This was from Monday, November 17, 1997 at 6:00 p.m. PST/9:00 p.m. EST USA


Ray Manzarek chat interview log; unedited Monday November 17, 1997 6pm PST-9pm EST. Universal Studios Back lot chat.

Moderator presents the speaker with question #78 from SirZeus:
If you could see Jim one last time, what would you say to him?

Ray Manzarek says, "Where have you been, fool? Have you stopped drinking?" 

Moderator presents the speaker with question #84 from Quebecois:
At the Dooors peak, did you guys believed that you were the very best band in the world?

Ray Manzarek says, "Well, we knew we were right up there.  I think there's no such thing as a "peak", I think there's a level of expertise that one has to attain and at that level were Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, the Stones, Janice Joplin, Bob Dylan and the Doors." 

Moderator presents the speaker with question #103 from Astralplane:
What was your favorite song to do live?

Ray Manzarek says, "Light my Fire. We got to do the longest solos! And Jim got to take a beer break in the middle of the song.  You could always so**** on Ray and Robbie at least 10 minutes.  So there was plenty of time for Jim to get back stage and get himself a beer to whet his whistle." 

Moderator presents the speaker with question #108 from Tshark:
Are you surprised by staying power of The Doors' Music?

Ray Manzarek says, "Yes I am! I knew the Doors were good, but when we first got started I had no idea we'd be talking about the Doors 30 years later.  I'm very pleased and very happy that the fans are as smart as they are today, because" 

Ray Manzarek says, "it takes brains to appreciate Doors' music!" 

Moderator presents the speaker with question #114 from IN4SER:
Do you know what happened to Andy & Anne Morrison? Jim's brother and sister?

Ray Manzarek says, "Andy lives in Hawaii and Anne is happily married and lives in Orange County or San Diego County, California."

Moderator presents the speaker with question #128 from ricky38:
Question: What's Robbie doing these days?

Ray Manzarek says, "Robbie is playing jazz with the Robbie Krieger Organization."

Moderator presents the speaker with question #154 from dante levenom:
Do you ever get to check out any of the cover bands You ask, "Ray...Very good to meet and chat with you...as a long time fan, and doors chat reg, as well as one of the writers/artist for The Tribe, doors chat webzine, I'd like to know what you think of it? What is favorite part, and what would you add or delete" 

Ray Manzarek says, "Yes!  And they're quite good.  I especially like the band here in L.A. , Wild Child, but I've also seen The Soft Parade in New York and they're good. I like the cover bands." 

Moderator presents the speaker with question #143 from Mr. GoodTrips:
What tempted you to pick up a guitar when recording 'Been Down So Long'...did you dig playing guitar too?!

Ray Manzarek says, "Yes! Absolutely!  I'm glad you caught that!  I love playing the guitar.  Not much, though.  All I can play is an A, a B a D Minor."

Ray Manzarek says, "That song was my opportunity to play my half-dozen guitar licks.  Thanks for noticing!"

Moderator presents the speaker with question #163 from Jinxed:
What do you think of the music fads today?

Ray Manzarek says, "I like the music today.  I like the teckno ambience, electronic dance music! I like Future Sounds of London and I like Chemical Brothers, Goldie, Tricky is good and my son has a band, Pablo, Nick and Zak Young, called Artificial Intelligence.  Hopefully, you'll hear something from them soon." 

Moderator presents the speaker with question #171 from CMarble:
I love your solo in the song " Take it as it comes", and I think this is the hardest one. What can you say about this solo?

Ray Manzarek says, "That's Bach! That's classical studies! You have to study J.S. Bach. That helps to play that type of stuff. So, practice, practice, practice!" 

Moderator presents the speaker with question #169 from Lizard Kiing:
Do you love to hear your music on the radio tv etc 

Ray Manzarek says, "Of course!  What musician wouldn't want to hear his music on the radio?"

Moderator presents the speaker with question #225 from Crystal Queene:
Have you read P.S. Kiss the Duchess For Me...it tells the story of
a real Unknown Soldier...

Ray Manzarek says, "I haven't read that." 

Moderator presents the speaker with question #13 from spicoli:
What was it like working with X? And, what is your favorite X album?

Ray Manzarek says, "X was fabulous!  The best punk rock band in America! Nobody could play guitar like Billy Zoom! Nobody could write lyrics like Exene and John Doe. No one could crack a snare harder than Don Bonebreak. And, I don't know that I have a favorite X album, I think the four albums that I produced with X are all my favorites. But I do love the first one:  Los Angeles because I got to play organ with them. What fun that was! Soul Kitchen's on that one." 

Moderator presents the speaker with question #36 from TheChangeling:
Ray what happened to Paris Blues?

Ray Manzarek says, "Paris BLues will be out some day; we're going to use it in another context. Paris Blues is an outtake from the L.A. Woman session
and we had originally talked about including it in the box set, but we're saving it for another use. It's a blues song; it's not that special, but it's going to fit in with another concept I have in mind.  It's a funky blues" 

Moderator presents the speaker with question #243 from Tshark:
Besides Jim's family, how involved were all of your parents in what you were doing?

