EVOLVING DOORS

ERNEST A. JASMIN; The News Tribune

When the music's over, turn out the lights. Then wait a couple of generations to start back up again. At least that's how it's worked with the Doors, the legendary rock group that's back on the road more than three decades after flamboyant frontman Jim Morrison died of heart failure.

Obviously, it's not quite the Doors many remember from the Summer of Love. Only keyboard player Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robbie Krieger remain from the original group. With former Cult frontman Ian Astbury subbing for Morrison, plus drummer Ty Dennis and bassist Angelo Barbera, Doors 21st Century will perform Saturday at Pier 62/63 in Seattle.

During a recent call to his Bay Area home, Manzarek, 64, said he's contemplated taking his old band on the road again since 1983. "The 21st century came about, and it was time," he said. "Jim Morrison had been dead for a sufficient length of time for us to perform again.

"It's weird to perform without Jim, but it's great performing with Ian," he said.

The evolution of Doors 21st Century can be traced to an episode of VH-1's "Storytellers" that aired in 2000. During the episode, Manzarek, Krieger and original drummer John Densmore played together for the first time since being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. A round robin of singers - including Astbury, Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots, Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction and Scott Stapp of Creed - filled in for Morrison, who died in 1971.

The Doors were especially smitten with Astbury. So when Harley Davidson asked the group to reunite for a concert last year, it was Astbury who got the call.

"It was a combination of things," Manzarek said, explaining the singer's appeal. "Ian was a shaman, just like Jim Morrison. Ian was also a Celtic Christian, a lover of Native American spirituality and a Buddhist, just like Jim Morrison. So, without imitating Jim Morrison, he comes from the same psychic space as Jim Morrison. And, of course, we love his singing."

Manzarek spoke methodically - painfully slowly, even - throughout most of the interview. But he became irritated at the mention of recent Doors 21st Century reviews. Though many are favorable, most home in on the eerie similarity between Astbury and Morrison, right down to their appearance and mannerisms.

"He is a Celtic Christian," Manzarek said. "Didn't we go over this? I think I did. He is very much like Jim Morrison. ... He comes from the same psychic space as Jim Morrison. He is the same archetype as Jim Morrison."

He was less defensive when talking about the set the new band has been playing. Fans Saturday can expect a number of the band's better-known selections, including "Break On Through," "Light My Fire," "When the Music's Over," "Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)" and "Riders on the Storm."

They also should listen up for a couple of new songs: "Cops Talk," with lyrics by "Basketball Diaries" author and musician Jim Carroll, and "The Eagle in the Whirlpool," with lyrics by poet Michael McClure.

Manzarek said the band had written eight songs for an album that should come out next year.

Of course, there are those who would like to keep that album from materializing - or the band from playing, for that matter.

The problems began in February when Densmore sued his former band mates for trademark infringement, claiming they were tainting the original Doors' legacy. Morrison's parents agreed, filing a similar lawsuit in April.

Even ex-Police drummer Stewart Copeland jumped in. He had been recruited to replace Densmore, who suffered tinnitus after the VH-1 gig, according to Manzarek. But after being injured and replaced by Dennis, Copeland sued, claiming violation of a verbal contract.

That one, at least, has been settled. As for Densmore's suit, Manzarek had this response:

"Posh! Fiddlesticks! How cowardly can you get? Why don't you join us? We've invited you to join us many times, and yet you refuse, and you sue us instead. Why?"

Manzarek had a theory. "Before the (Harley Davidson) gig John said, 'Go ahead, you have my blessings.' After the gig, the response was so good ... that I think it aroused John's jealousy. (It's) jealously couched behind the phrase 'not wanting to harm the legacy.'"

Carey Curelop, program director at Seattle classic rock station KZOK-FM (102.5), grew up on songs like "Light My Fire" and "The End." So his initial reaction to hearing that "The Doors" were back together was a bit jaded.

"I just kind of went 'oh please,'" Curelop said. "When you hear about something like this, you get really cynical, and you think they're just in it for the money. Maybe they are. And also maybe they're trying to keep the music alive, and I don't fault them for that. But to me it's just not the real thing."

Ann Powers - a curator at Experience Music Project and a frequent guest commentator on VH-1 - took the other side of the argument.

"A performer like Jim Morrison was known as being so primal and real," she said. "But few performers were as theatrical as Morrison. He was inhabiting this persona he invented for himself, (and) I don't see why someone else can't inhabit that role.

"I think we cling too much to this idea of originality; these singular figures who can't be messed with on any level. I just think it's silly. Jim Morrison is dead, and he's not comin' back."

Ernest Jasmin: 253-274-7389
ernest.jasmin@mail.tribnet.com

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