jimicowan

On Ray Manzarek and The Doors

While I was out of the country one of the founding members of The Doors, Ray Manzarek passed away at 74. I’ve just had the chance to reflect on how influential this group was even so many years after they were active as the original lineup. 

I’ve often waxed poetic about my journey through music—of which I’ll continue to do so. Music has always profoundly affected my life, like nothing else has. Nothing. 

Through the years I often shifted through phases of listening to different genres. These periods only served to expand my appreciation and love for different music is all. There’s still some music I just cannot handle- Country is one. But even music I do not actively enjoy I most certainly can appreciate the artistic creativity and the significance to the big music picture. 

I digress. Some of my earliest memories of music are, of course, through my parents. Their tastes spanned from, well, all over the place. From Tommy James to Rod Stewart to Jim Croce to The Doors to The Guess Who. Slide that spectrum to either side. My sister can most certainly remember more but will also recall “Mom’s tape” and “Dad’s tape”- A small collection of tapes they had, two specifically made from their record collection, they played on our long road trips. They had a small, but decent collection of records I would often sift through later on, one of which was the “Best of The Doors”. This was my first experience with The Doors. In high school I hung this album on my wall. And I’ve since commandeered this record for my own collection since it was collecting dust in their garage. 

Throughout my listening phases there have always been a handful of stalwarts—the originals, if you will—a few groups I’ve never, and will never, stop enjoying regardless of what mood I’m in. Led Zeppelin, The Doors, and Jimi Hendrix pretty much round out that list. Later in life I’ve learned to love others- The Misfits, all things Iggy, Iron Maiden, many punk bands, and more recently jazz classics. I could go on but needn’t. The Doors head that small list of groups that started my love of music. 

A favorite album or song? Album, no way. There are songs on every album that could catapult each to “favorite” status. Picking a song is even harder, I just can’t do it. “Roadhouse Blues”, “Break on Through”, “The End”, “People are Strange”, “Indian Summer”, “Love Her Madly”, “Strange Days”, “My Wild Love”—just to name a couple… I can say one of my very favorites is “Spanish Caravan”.

There’s not much else to type. The Doors have always, and will continue to, expand my love for music. Read Henry Rollins’ thoughts as well on LA Weekly.

Rest in piece, Ray Manzarek.