In a recent episode of the talk show hosted by David Letterman, renowned musician Ray Manzarek made a captivating appearance. Manzarek, famously known for being a member of The Doors, sat down with Letterman to discuss his experiences and latest projects.
Manzarek and Jim Morrison, both students at UCLA, formed The Doors in 1966. Together, they created groundbreaking and successful albums that to this day remain iconic in rock music. Manzarek’s talent extended beyond being a musician – he also produced albums for the Los Angeles band X and released his very own album titled “Carina barana.”
During their conversation, Letterman warmly welcomed Manzarek and apologized for the delay in having him on the show. He extended an invitation for Manzarek to return in a couple of weeks, jokingly suggesting they visit the Kinsky exhibit at the Guggenheim beforehand.
The focus then shifted to Manzarek’s newest effort, an album called “Car Rea Banamine: Songs from a Benedictine Monastery.” Manzarek explained that the album consists of 12th-century scandalous and erotic poetry discovered by Carl Orff in the 1930s. These poems, originally written by renegade monks who embraced life outside the monastery, formed the basis for Manzarek’s orchestra-centered project.
Letterman also delved into another album called “She Alive, She Cried” by The Doors, questioning how the material for this album was assembled. Manzarek revealed that the album consisted of lost tapes from the late 1960s and early 1970s. These tapes, initially planned for future release, had been lost for years until they were accidentally discovered in a storage facility.
Curious about the album’s success, Letterman asked Manzarek how it compared to the sales of a previous album released when The Doors were still together. To Letterman’s surprise, Manzarek shared that “She Alive, She Cried” was actually selling better than the album released during The Doors‘ prime.
The conversation then took a poignant turn as Letterman inquired about the aftermath of Jim Morrison’s death in 1971. Letterman asked if there were discussions within the band about finding a replacement for Morrison. Manzarek admitted that they had talked about various singers, including Iggy Pop, Van Morrison, and Mick Jagger. However, they ultimately realized that no one could truly replace Jim Morrison.
Before the interview concluded, Letterman touched on the infamous rumor that Jim Morrison faked his death and was still alive somewhere in Europe or Southern California. Manzarek dismissed the rumor, clearly stating that he did not subscribe to such theories.
The interview ended on a positive note, with Letterman expressing his gratitude to Manzarek for joining him on the show. He looked forward to having him back in the future. Manzarek thanked the host and bid farewell to the audience, ending the episode on a high note.
Overall, Ray Manzarek‘s appearance on David Letterman‘s talk show proved to be an engaging and insightful conversation about his career, recent projects, and the legacy of The Doors.
