Surviving Doors Reunite for TV Special

L O S  A N G E L E S, Sept. 27 -- In a rare reunion, the three surviving members of 1960s rock band the Doors teamed upwith several guest vocalists to perform their classic tunes for an upcoming television special.

The taping Tuesday at a Hollywood soundstage marked the first timethat keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger anddrummer John Densmore have performed publicly since 1993, whenthey were inducted into the Rock and RollHall of Fame.

Pinch-hitters for the group’s late singer, Jim Morrison,included Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots, Ian Astbury ofthe Cult and Scott Stapp of Creed, who all did their bestimpressions of the “Lizard King.”

The results will be aired in late November on music cablenetwork VH1’s Storytellers series, coinciding with therelease of a Doors tribute album, Stoned Immaculate.

Morrison Tales RememberedThe Doors, one of the most influential bands of the rockera thanks to hits like “Light My Fire” and “Hello, I LoveYou,” broke up several years after the hard-living Morrisondied of heart failure in 1971, and they have played togetheronly a handful of times since.

Morrison was frequentlyevoked during the taping, as the invited audience was regaledwith the tales behind the songs.

Manzarek said Morrison’s lyrics for “Wild Child” reflected“the wildness in each and everyone of us.” Krieger contradictedhim, saying Morrison wrote the song about his wife, Pamela,who outlived him by three years. Both agreed Pamela contributeda few lines.

Astbury, of reunited British rockers the Cult, performed“Wild Child” as well as “Alabama Song” and “Back Door Man.” Travis Meeks of modern rock band Days of the New sang theoedipal epic “The End,” and former Jane’s Addiction frontmanPerry Farrell did “L.A. Woman.”

More Gigs Planned Stone Temple Pilots’ Weiland, whose drug and legal problemshave somewhat mirrored Morrison’s, sang “Break on Through” and “Five ToOne,” while Pat Monahan of San Francisco band Train opened theevening with “Love Me Two Times.”