Saw where Ray Manzarek, the keyboard player and one of the founding members of the Doors died at 74 from cancer. They were definitely part of the soundtrack of the 60's, and I still like to listen to them. The soundtrack of my youth is slowly passing, RIP Ray, thanks for the Strange Days.

Bobcat,
NPR is airing a podcast from 1998 on Fresh Air with Terry Gross of her inerview with Ray Manzarek this afternoon (now).

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"Life is short, hunt hard"

That is very sad to me. I was a big fan ever since I first heard Strange Days back in '67. I'm very glad I got to see them in 2003. RIP Ray, I will listen to "When the Music's Over" today, it will mean more, now.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

His book on The Doors is especially good. I thought his childhood part would be boring but it was as good as the parts about the band. The way he describes food is wild, as strange as that sounds. I guess he was also the bass player in The Doors, if you think about it. Here's a real naïve comment. The older I get, ages like 74 don't sound so old anymore. R.I.P. RM.

R.I.P., Ray. The Doors music ended all too soon, obviously. Miss you, already.

Kaaskop49

The Doors were one of many distinct sounding bands in the late 60's as bands tried to set themselves apart from one another (unlike today). Morrison's haunting baritone voice and Manzarek's ever-changing frontline organ work made them one of the best. The best part of their songs however, were the lyrics. They were poetry set to music.

I have been a huge Doors fan for 45 years and I still get goose bumps from some of their songs. Any interview with Manzarek was an introspective look back to that time. He was a talented musician and a very cool guy.

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paws for friendship

R.I.P. Ray, have many fond memories of "light my fire" back in the 60's. Life moved me on to Talk Radio and Web sites like this.

has anybody seen the big screen version (I-Max) of "Live at the Bowl"? it is being shown in Hastings next week and was wondering what it is like.

Like Bobcat said, the soundtrack of my youth is slowly passing. Excellent way to put it. When I was younger & a full time musician, I always wished that the Doors had a bass player to free up Manzarek to do more keyboards. But obviously it worked out. That kind of open & sparse instrumentation was a trademark of their sound. God Speed Ray!

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Lounge Lizard Extraordinaire

Supposedly they had some girl bass player on a few tracks but nobody remembers who she was. And yeah, Ray pounded that Fender bass keyboard so they did have a bass player after all, not to mention what Ray could do with his RIGHT hand.

The four of them together formed a band like no other.

Two years ago, I had the good fortune to attend the Sunset Strip Music Festival. One evening, I was at the House of Blues for an awards show, and Manzarek came out on stage, spoke a bit, sat down at a piano, and played some "Light My Fire". Considering we were only a few feet apart, it was a particularly memorable moment.

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I'm with the banned ...

Saw them live early on in the mid 60's at the Washington Hilton; I think it was 9 bucks, which was a good hand full back then. They did "Light my fire" for something like 28 minutes. President Reagan was later shot, along with others, out in front of this hotel. There goes another one.

Well he outlived Morrison by a whole lot.
Music defines our likes and years.
The DOORS were.
I'm gonna put on "Riders on the Storm".
RIP.

Saw the Doors in Ann Arbor Mi, about 1967 I think, great show.

Not a Doors fan, that was from what I call the drug music years. it's like you needed to be stoned to "get it". Still, a true loss of a legend in the music biz.

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NRA Life member

My brother , who was 9yrs older , got me hooked on the Doors when they came out. Still some of my favorite music , it always takes me back to a simpler time. As a keyboard player , he was very innovative for his time. Ray and his harpsichord lent a carnival taste to many Doors tunes.

RIP

When The Music's Over, its over.

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Doesn't hasta call me Johnson

Heard them for the 1st time in 67-68 I was around 11-12 yrs old and hung around with an older kid.Cherry bombs,cigarettes,etc. I can still here his mom "Phillip-downstairs! Richard-go home" 😁

I like good rock organ. Winwood, Kooper, Mason, Manzarek. B3 and a Leslie made big sound, as I recall.

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Halfway and one more step

the doors were a big part of the sound track to my youth.
found myself on a greyhound bus 25 years ago i had my sisters walkman and a copy of a doors cassette, i remember singing "riders on the storm" under my breath( i thought) when i got off the bus the guy sitting in front of me said "thanks for the concert , never heard the doors sung just like that before" he was joking kinda, but he looked a little irritated too probably a hank w fan

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the rules? there are no rules

The Doors used session musicians quite a bit for recording purposes. "The Soft Parade" is loaded with some tasty bass playing, as well as horns.

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Because of the metric system?

I'm still waiting for "Mr. Mojo Risin'".

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'Merica!