Great Interview with Ray Manzarek on Music of The Doors
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- Опубликовано: 28 ноя 2018
- Ray Manzarek from The Doors, explaining influences on the sound of The Doors, interview with Ben-Fong-Torres, stories about Jim Morrison and the Doors. Took place at a bookstore on Haight St. SF.
November 20th, 2006
67 minutes
New Documentary on Ray Manzarek to be released on his birthday Feb 12th, 2020
ultimateclassicrock.com/break... 
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This man was three members at once, at certain points in The Doors' career. On occasion Jim would be too drunk to sing, so Ray would play oragns, bass and vocals at once.
That's insane.
That only happened 1 time and it was September 15 1968 there is a bootleg floating around
@@voidburner8271 That was in Amsterdam when The Doors toured Europe with Jefferson Airplane.
@@RobinSchoutenRS cool story bro. I already knew that
He was the glue of the band. Rest In Peace Ray.
@@sheilalindenstein8263 So very true❤
Today would've been Ray Manzarek's 82 birthday and unfortunately he didn't make it to his 80's and may rest his talented soul forever and ever
I was there that night on Haight Street in San Francisco sitting in the front row. I was in awe to be sitting across from such a legend. At the end of the night Ray signed my book and we had a brief conversation about John McCain of all people. It was such a wonderful night. I was surprised to find this on the internet almost 17 years later.
Also, I remember there was a guy in-line in front of me for the book signing that brought everything except his kitchen sink to get signed. Ray patiently signed everything for the guy while everyone in line impatiently waited. Ray was such a good soul who truly loved life.
Ray has a cool sense of humor.
One of the nicest souls too.
Thanks but also the homie too
One can't do anything but admire Ray. Jim got all the attention when the band was active, but Ray put the band together and was its heart and soul. Here in 2019 I miss him so much. All we have left at this point is two doors up. He's a great story teller.
NitrousNinja the homie Robby
The lead singer always gets all the attention, especially when they have the looks. Jim realized the talent of his band mates and didn't try take all the attention and credit. They were just perfect together. All great, love em all,
That is true however Ray did pass the attention to Jim. he really didn't mind. As long as the band was together and they were jamming that's all that mattered
@Bella Bella john is a complete lefty twat and betrayed the band. F john.
You got that right! That's what Ray would always have to tell Jim.
Ray never changed, forever stayed that amazing organist hippie. He is incredibly underrated and is a great musician up with the greats. Love you ray wish you were still here so i can meet you.
I sure wish I could meet him too. I’ve so loved the last few months, becoming best friends with Jim and Ray, the Doors. Except they can’t know my gratitude. It hurts me that I will never be able to hear them play or, like I said, tell them just what they meant to us. Music is, after all, our only friend until the end.
Music never ends... it's only we who turn away
Truth for sure.
I got a chance to talk to him once on a show called rock line.
When Jim went nuts in Miami, Ray played background music to all of Jimbo’s antics. It must have been a sight to see.
Miss you Ray. You are the best raconteur in rock and in general.
I could listen to him all day, what a storyteller.
sgtpepper1138 right there with you
too bad we didnt get to see jim and ray in a laid back fun recollection of years gone by. wouldve been cool to see. jim himself was a great conversationalist, albeit, a different style. but they wouldve meshed well in that envir... ray is ray & hes not for everyone. but he was more valuable and talented then he gets credit for. he was the essential door as far as the glue. he also had a generous spirit w/ an open heart. that was vital in not only seeing and facilitating morrisons gift, but also being able to ride w/ the baggage.
Miss this guy a lot.
Amen..... I'm just glad he can hang out with his little brother Jim again.... RIP Jim and Ray
Same friend, same
I really miss that time when music actually meant something, was as important as breathing
I noticed how in the 1960's ray would always shake his head when he played his organ and he still did at that time cool
Daniel Valdivia it’s the equivalent of drum face. That’s how you know they’re in the zone lol
Heck yeah I love that stuff. Seeing a musician feel it and love it. He doesn't play the keys, he speaks with them!
