Add The Doors to the latest reunion tour circuit. And band members are sure that the late Jim Morrison would have loved it.
“Jim Morrison would be very happy with this regrouping of The Doors,” keyboardist Ray Manzarek told The Associated Press. “Because these are Jim Morrison’s words, and Jim Morrison’s words are now alive and being sung to an audience one more time. And he was a poet and a poet wants to be known for his words.”
Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger have reformed the band, now called The Doors 21st Century. Ian Astbury of The Cult will handle vocals, and Stewart Copeland of Police will play the drums.
“It is The Doors for the 21st century, there’s a new millennium here,” Krieger said. “And there’s a need for good music to be heard. That’s why we decided to get this whole thing back together after 30 years.”
Astbury even sort of looks like Morrison, but he said that’s because he’s got the same ethnic and psychic background as Morrison. Astbury insisted he’s not trying to do an impression of Morrison, a contention Manzarek supported.
“Ian is not doing Jim Morrison. Ian is doing Ian Astbury,” Manzarek said. “For some strange gathering together of the fates, Ian has been put into our laps.”
Manzarek said drummer John Densmore has not objected to The Doors, know for their hits “Light My Fire” and “Love Me Two Times,” continuing without him.
“Well I assume we have John’s blessings as far…,” Manzarek said. “You know, John’s got bad ears and he’s got tinnitus and can’t play this loud rock ‘n’ roll stuff and blow his brains out if he tried to, it’d just be too loud for him. So, John has said fine, go ahead.”
Their first concert will be on Friday in Los Angeles and a tour is planned for later this year.
