World situation a '60s flashback, says Doors founder

Published in the Asbury Park Press 06/19/05

BY MARK VOGER
STAFF WRITER

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

That's what keyboardist Ray Manzarek came to believe when he and his fellow Doors founder, guitarist Robby Krieger, relaunched their '60s rock band under the moniker Doors of the 21st Century.

"What's interesting," Manzarek tells CELEBS, "is that now, we're in the 21st century and there's not a lot that has changed. We're at war again. People are still trying to ruin the environment, just like they were back then. For Robby and me, it's a real deja vu. It's like, 'Didn't we go through this from 1965 to 1973?' It's still going on. It's strange days, indeed."

Manzarek's use of the phrase "strange days" may or may not be a reference to the Doors' current tour, the Strange Days Festival, which also boasts Steppenwolf, Vanilla Fudge, the Yardbirds and Pat Travers. The tour is set to reach Holmdel on Friday.

This is the reunited Doors' second go-round; the band toured in 2002 with singer Ian Astbury of the Cult filling in for Jim Morrison (who died at age 27 in 1971). Manzarek says Astbury was nervous at first.

"I mean, my God, this poor guy is taking the place of Jim Morrison," the musician says. "Well, not that he's replacing Jim Morrison; he's just the new lead singer of the Doors of the 21st Century. Jim's gone, and Ian's singing the songs.

"Robby and I told him: 'Hey, man, be yourself. Don't do Jim. You just sing the songs. Sing "Light My Fire." Sing "Crystal Ship." You've got a great voice. We didn't hire you to be a Jim Morrison replacement. We hired you to be Ian Astbury -- the singer from the Cult -- doing Doors songs.'

"Eventually, he just eased into it very, very nicely. He got a lot of confidence. The audience just loved him. He put on the role of the Doors' lead singer like an old coat."

Speaking of putting on the role: Manzarek and Krieger also had to reach back. For the old-timers, did it feel like they were summoning old spirits?

"Oh, the old spirits, the old energy, was definitely there," Manzarek says.

"I mean, we're up there onstage, and it's like being at the Fillmore -- Fillmore East, Fillmore West. It's like seeing the great concert we played in Asbury Park, New Jersey, that Bruce Springsteen came to when he was just getting started. Max Weinberg was there; Max was telling us the story of coming to Asbury Park. Yeah, we're definitely in touch with the old spirits."

Another aspect of the reunion once again reminded Manzarek that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

He recalls: "The first time around (in 2002) was all brand new, virgin territory. We didn't know what was going to happen. We didn't know what to expect, whether the fans would love us or hate us. It turned out that all the fans loved us, but a small minority of the critics -- as they are wont to do -- hated us."

Which didn't bug the Doors.

Recalls Manzarek: "We figured, hey, that's par for the course, man. I mean, the 20th century Doors were destroyed by the press back in the day. Here's the 21st Century Doors gettin' the same (expletive). So, you know, what are ya gonna do?"

The Strange Days Festival featuring the Doors of the 21st Century, Steppenwolf, Vanilla Fudge, the Yardbirds and Pat Travers is set to begin at 6 p.m. Friday at the PNC Bank Arts Center, Exit 116 off the Garden State Parkway, Holmdel. $20, $40, $60. (732) 335-8698. www.artscenter.com.

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