Somewhere in time team... Somewhere
As a keyboardist (don't know how well you can see my profile pic) who plays a very similar style to Ray (with syncopated left hand bass), I do the same thing. The movements act almost like a metronome to help you keep time. I don't really do it so much when I'm playing alone, but when I'm playing with a band it's actually harder to play in time without moving like that.
He always reminded me of Schroeder from the peanuts, Charlie brown the way he bends over his piano
I come back here after 3 years and I'm the only last person that had anything to say about this fantastic person? May he rest in peace. Listen to that piano playing and I almost started crying oh my God really? The truly great interview about a truly great musician in person thank you so much bye.
I saw Ray prior to his death at the bookstore in Santa Monica. He was wonderful. Full of energy and love. I miss him.
What a wonderful Musician , RIP Ray 🎹🙏😌
Such a nice guy and seriously great musician. Jim was lucky to have Ray . The doors were awesome. And people still dig it today
Yeah im 22 and ive been suddenly only listening to the doors lately, so much i even got tired of listening to it on repeat and started looking for more about the band. They are all awesome, reading robby krieger book now " light my fire" and i was laughting all trought
Ray truly was the doors, he started it, he pulled everyone together, he had the patience and friendship to deal with Morrison when the others threw their hands up in disgust. His prowess as a musician is second to none. The doors were absolutely brilliant. Never will be anyone that comes close.
Good for pointing that out.
Ray never got the credit for what he brought musically.
As for the interrelationships,
Densmore, understandably, had problems with Jim's antics.
Krieger seemed to just bear it, with nary a discouraging word.
Ray was the bridge, the glue that kept the wheels from blowing apart.
Had just the right personality and maturity.
@@wheelinthesky300 ray was the glue. hand on the helm.... jim was the Eye ontop the mast staring at the stars & yelling to the moon... john & robbie were skilled shipmates who knew a lot about navigation & adjustment.... the good ship doors. when it worked they would take you down channels no one was traversing. when it didnt work, you were lucky to not hit the rocks.
What you talking about? It will be no doors if no Jim..
@@kelvinkloud great analogy!
@@Steger13 There would be no Jim Morrison without the doors. Ray was the one who saw the talent in Jim and put the band together. Ray was also a brilliant musician.
Imagine walking into a room of people, seeing a piano, and playing like that. A fantasy that he could do. Just great.
Omg! I cant believe I found this,
I was there with my girlfriend at the time...
I even got the autograph from Jonh Densmore. Tbh, the best years of my life ☯️
Chris Angeles very cool man. What year was this?
@@agostocobain2729 2006
Densmore what a prick stopped Ray and Robbie from using the The Doors name
@@sterlingcooper3978 probably because it's not the doors without eachother....?
Chris Angeles Chris do you know the name of the song played during the intro please? I love it 🙏🏻🥰
I am now after over 50 years appreciating the amazing musicianship and song writing of Ray John Robbie and Jim.
No wonder morrison. Liked him
I read he tried to protect him.
@@jlbaker2000 morrison protected manzarek?
Jim knew Rays brothers and family. Ray was a beacon. Ray and my father attended same high school in Chicago (not at the same time) St Rita's on the southside. Musical genius.
Ray died 2013, for those who might not know. What a likeable guy.
I love everything about Ray.
I miss Ray. What a great story teller and organist. I love how he showed us how he composed The Doors music from jazz icons… Best band ever! ✌🏼❤️🦎
His Greatness was equal to his Humbleness
Ray was a fine human being ... remembering him on the anniversary of his passing.
I always wanted to have a drink with ray and a conversation. He seemed so cool
A man who improved my quality of life. As a musician and a husband & father, I learned a lot from his warmth and intelligence. My natural state is more temperamental and bad chemicals, but I watched how Ray leveraged his foundation his roots and education and used it to make the world better.
Ray was a talented genious. I love Ray. ❤️
Man I love Ray's background music for a spoken word. Really ties the whole presentation together.
It was annoying.
Ray is just a really cool cat
I love hearing how the music was constructed!
Such a joy to watch. Rest in peace, Ray!
Well stated! Thank you
A legend...❤❤❤
Ray Manzarek was such an upbeat guy. Today , 2020 would bum him out.
totally
I'm surprised I made it this far.
no I think in 2020 if he was still here he wouldn't be bummed out. he'd probably be rocking and rolling and telling stories on his RUclips channel having fun in quarantine the best way you could.
