "Cops Talk" and "American Express," which will appear on a future studio album due out in 2004. Overall, it should be one "stoned immaculate" evening.

"If you want to hear Doors songs played live by the Doors with Ian Astbury singing and a great rhythm section, come to the show," Manzarek said. "We guarantee you an evening of kick-ass rock'n'roll, dark and mysterious."

With that, Morrison wouldn't want it any other way.