John Densmore wins suit against The Doors of the 21st Century

[Jay Funk Dawg]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The former drummer for The Doors won a permanent injunction on Friday preventing his bandmates from using the rock group's name while touring with a revamped version of the legendary 1960s act.

The Los Angeles Superior Court order also requires keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Kreiger, who have been touring as The Doors of the 21st Century, to turn over all the profits earned by the new combo to the original Doors partnership.

The decision represents a major victory for Doors drummer John Densmore, who told Reuters he was concerned that the band's legacy was being tarnished by its reincarnation as an oldies act.

Manzarek and Krieger, along with British singer Ian Astbury subbing for the late Jim Morrison, are touring Canada as headliners of the "Strange Days" festival, which also features such bands as Steppenwolf, the Yardbirds and Vanilla Fudge.

"They're playing Doors songs and calling themselves the Doors of the 21st Century. I kinda think it's the 19th century, it's looking back," said Densmore, who plays original music with his own band Tribal Jazz.

He teamed up with Morrison's estate -- represented by the parents of both Morrison and Morrison's late wife, Pamela Courson -- to sue Krieger and Manzarek in early 2003.

Under an agreement struck in 1971, the year Morrison died in Paris, all three surviving members as well as the Morrison estate must sign off on any use of the Doors name and logo.

"I'm very pleased that, in my opinion, the legacy is preserved," added Densmore. "I never intended for Ray and Robby to stop playing -- they're great musicians. I hope Doors fans keep going to see them -- it's just the name is owned by me and them and the estate of Jim Morrison, and they kinda ran off with stolen property."

Densmore estimated that Manzarek and Krieger have earned "millions and millions of dollars" on the road in recent years, more than the original band ever made.

A management representative for Krieger and Manzarek in Los Angeles did not return a call.

The Doors rose to fame in the late 1960s with such songs as "Light My Fire" and "Touch Me." After Morrison, their provocative frontman and self-styled "lizard king," died of a heart attack, the band eventually folded.

Its mythology exploded with the 1980 publication of the Doors biography "No One Here Gets Out Alive" and then with Oliver Stone's 1991 movie "The Doors." The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, with the three members reuniting for a few songs behind Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder

[secondtube]

nice.

that band was a waste of time ... tarnishing the name like that....

*caugh* Jerry Garcia Band *caugh*

[Jaimoe]

Densmore should start hook-up with Roger Waters.

[StoneMtn]

secondtube, I don't know when you last saw them, but I saw them play last week. They were fun as hell, and Ian Astbury is amazing.

It's not Jim, but he's gone; what can you do?

[secondtube]

yes, and would u have saw them had they not been playing the doors music, and been called 'doors of the 21st century'...?

if they really were amazing, they would not need to use the doors name and songs.

[StoneMtn]

I went to see them play the Doors. I probably wouldn't have gone to see originals.

The name would have made no difference to me, though. I suspect they are still the best Doors cover band going.

I understand that you thought they were a waste of time when you heard/saw them. That's a fair comment. The night I saw them, though, was fun as hell.

[MoMack]

Hell - its just a name, and its just music...

If it feels good we shake.

[Hal Johnson]

Anyone ever heard anything they wrote AFTER Jim died? Oh man, its pretty terrible. But then again, I was in a cabin on a lake and eating reindeer food...still though...it was pretty bad. Something about catchin a rainbow and bein down on the farm? Anyone? Sh*t, it was years ago, lol...

[Weirdness]

This has to be a good thing. I saw Ray Manzerick at the Gathering of the vibes a few years back and I don't think I've bad tripped much worse at a show since or ever. Wanted to puke up a big puke storm when I saw what revival shit.

[StoneMtn]

So, you saw him play with Krieger on guitar, and Ian Astbury on vocals? I can't argue with your opinion if you saw the band, but I had a great time at the show I saw last week, as did a whole bunch of British Columbians, from what I read.

[hamilton]

Anyone ever heard anything they wrote AFTER Jim died? Oh man, its pretty terrible.

Did anyone ever hear some of the stuff they wrote BEFORE Jim died? Oh man, it's pretty terrible.