Ray Manzarek of the Doors was found dead today at the age of 74. whatever you might say about Jim Morrison, it was Manzarek’s keyboards on “Light My Fire” that blasted the band into superstardom and Manzarek who spent the rest of his career mainatinging the legend that was the Doors.
Post Doors, Ray had great ears and could have worked as an A&R man in L.A.. he produced X’s first album and if you listen to their version of “Soul Kitchen” if feels informed by Manzarek’s spirit. Jim was a maverick bad poet junkie maniac, Manzarek was a popster rock and roll star with his mind oin the charts. You needed em both.
I’ve always loved the Doors myself even if those in the know got muzzled by Morrison’s over the top coyote blues poetics, Manzarek steadied the sound for a pop world. By the end, by the time of Morrison Hotel and LA Woman, the band were where they needed to be.
i was just listening (and loving) the rarities album the other day, released a week ago. the looseness and good humor of the band could get submerged in their seriousness.
Manzarek though, he was a great. cancer got him.