June 24, 2003
Chicago Theatre
Chicago, Illinois

Photos by Niva Bringas

Review by Dan Doerr




    When I heard about The Doors of the 21st Century project and that they were taking the show on the road, I was amused and skeptical.

    Who in the world can replace Jim Morrison?  What's the reason for the reunion?

Why did it take over 30 years?  Was it right to revisit the classic collection of Doors compositions with a faux band?


    Hmmmm.....The Doors.  60's rebellion. Sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll. American bad ass rock pioneers.  The Doors personified the free spirited,  artistic and reckless lifestyle. The leader of this musical mojo, Jim Morrison revealed
the torture he was feeling with his poetry and theatrics. He was a test pilot, flying to the very edges and pushing himself
further. Jim eventually went too far and killed himself with substance abuse. Or so they say...

    Should the story have ended there?   Perhaps.   But by that point, the music and the legacy of The Doors were too profound and too important to too many people.   There was no letting go.


    The Doors legend became an exciting and curious part of rock history, because The Doors were both ahead of their time and suddenly gone before the impact had really been felt.  They were over and done almost as soon as they began
it seemed.

    Jim Morrison became an icon, matched with other tragic shooting stars like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe.  

    With so much history, so much legacy, so much legend surrounding The Doors...  Could this new combo put together by the surviving Doors –– keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger –– really have a glimmer of hope
when it came to living up to fan expectations?  


    What I saw on June 24, 2003 at the Chicago Theatre both answered my questions and found me facing my fears.

    The audience immediately rose to their feet as Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger began the hauntingly familiar Doors melody to "Roadhouse Blues".  

    From there things picked up speed as they moved from one familiar song to the next...   The magic was there and the songs sounded resoundingly good. The music had been happily set free after being locked away for too long.

    One time lead singer with The Cult, British rocker Ian Astbury dressed in black, did an admirable job of stepping into Jim Morrison's role.   Though he looked hauntingly like the long dead rock icon and even borrowed a few trademark moves, Astbury did not mimic Morrison.  

    As any Cult fan well knows, Astbury was influenced heavily by Morrison early on as he was climbing the rungs of rock stardom in the U.K.   To his credit, he performed these proud songs written and immortalized by his idol, as
himself.   Granted, a few of Morrison-inflections may have been played up a bit here and there, but he gave a very respectful performance that was very commanding.

    The strong, powerful sound from Krieger and Manzarek are providing the foundation for this party.   They both turned in very solid performances. And new rhythm section –– drummer Tee Dennis and bass player Angelo Barbarra –– did a great job keeping the familar grooves going.

    As The Doors played such classics as ––  “Break on Through”, “When The Music’s Over”, “Love Me Two Times”, “Five to One”, “People are Strange”, and “L A Woman” ––  Manzarek and Krieger the fans were delighted and it
showed as many sang along.

    A new song, “Cops Talk,” was introduced with a promise for a new Doors album due by year's end.  The crowd seemed to be distracted by the new offering.  They wanted the old stuff.

    The highly polished sound and the video/liquid slide projection screen with the modern computerized enhancements seemed to contrast the raw edginess that would have been part of a '60s Doors show, but it was a delight to witness
nonetheless.   Close your eyes and it was a trip to the late 60's.  Open your eyes and it was like stepping into a time machine that linked the 35 years between then and now together...


    The Doors 21st Century were granting fans the power and persona of Doors live show in the best possible way in a world devoid of Jim Morrison. Nothing cheesy here.  A respectable show with reverence for the legacy and hope for
a continued future.