I bet... still just living life the way he did all the way to the end him and Dorothy.
Loved the Doors, collectively, individually, love 'em madly, miss 'em badly but would have to disagree on what they would think, do think, of 2020. Amazingly artistic - right brained, but imperfect humans, as we all are, left-brain logic would not be a high card for them, for most in Art World ESPECIALLY the World of Rock. My opinion.
Really fun to hear Ray breaking down "Light My Fire." Bach? Coltrane? Never would have imagined it, but there it is! After all these years, I believe I understand that song better than ever.
I mis ray more than I mis Jim
But frankly I mis them both
I hope to meet them in heaven
Ray was a Brilliant player of jazz and blues!
Ray had the best stories and told them well and he had a good sense of humor. Thanks for uploading this interview! Ray was on the inside and knew Jim well. I appreciate his playing because it was melodic and hypnotic. A big part of their success along with Jim’s singing!
When he speaks its awesome but in the keys its just incredible
I have always loved The Doors and didn't get into Jazz until like three years ago..but now I see the ties that bind them.Ray is and was and always will be a musical genius.
Ray, Robby, and John all had a keen interest in jazz and it was reflected in their musicianship. I am also starting to have a deeper appreciation of jazz and am enjoying the discovery of just how much it influenced pop and rock among so many other genres.
Whoever filmed this has done wonderful work thanks for the post. And Monica for the keyboards.
Thanks William! And Yes kudos to Monica!
Such an intelligent well rounded individual. Ray Manzarek.
Such a legend! I still listen to the Doors in 2023 and will til i leave this world.
Ray looked great all the way through ! What a genius.
What a creative genius Ray was! He loved talking about his work. Like just a few individuals in music, such a shame I never met him. RIP.
*R.I.P. Ray*
Your presence still looms large. Those that want to know, will.
and just thank you to Ben Fong-Torres to being great and appreciating and praising Ray properly while he was still with us.
The doors endured all these years because it's great music it's that simple they're great musicians
Ray was a kind gentle soul who loved music and reminded me of the art it is.
Well stated!
A celebration of just the joy or being alive.
What a guy.. l met him once very freindly and genuinely so.
A good lifelong friend of mine, a man whom I see many look at and conclude isn't exactly the brightest crayon when it comes to common sense at times, is one of the most gifted pianist's I've ever experienced in my life. I've never understood his absolutely unyielding self critical mentality towards everything he does in life. It could be a mistake in a video game, one single missed note in an otherwise perfect performance, one inch too close to the curb, he goes through such internal punishment that he will never be as good as he NEEDS to be. Anything but his best...is unacceptable. Comparing himself to entire lifetimes of work, believing that he can never reach such aims.
To most it would appear, that something he says he loves, causes him so much pain and frustration, but it is that unrelenting persuit to get better that drives him. It isn't about being a Lubomyr Melonyk, or rivaling Jordan Rudess's phantom infinity prog opera wizardy, you can't measure what makes you a good player based on your technical ability. It isn't how fast you can play, it doesn't take a Juilliard degree, it doesn't matter if you can play 100 songs off the top of your head... You have to love it.
I'd be utterly stunned at his ability to create totally original sounds off the cuff at a moments notice. Jazz, blues, rock, some boot scoot n' boogie, Neo classical silliness, organ, keyboard, didn't matter. I've wanted my entire life to play any instrument at all other than drums. Especially piano, when I see players ability to understand scale profession of notes in each key and know how to tie that all together to make exactly what they want... Play around with the keys to dial it it in, but got what they want within minutes, is just so gnarly. It's a language, you stop playing at one point, and you start speaking it.
It's been a dream I hope in one life I can see through, there is so much music dancing in my head begging to get out. I'm sure some in that situation would feel envy, but all I see and hear is sheer beauty and amazement. I've sworn up down left and right, for years at how talented and gifted he is, it's interesting to see someone hold such an impossibly high threshold for themselves. Especially knowing I and many others would just about murder a man to be able to do. What he considered to be bad, was like Paul Gilbert shredding, to any other musician. I'll tell you what man I could sit back for hours and listen to that kid whale. When everyone hanging out was trying to play cards, or go out to eat, watch a movie, it was static in the background. He'd just keep playing, people would ask him to stop, and he'd go on for a bit longer. I'd be the only one watching... a genius at work.
