By Steve Morse, Globe Staff, 4/25/2003

When the Doors played a VH1 ''Storytellers'' show two years ago, the singers they recruited to do Jim Morrison's parts were an flock of eager disciples. They included Scott Stapp of Creed, Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots, and Ian Astbury of the Cult. The one who emerged to do the new reunion tour was Astbury, who was exactly what the Doors were looking for.

''Ian has that Celtic/Christian thing that Jim had,'' says Doors organist Ray Manzarek. ''And he has that dark shaman thing. He has that power, man. He's not imitating Morrison, but he's coming from the same place.''

Astbury is not doing interviews, but the other Doors on tour (Manzarek and guitarist Robbie Krieger) are, and they couldn't be happier with their new lead singer. ''He was the logical choice. He had just finished a tour with the Cult and he was ready,'' says Krieger. ''He's got an incredible voice. He could almost sing without a microphone. He's got Jim's range covered. He's the only guy I know who can do those screams and do the soft, groovy stuff, too.''

The newly reconstituted Doors headline the Orpheum Theatre tonight. Expect an evening of Doors classics from ''Light My Fire'' to ''Roadhouse Blues,'' but also some obscurities (''The Ghost Song'') and some new tracks such as ''Cops Talk,'' written by poet/singer Jim Carroll. It will be part of a new Doors album they plan to record, which may also incorporate songs co-written by poet Michael McClure and fellow LA rockers John Doe and Henry Rollins. ''It's not the original Doors. This is what it is. It's the 21st century,'' Manzarek says of the new incarnation, which came about after 30 years of urging by fans. ''But it's ironic that the Doors are back on the road again and there's a war going on again -- another violent conflict in a foreign land -- and Mother Earth is also being attacked at home. Laws are being rewritten to allow people to do all kinds of things to our mother [earth]. It's like we've come full circle. The basic core of things hasn't changed. When Jim sang, `What have you done to our fair sister?' from `When the Music's Over,' he could have been singing about what's happening to the earth today.''

Filling out the new Doors lineup is drummer Ty Dennis (who played with new-wave rockers the Motels) and bassist Angelo Barbera from Krieger's solo band. Original Doors drummer John Densmore was going to do the tour, but has suffered from tinnitus. ''I think he'll join us eventually,'' says Krieger. In the meantime, Densmore has sued his former bandmates to keep the tour from happening. ''John is a very volatile guy,'' says Manzarek.

Another drummer, Stewart Copeland from the Police, was approached, but he broke his elbow, then had to get ready for the Police reunion at the recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame awards. The Doors opted against using him regardless, so Copeland is suing them as well. ''Simultaneously I'm being sued by two screaming drummers,'' says Manzarek. ''But no one promised Stewart anything. And he wasn't mystical enough for the Doors. We needed a guy to set a dark and mysterious groove.''