BREAKING: Doors Legend Ray Manzarek Dead At 74 - Noise11.com
Ray Manzarek, The Doors, Ros O'Gorman, Photo

Ray Manzarek, Photo By Ros O'Gorman

BREAKING: Doors Legend Ray Manzarek Dead At 74

by Paul Cashmere on May 21, 2013

in News

Ray Manzarek, the legendary keyboard player for The Doors, has died at the age of 74.

Ray Manzarek, Photo By Ros O'Gorman

Ray Manzarek, Photo By Ros O'Gorman

Manzarek was suffering from bile duct cancer.

“I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and bandmate Ray Manzarek today,” said The Doors Robby Krieger. “I’m just glad to have been able to have played Doors songs with him for the last decade. Ray was a huge part of my life and I will always miss him.”

Ray Manzarek founded The Doors with Jim Morrison in 1965 in Venice Beach, California. The band recorded six albums with Morrison including the final ‘LA Woman’ in 1971 featuring Manzarek’s finest moment ‘Riders On The Storm’.

Morrison died in Paris, France on July 3, 1971.

The Doors recorded their first album at Sunset Sound Recording Studios in Los Angeles in one week from August 24 to August 31, 1966. That self-titled album opened with ‘Break On Through’ and closed with ‘The End’ with ‘Light My Fire’ placed right at the end of side one of the original vinyl disc. The four members of The Doors, Kim Morrison, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek and John Densmore were credited together as songwriters on all tracks except the two covers on the album.

The Doors were one of the most controversial bands in America in their day. In September 1967 when scheduled to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show they were asked to change the lyrics of ‘Light My Fire’ for the broadcast. The producer wanted the word ‘higher’ (suggesting drugs) changed to ‘better’. The Doors agreed, appeared live on the show but then sang the original version regardless. They were told they would never do The Ed Sullivan Show again following the performance.

In December, 1967 Jim Morrison was arrested when police ended a Doors show suddenly when Morrison taunted police during the show for spraying him with mace after they mistook him for a fan backstage.

On 1 March 1969 during a performance in Miami, a drunk Morrison removed his short, held it between his groin and made his finger look like he was exposing his penis. On March 5, a warrant was issued for this arrest.

Morrison left the band in 1971 and moved to France were he was found dead on July 3, 1971. The Doors continued on for two more albums without him and disbanded in 1973.

Ray is survived by his wife Dorothy and brothers Rick and James Manczarek, son Pablo Manzarek, Pablo’s wife Sharmin and their three children Noah, Apollo and Camille.

The family asks that their privacy be respected at this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, please make a memoriam donation in Ray Manzarek’s name at www.standup2cancer.org

Related Posts

10cc in Melbourne 25 June 2023 photo by Winston Robinson
Kevin Godley Reunites With 10cc In London

10cc had a special reunion at their London show this week when former member and co-founder Kevin Godley joined the band at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday night (25 March 2024).

1 day ago
Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel To Release ‘Back To Front – Live In London’ DVD

Australia missed out on the Peter Gabriel tour but we will get the DVD.

1 day ago
Bruce Springsteen Named First International Ivors Fellow

Bruce Springsteen is set become the first international songwriter to become a Fellow of The Ivors Academy.

2 days ago
No More Make Up For Gene Simmons

Gene Simmons has vowed "no more make-up" on stage.

2 days ago
Vincent Bonham of Raydio Dies At Age 67

Vincent Bonham, a founding member of Raydio with Ray Parker Jr in 1977, has died at the age of 67.

3 days ago
The Damned at Northcote Theatre, Melbourne 22 March 2024 photo by Mary Boukouvalis
The Damned + The Hard Ons, Northcote Theatre, Friday 22nd March 2024

The Damned released the first ever UK punk single, “New Rose” off album Damned, Damned, Damned, in 1976, and were often overshadowed by their English punk counterparts. Now in their late sixties and still touring world-wide, featuring the original line up of Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Rat Scabies and Paul Gray, they are the ones having the last laugh and have left their old rivals for dead, in certain respects, quite literally!

4 days ago
Marcia Hines, Photo By Ros O'Gorman
Marcia Hines Recovering After Collapsing Backstage During Show Recording

Marcia Hines was taken to hospital in Sydney on the weekend after collapsing in her dressing room before she was due to perform on Australian Idol.

4 days ago