RIP Ray Manzarek

[Spirit]

LA music legend.   

 

 

 

 

[Spirit]

@Slash 

The Doors represent the LA sound to me. It was the 1st band I remember hearing when I came from England; "Light my fire," I'll never forget.

[Ray McKigney]

Bummer. Always liked the Doors. Such an iconic band. RIP.

[Angel Oracle]

Ray was always telling it like it is.

 

His interview, as part of the 1991 Ed Sullivan retrospective special on CBS, was classic.   He tells everyone how the CBS censors asked that they (calling them boys) not use the word "higher" during the on the air rendition of "Light My Fire".    He mentioned how they hated being called "boys" by the censors, and then how Jim looked at the other members and said "I'm not changing it", and then they all said that they shouldn't change it then.  

After they had performed and went backsage, the censors said "We had you booked for SIX more Ed Sullivan shows and you will NEVER perform on it again!"  

Jim then in his classic way told the censors "Hey man, we just did the Ed Sullivan Show", knowing that once was all it would take to bring their music to millions.   

 

Unlike the Stones (giving in and singing Let's spend some time together instead of Let's spend the night together), the Doors didn't give in to censors.   Mad props to this day!

 

R.I.P. Ray

[Vernster52]

I spent 8 years working for his Mom and brother, Rick in Wofford Heights, managing their liquor store.  Met Ray dozens of times and he was always a truly down to earth guy who didn't let his success go to his head.

 

RIP Ray.

[Angel Oracle]

KRTH-101 was playing replays this morning of interviews they did on the morning show with Ray going back to 2002.

He always came across as telling it like it is, but also just enjoying life.

[cysomeawfulpitcher]

On top of the great music he did with The Lizard King, Krieger and Densmore, he produced some great albums for the L.A. punk rock band, X.

 

Say hi to Jim as you break on through to the other side.  RIP.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

Loved the Doors. Hated to hear about this.