The Doors’ John Densmore Reacts to Ray Manzarek’s Death
News of Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek's death sent grief through the rock community yesterday (May 20), with many of his peers sharing their sadness via social networks. Perhaps none was more keenly felt, however, than that of Manzarek's longtime musical partner, Doors drummer John Densmore.
"There was no keyboard player on the planet more appropriate to support Jim Morrison's words," Densmore told Twitter followers after the news of Manzarek's death broke. "Ray, I felt totally in sync with you musically. It was like we were of one mind, holding down the foundation for Robby and Jim to float on top of. I will miss my musical brother."
Densmore's eulogy was particularly poignant, given that he'd been feuding with Manzarek and their fellow surviving Door, guitarist Robby Krieger, for more than a decade following a contentious disagreement over licensing the band's music for advertising -- and Manzarek and Krieger's subsequent decision to start touring as the Doors with Cult singer Ian Astbury subbing in for Jim Morrison.
Still, even if their later years were clouded with lawsuits and accusations, Manzarek and Densmore remained on speaking terms, and the possibility of a musical reunion always lingered. As Densmore quipped to Rolling Stone, "Being in a band is like polygamy, only without the sex. Things happen."