I realized something that Ray helped shine a light on for both of us. I'd always say let it go man, just have fun, just play man. Feel the music, don't calculate it. There's no fucking rule book, you aren't required to go from A to Z you can go back to F before you gry to T, it's not a race, and there is no finish line. You gotta lose yourself to it. After hearing that nonsense long enough, I think he sort of figured, if they aren't having fun how can I? So after listening to records for awhile, kind of searching for different sounds and groups, we started getting heavy into The Doors. His only exposure to The Doors was Riders on the Storm. Which he played often, with a lot of neat improv over the years. Pulling up some live stuff I kept telling him just watch Ray man just watch Ray... It's like he goes into a trance, totally absorbed in the music, always floating in the wind, changing at a moments notice, just feeling the music out. You can almost see the shift in energy Ray and Densmore have right before Jim and Robby explode. All while keeping that trance just loving in the music. An Emerson, Lake, and Palmer or two later Santana Abraxis, All Day Music WAR, etc etc. Just play! Like that never ending game at the sandlot. No one kept score, no one knew the inning, it was just play for play.
I watched him slowly but surely break free. The relief you could see on his face after all those years of literal self torture never fades. Seriously cool to see from a guy you'd probably least expect. A genius in his own way. He made me realize that I hold myself to just as impossible of a standard as he did. Totally eating my own words, I could never touch a piano because how could I ever play at that level? It took him most of his life.
Ryo Fukui, having never touched a piano before 1969, 6 years later he channeled an absolute jazz masterpiece that almost defies belief. 1976 Scenery - Early Summer
Nothing is impossible if you just dream
Wow , hey great words my freind. 👍
You are a lucky man to be friends with Ray. He was a genuine man, and mesmerizing.
Precisely there's a lesson in there if we can but learn it. Long ago I got tired of admiring great musicians from the 60s and 70s never thinking I could even learn how to play my favorite instrument, electric guitar. One day I decided to go to college and buy a guitar and experiment. Flash Forward decades later and I've made music I couldn't begin to imagine at that age simply because I believed in myself and wanted to explore. I've had no training. I just followed my muse wherever it led me and never looked back ( stargazer 21 ). I wanted to create music that haunted me like the doors music did and I succeeded. Believe in yourself and just let go, you will never regret it. I am grateful... it seems music was my best friend 🌛
Ray is my favorite rock raconteur (in addition to being an outrageously gifted keyboardist/bass player). However, I always get the sense that either he doesn't fully understand or intentionally understates just how magnificent and innovative The Doors music really was. Perhaps it's due to the trauma of losing Jim, which effectively put an end to the band. In my estimation, The Doors rank in the top three rock bands of all-time. Like Hendrix and The Who, The Doors were WAY, WAY AHEAD OF THEIR TIME!!!
Agreed!!
oh yes for sure one of the greatest rock bands ever!!
Of course Ray understood the unique innovative music of the Doors. His haunting dark carnavalesque keyboard compositions ,was often spontaneously created to jive with Jim's unpredictability onstage. Ray was the foundation of the Doors "underground" aura. Jim was a brilliant composer and charismatic singer.Ray and Jim were essential to the band's success.They would never have existed without one or the other.
Mad respect for our hero, Ray. He made some incredible music.
What a player of the keys!! Amazing personality and talent.x
The older I get the more I appreciate Ray as the heart of The Doors. I’m reading his memoir and loving it. I wish I could have met him❤a kindred spirit
Ray was the old man that someday I want to be.
I love Ray's demonstration of all the components of 'Light My Fire' - God, I miss this guy! Great musician, brilliant raconteur, great sense of humour. What a fabulous feature!
Remember when we could hang out together, sit next to each other, and actually talk to each other and see one another's faces? * Sigh * -- Seems like centuries ago -- Gone are the days . . .
Shout out to Ben Fong-Torres, one of the authors, who is able to put the book together and to promote it as Ray is such the artist he cant stop playing and and philosophizing.