Ray Manzarek says, "No parents were involved in anything we did! You know what?  All of our parents did a brilliant job!  They made us, they raised us, they fed us! Clothed us, burped us and cleaned our dirty little diapers! I love my mother and father and the rest of the guys love their mothers and fathers, too. They loved the Doors.  Robbie's father and mother came to the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. My mother and father came to Doors' shows.  John Densmore's mother and father saw Doors' shows. Only Jim's parents never saw Doors shows.  I Spoke to Jim's mother.  She's a lovely woman.  I've never met his father." 

Moderator presents the speaker with question #246 from blackcoyote:
Are there anymore hidden jewels for another great video project 

Ray Manzarek says, "We have a great video project coming up, but I'm not at liberty to tell you about it! It's going to be the story of the Doors, as told by Ray, John and Robbie! The real story! Psychedelic!  Mystical and Rock!!!" 

Moderator presents the speaker with question #123 from bluesunday:
According to Greg Shaw and his wonderful book, "The Doors on the Road," there are still a variety of excellent Doors soundboards from the 1970 tour that have never been released in their entirety. Doors fans are eager for more complete and unedited live Doors performances. Can we expect any future releases?

Ray Manzarek says, "Greg Shaw is wrong.  The book is wonderful, but as far
as unrelesaed stuff, there's not that much. However, we'll see if we can come up with what you guys are looking for. On the other hand, that's why you have all those damned bootlegs! Those French and Italian "coke money bootlegs"! That's the French connection.  Laundering money by making bootlegs. But, you guys get to hear them; unfortunately, a lot of the money goes to the Mafia. And that's the truth." 

Moderator presents the speaker with question #259 from perception123:
how come Light my fire isn't on the box set...Did you actually not do that in New York or was it omitted!??

Ray Manzarek says, "We didn't want to have it twice.  It's on the disc called "Band's Favorites" and it was so long, we didn't want to have it twice." 

Moderator presents the speaker with question #270 from blackcoyote:
how was it like creating your solo spoken words album?

Ray Manzarek says, "That was fun! That was a lot like this.  Just talking about the Doors."

Moderator presents the speaker with question #83 from tgrisier:
What was the most difficult song to record. Both personally and technically.


Ray Manzarek says, "Celebration of the Lizard. We never did get that great studio take. But we played the hell out of it live! Studio life:  focusing on the music.  You're in the studio to make music.  Partying, you can to anywhere. I think bands that party too much in the studio are ridiculous."

Moderator presents the speaker with question #288 from The Crystal Ship:
Are there any of Jim or your films from UCLA hangin' around somewhere?

Ray Manzarek says, "Jim's film is gone; lost. My student movies are on the Doors' laser disc called, "The Doors' Collection." On Universal Home Video!" The laserdisc has two of my movies and Jim appears briefly. In one of them."

Moderator presents the speaker with question #258 from Holy Sha:
What was it like jamming to "Gloria" with you guys along with Van
Morrison at the Whiskey in 66'?

Ray Manzarek says, "Absolutely incredible! Jim Morrison and Van Morrison on the same stage at the same time singing Gloria. Man!  It was unique. It may have been the best time I've ever had! Well, almost . . . making love to Dorothy is better than that!" 

Moderator presents the speaker with question #279 from second coming:
what would jim think of the corporate beast the doors have turned
into today?

Ray Manzarek says, "Who says it's a corporate beast? Let me put it this way: Second coming we don't need you this time, we're all the Messiah this time. You're obsolete;  IN the new age, all of us are the Messiah and it's the first time around. There will be no second coming. I resent your question." 

Moderator presents the speaker with question #311 from SirZeus:
what book do you think gives a strong accurate account of the doors the best? (Besides myth and reality which I commend you strongly on)

Ray Manzarek says, "Thank you.  Myth and reality is an album I made talking about the Doors and Jim. My book gives the best account which will be coming out next summer.  I just finished the first draft four days ago. It's going to be out on Putnam in the summer of '98. It will tell you about the Doors from Ray Manzarek's perspective."

Moderator presents the speaker with question #119 from SundayTrucker:
What are your plans for the future?  Films?  Music?

Ray Manzarek says, "The book of course.  I'm planning on directing a movie if everything goes right. I might do one called "L.A. Woman".  It'll be independent! I've got another one called "The Road Man" about 3 college boys going to the desert to take peyote. And meeting up with some Native Americans who are members of the Native American church. One more film I want to do is called The Art of Murder. It takes place on a college campus; 3 guys are all in love with the same girl; one is a teacher, two are art students; one a sculptor, the other a TV Video artist. and the Girl, THE FOX, is an actress who has driven them all mad with lust and a murder has been committed..."

Moderator says, "That's going to wrap it up for the evening. Our thanks go to Ray Manzarek for taking the time to chat with us tonight! Be sure to check out the latest Doors CD box set and home video releases!!!!" 

Ray Manzarek says, "Thanks everyone!  Thanks for being Doors' fans; Thanks
for being good people! Thanks for being smart people!  Now:  Just LOVE One another!  As Jim said:  Love, Love, LoveIs the Answer."

Ray Manzarek says, "Over and Out."

Moderator says, "Thanks again chatters. And remember, the best chats can be found only on the Universal Chat Network!!! Be sure to tune in tomorrow
night when sci-fi and horror guru Forry Ackerman will be chatting live!!!
All chats occur at 6:00 PM PST/9:00 PM EST!!!" 

Moderator says, "Thanks again chatters....  This has been a great event.