Ray Manzarek, co-founder and keyboardist of the Doors, passed away today. http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1rkd4a7 http://t.entertainment.msn.com/publicist-ray-manzarek-founding-member-of-the-doors-dies-at-74-1 Rest in peace, man.
Very sad news. Ray had a very distinct sound and was an important part of making The Doors the band they were. He will be missed.
I had an interesting response to the news today, it kind of disgusted me, usually I'm sad but today I was really bitter about it. I think it's sensing my mortality and even moreso my parents' that it made me mad. Ray being a cool guy just rubbed salt on it. Just watched him on Live From Daryl's House, sad....
A really talented, creative and interesting guy. He also produced the first four albums of one of my favorite bands, X, all great. Very sorry to see him go. When the music's over...
I was never a big fan of the Doors but on every occasion I have seen Manzarek on T.V. he has seemed llke a real good guy -- very friendly, outgoing, not bitter as all about what might have been. Sad to see him leave us. RIP.
One of the coolest cats to ever walk the Earth. I was never a huge Doors fan, but I always loved Manzarek. R.I.P. Man.
This day in the afterlife - Jim Morrison: Ray! Hey, man, great to see ya! Ray Manzarek: Hi, Jim. Long time, man. Jim: Yeah, man! Hey, I've been writing! Check out these lyrics. Ray (reads): Aw, man, why are you still so obsessed with dea... wait, never mind."
I just gave The Doors a thorough re-listen. My mom was a Doors fan in the day, so this record was kind of a fixture in my childhood. The Doors' overall album output is hit-and-miss for me, though there are many great tracks throughout. But man that was a strong debut album, I can only imagine what a mind-blower it was when it came out. And Manzarek is key: The rhythmic organ punches on "Soul Kitchen," the pretty piano on "The Crystal Ship," the melodic hooks of "Light My Fire" of course. But his left-hand keyboard bass stuff, though it doesn't really sound like a bass player, has a real groove of its own, from the tense rumble of "Break On Through" to the tuba-like "Alabama Song" and even a little "lead bass" on "Take It As It Comes." The guy had a real musical imagination to go with his chops. I think it was one of those situations of the perfect people coming together at the perfect time. And he always kept playing, I was glad to see this is from last September: [yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-RmBe4gW6I[/yt]
^Not a great camera angle for Ray, though...! I didn't know about that song...pretty neat! The actual video's a pretty good sendup, too.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4sALru9IJk