Genius never dies, it only gets appreciated more in the fullness of time.
Ray was a genius and a total head. I love this man so much and what he contributed to the Doors music and the music world in generak. RIP Ray...Say hi to Jim
Totally lovable and eccentric which like the rest of the band defined the Doors.
Wow, blow me away!! I've always loved and felt his music 🎼 first from the radio, t.v. since I was like 10 years old.
My father sprung a few dollars back then, for a couple early DOORS vinyls.
Man, With all my innocence I did groove with my dad to Riders and Light my fire.
Fast forward, well to 2020, my father is 85 and I are in the "parlor". Song comes on the TV , I think. "Comon.baby, light my.. 🔥 fire!!
We just look at each other..O.M.G....!! Rip Dad, Jim and Ray. Yup, forever in my heart and soul
Beautiful Moment! Thanks for sharing
BFT and RM...wonderful combination. Manzarek asks, 'who were the other SF bands? Someone shouts out, 'Love!' And as we all know, Aurthur Lee's band was another Los Angeles group. It always seemed to me that the Doors and Love exemplified the difference between the two West Coast citys; SF with it's peace and love, LA with it's slightly darker undertones...that was certainly reflected in the music.
WOW, what an intro by Ray ❤
May God bless you Ray a gentleman so nice love ❤❤you so much God bless all the Doors members ❤❤
one thing i have to say, this book was a throw back to the cd and vinyl days, where you bought a cd for the lyrics inside, the album art, the band photos puking on backstage floor with drummers downing beers... also obviously they had to get the black leather pants cover for the book. Much love Ray
Rays voice whether thru speaking or thru those gorgeous keyboards was a thing of beauty I always treasured. The Doors were a quirky band in that they had all these incredible contradictions as band members but made it work. Jazz piano and drums,a poet lyricist frontman shaman, and a versatile guitarist. No bass no problem lol
Ray Manzerick Great Organist the way he played that organ was pure talent his play &Robbie's guitar Johns drum Jims voice it put you in the picture of the scene they were painting with voice &music thank you The Doors
Total legend! love the Q&A
Ray Manzarek was a brilliant musician.
Ben Fong Torres proves he can't resist every rock critic's ultimate fantasy - to sing with the band. ;)
LOL!! too true
Ray taking us along for the ride. 😎
Great idea for an upload! Ray was a great ambassador of the band after the break up. A natural teacher.
Ray was the beat behind the music. He drove the sound, he was the soul.
I love ray manzarek and the doors!
Loved this vid, so much fun listening and enjoying the stories. Miss having Ray around, he like Jim was so talented and unique, thanks for sharing.
Ray - The Doors music is what my older Brother Dan played very loud to wake me up in the 3rd grade. I really enjoyed it. Thanks, and Bless
This off the charts. Ray is playing Riders
Ray is my favorite keyboard player. Just brilliant!
The Only Keyboard Player I Never Got Tired of No One Like Him Before Or After
Thank you for both documentary. I'm awestruck
Me too even after viewing it over 20x
Que gran profesional, mi grupo favorito, no ha habido nadie como ellos, viva Doors por siempre, los amo
Gentleman Ray. You were, and still are the best of the best.
Miss you really❤
Man, it'd be a GIANT honor to have Ray play piano as I spoke publicly..
The ENDLESS CELEBRATION of the Doors...Love eternal, a love SUPREME!
Ray - what a great human being.
Who ever was there present, you guys and gals where lucky. To be able to have this legend tell stories about the Doors and Jim. Also playing some Doors tunes in piano, just amazing.
I recently picked up this book of eBay and I’m a happy Doors fan. My collection is growing. Cheers everyone…stay healthy and beautiful.
Ray was an incredible musician
Time is just a moment that we occupy in this brief spin around the planet. Ray Manczarek
That's a great book, I have it...Probably my favorite book regarding The Doors.
Miss you Ray.....the backbone of The Doors!
not enough people know how great a man this guy was.
