http://www.undercover.com.au/news/2004/dec04/20041230_doors.html

The Doors Take On Morrison Hotel Slumlord

by Paul Cashmere

30 December 2004

The Doors have joined about 40 residents of the Morrison Hotel in Los Angeles who are taking action against their 'Slumlord' for allowing their residence to become a rat infested hole.

The Morrison Hotel, at 1246 Hope Street in Los Angeles, was used by The Doors as the name and cover of their 1970 classic album which featured 'Roadhouse Blues'.

"A slumlord took it over. It was a gentleman's hotel back in the old days" Doors member Ray Manzarek tells Undercover News. "There are lots of Hispanic people living there and the slumlord is not keeping the place up".

The help raise funds for the tenants to take legal action against the slumlord, The Doors plan on putting some music up on the internet. "The Doors are going to join a protest and do some work" he says. "Robbie Kreiger, myself and my son Pablo are going to do a remix of one of the songs from Morrison Hotel and put it up on the internet and give the proceeds to legal fund for the tenants of the Morrison Hotel".

The 111 room building has been neglected for decades according to reports. Now 40 tenants are taking action claiming the manager has failed to "repair the unsafe, unsanitary and uninhabitable conditions".

The Doors are considering which song to use to help the residents. "We are talking about a couple of different things" Ray says. "Indian Summer is definitely one of the songs which is up for consideration. You Make Me Real is a possibility too. It will be one of maybe four songs".

Forty residents have taken the action against the owner Hope Pico Co and Sauli Danpour, the hotel's manager.

An arraignment has been scheduled for January 26, 2005.

The Doors will perform their first ever Australian shows in February 2005.

They will perform in Perth at the Moonlight Music and Wine Festival in Perth on December 19, Sydney Entertainment Centre on February 23, Brisbane Convention Centre on February 25th and the Melbourne International Music Festival on February 26th.
 

 read about the tenants' slumlord lawsuit

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