# Ray Manzarek of The Doors has died at age 74 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 20, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870 "2013-05-20T21:10:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/1 "2013-05-20T21:10:50Z")
I can’t find any news sources yet, but this was posted to [The Doors’ Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151465310183412&set=a.90581253411.86975.8606723411&type=1) just as little bit ago. > [@](#): > > Ray Manzarek, Founding Member of The Doors, Passes Away at 74 > > Ray Manzarek, keyboardist and founding member of The Doors, passed away today at 12:31PM PT at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany after a lengthy battle with bile duct cancer. He was 74. At the time of his passing, he was surrounded by his wife Dorothy Manzarek, and his brothers Rick and James Manczarek. > > Manzarek is best known for his work with The Doors who formed in 1965 when Manzarek had a chance encounter on Venice Beach with poet Jim Morrison. The Doors went on to become one of the most controversial rock acts of the 1960s, selling more than 100-million albums worldwide, and receiving 19 Gold, 14 Platinum and five multi-Platinum albums in the U.S. alone. “L.A.Woman,” “Break On Through to the Other Side,” “The End,” “Hello, I Love You,” and “Light My Fire” were just some of the band’s iconic and ground-breaking songs. After Morrison’s death in 1971, Manzarek went on to become a best-selling author, and a Grammy-nominated recording artist in his own right. In 2002, he revitalized his touring career with Doors’ guitarist and long-time collaborator, Robby Krieger. > > “I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and bandmate Ray Manzarek today,” said Krieger. “I’m just glad to have been able to have played Doors songs with him for the last decade. Ray was a huge part of my life and I will always miss him.” > > Manzarek is survived by his wife Dorothy, brothers Rick and James Manczarek, son Pablo Manzarek, Pablo’s wife Sharmin and their three children Noah, Apollo and Camille. Funeral arrangements are pending. The family asks that their privacy be respected at this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, please make a memoriam donation in Ray Manzarek’s name at [www.standup2cancer.org](http://www.standup2cancer.org) ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/2 "2013-05-20T21:12:43Z")
I have an LP of an early techno version he did of Carmina Burana that I used to listen to quite a bit. I remember he was not a fan of the Oliver Stone movie and said in an interview at the time that Kyle McLachlan (who played him) really needed to get stoned and relax if he wanted to be convincing on screen. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/3 "2013-05-20T21:18:18Z")
he broke on through. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/4 "2013-05-20T21:20:33Z")
Damn. I remember reading _No One Here Gets Out Alive_ in high school; The Doors were the first real Rock band I ever got into deeply. They’ll always have a special place in the soundtrack of my youth. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/5 "2013-05-20T21:35:02Z")
I saw him live back in 2003, on the Doors “reunion tour” with Ian Astbury fronting. It was an amazing show and the world is lessened by his passing. I’m going to crank up “When The Music’s Over” now in his memory. ---
**Author:** ![Rowanchilde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a698b9/32.png) [@Rowanchilde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rowanchilde)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/6 "2013-05-20T21:35:18Z")
This kind of news always makes me realize my own mortality more and more every day… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/7 "2013-05-20T21:37:40Z")
I have to really take issue with the notion that “Hello, I Love You” was in any way groundbreaking, musically or lyrically. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/8 "2013-05-20T21:44:13Z")
That news sucks, but man, people are getting old. The keyboards in Light My Fire were groundbreaking. Ray was an original who will never be forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/9 "2013-05-20T21:46:33Z")
Just cranked up [Riders on the Storm](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbx6gULYNbc) in his honor. RIP. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/10 "2013-05-20T21:46:59Z")
The very first LP I ever bought with my own money was _The Doors_. I wore that sucker transparent. RIP Ray. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/11 "2013-05-20T22:01:38Z")
Wow - another rock legend passes away. ☹ The Doors exploded into the music world at a time when rock and roll was seriously changing - and they fit right in. Most people always talk about Jim Morrison being the major Doors influence but you have to admit that Ray Manzarek _seriously_ contributed to their musicianship, songwriting, mentality, etc. R.I.P. Ray ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/12 "2013-05-20T22:20:11Z")
For me, the sound of the Doors was Ray Manzarek. Now, I personally wasn’t a big fan of the sound, but he had a clear, distinct voice as a musician and it’s rare, if ever, you witness a keyboardist sculpting the sound of a rock band as much as Manzarek did. Plus, he’s a good Polish Catholic boy from a couple neighborhoods over, so I gotta be proud! I’ll raise a glass in your honor tonight, Ray. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/13 "2013-05-20T22:27:22Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > For me, the sound of the Doors was Ray Manzarek. Now, I personally wasn’t a big fan of the sound, but he had a clear, distinct voice as a musician and it’s rare, if ever, you witness a keyboardist sculpting the sound of a rock band as much as Manzarek did. Plus, he’s a good Polish Catholic boy from a couple neighborhoods over, so I gotta be proud! I’ll raise a glass in your honor tonight, Ray. Well stated. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/14 "2013-05-20T22:31:58Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > For me, the sound of the Doors was Ray Manzarek. Now, I personally wasn’t a big fan of the sound, but he had a clear, distinct voice as a musician and it’s rare, if ever, you witness a keyboardist sculpting the sound of a rock band as much as Manzarek did. That’s an excellent point - the Doors were kind of an idiosyncratic band in that respect. From snippets and tidbits I’ve picked up over the years, I wonder if I would have liked him all that much as a person. He always seemed just a bit too impressed with himself. But that said, I _loved_ his sound. And he was also the guy who helped introduce the great LA punk band **X** to the world. Kudos to you Ray and RIP, you certainly left your mark. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/15 "2013-05-20T22:34:50Z")
May is shaping up to be a shitty month for musicians. RIP Mr. Manzarek. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/16 "2013-05-20T22:41:00Z")
> [@Just\_Ed](#): > > Damn. > > I remember reading _No One Here Gets Out Alive_ in high school; The Doors were the first real Rock band I ever got into deeply. They’ll always have a special place in the soundtrack of my youth. Ray Manzarek published his autobiography in the late 1990s. It was really good. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/17 "2013-05-20T23:17:44Z")
This is the end… ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/18 "2013-05-20T23:33:24Z")
Manzarek also played keyboards on Weird Al Yankovic’s song “Craigslist,” which was a style parody of the Doors’ music. He made an invaluable contribution towards recreating the Doors’ distinctive sound. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/19 "2013-05-20T23:49:56Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Manzarek also played keyboards on Weird Al Yankovic’s song “Craigslist,” which was a style parody of the Doors’ music. He made an invaluable contribution towards recreating the Doors’ distinctive sound. In the early 1980s, there was a Doors parody band called “Jimbo and the Lizard Kings”. 😛 Around that time, my dad asked my brother and me, who were in our late teens, how many of the other Doors were now dead. We replied, “None of them!” and that was true until today. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/20 "2013-05-20T23:54:24Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > Just cranked up [Riders on the Storm](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbx6gULYNbc) in his honor. > > RIP. ☹ If you turn it up loud enough you can hear the entire sound being whispered under the regular track. It get’s louder as the song goes on. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870.md?page=2)