Interesting how Ray Manzarek wanted Iggy Pop to replace Jim Morrison and many recordings were made with Iggy & the Doors. Pop has a very similar voice to Morrison that you can hear on some cuts like 'Sister Midnight.' Unfortunately, right before the Doors were about to announce the news Iggy disappeared on a heroin binge because Iggy supposedly didn't want to be the ghost of Jim Morrison per Iggy's biography by Paul Trynsk "OPEN UP AND BLEED."
got an interesting theory that plays off your point... it should be remembered that iggy was also signed w/ elektra when morrison was still alive. he also met and talked some w/ jim. & was heavily influenced by him earlier when he saw the early doors when he was still a teen. iggy made the right move for him by not joining the doors. it couldve been interesting & he is more like morrison then just about any other star, but he had to find his own vision & brand that was his own. he was also troubled then & it wouldve made it only worse, hence the heroin binge.... to the theory. iggy after leaving that possible stint w/ the doors then met and formed a very tight and crucial friendship w/ david bowie. bowie was rumored to have been at the doors show in london in 68 also before he was a known entity in music. ive always felt bowie was a very keen observer of morrison. its interesting in interview he never mentions morrison, its too bad no reporters asked him. but I think he kept his admiration, thoughts on morrison purposely under his hat. good magicians dont reveal sources. point being, I think he learned a lot more about morrison via iggy. & that period was crucial in influencing bowie to create ziggy stardust, the doomed rock star. ziggy is a futuristic version of morrison. other concepts bowie played around w/ too were very morrison influenced. he of course, put his own brit sensibilities & interests in the orient & androgyny ontop of this framework. but if you break down the dna of the concepts, there is a direct line to morrison imo. I think a lot of that was forged in 71 when bowie and iggy were very tight. I would love to hear iggys thoughts on it, Ive got a hunch it was a strong influence. bowie also was in LA in jan 71, while jim was still there. it would be interesting to know if they crossed paths. ditto syd barret when he was in LA in 68. morrison was a floyd fan & visa versa... morrison esp to undergrd, was much more influential then critics give him credit for.
Iggy's real name is jim.
When Jim sang somewhere way back in the brain, he was referring to Ray’s left brain and right brain adept ability to play the left hand accompaniment and right melodic parts! Ha! A true musical talent. Ray marked an epoch in keyboardist history. He and Jim are missed.
Ihad a conversation with Ray, he was great person!!!!
I really enjoyed watching this, its no wonder I never met ray manzarek ! because I lived on sunset next to the whisky and saw the doors play along with other grate bands at that time, wow LA was a wonderful place to grow up at, and I consider myself vary lucky to have seen what I did& when did.....
2022… and my youngest has made his third trip to LA to listen to Robby Krieger.. The Doors music is everlasting! We still mourn Rays passing and also Jim’s. Rock on guys!
Ray seems so normal and kind guy for a psychidelic rock star.
if only i could've been at this!!! amazing manzarek. what souls and engery
I love that intro to Light my fire. The Doors never used a base player. They had Manzarek's left hand keeping the steady base line
.The summer of 66 each beach blanket had a transistor radio tuned to the same a.m. station and "Light My Fire" is the song I remember most
the album didn't even come out in 1966
@@SM-ht7qf January 1967 but Jac Holzman initially wanted to release it in November 1966.
@@leonardlos3209 Your boy just bought a vox continental organ im setting it up right now
@@SM-ht7qf how is it ?
@@Beatboxerskills needs to be repaired, been using it for a year now
Ray grew up on southside chicago. Went to all biys catholic school st ritas. Went to depaul. Was a classicalky trained pianist.set up a fundraising concert that had sonny rollins and dave brubek. No dought ray spent time in blues clubs in south and west sides of city. Only white boys who went were mucisions. Looking for a interview he tell about a pheonix show that morrison was late to. Hour and half. They all assummed he would show up trashed but he came somber. Also with two of the stewardrees who didnt beleive who he clsimed to be. Ray said they played a great show. Couple of days later they hear that jagger wss there in front row and when asked said he was not that impressed. Ray was pleased to hear that jim said. If i knew he eas there i woukd have invited him up to sing with us. Ray then said wre not a band where we dance around the stage we play blues and rock. Jagger is a showman. Jim is a shaman. Only time ever heard ray give another artist a shot.
Love you Ray! So grateful!!
Awesome 😎