# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/21 "2013-05-20T23:54:36Z")
> [@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. That’s pretty much my experience as well. R.I.P. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/22 "2013-05-21T00:18:31Z")
> [@wolf\_meister](#): > > 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. > [@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. I am sure that if Morrison hadn’t existed, or hadn’t been interested in being in The Doors, Manzarek would have found someone else to front the band and it would have been just as successful. ---
**Author:** ![Hoops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoops/32/6408_2.png) [@Hoops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoops)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/23 "2013-05-21T01:04:35Z")
I got to hang out a bit with Mr. Manzarek when I played keyboards in a musical featuring the music of the Doors called [Celebration Of The Lizard](http://articles.latimes.com/2000/may/30/entertainment/ca-35439). He was a very nice guy, really smart and well-spoken. I particularly remember one thing he did at a rehearsal. I was sitting at my keyboard and he was standing in front of it. He wanted to demonstrate a specific musical passage, so I went to get up so he could sit down and play it. He said “no, no, don’t get up,” and proceeded to just reach across and play it perfectly, upside down, from the other side of the keyboard. It was pretty impressive. ---
**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 21, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/24 "2013-05-21T01:28:35Z")
It’s not just me that’s always noticed that the Peanut’s character Schroeder plays piano the same way as Ray, right? I’ve always assumed that was on purpose. ---
**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 21, 2013, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/25 "2013-05-21T01:31:48Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > It’s not just me that’s always noticed that the Peanut’s character Schroeder plays piano the same way as Ray, right? > I’ve always assumed that was on purpose. I’m not sure what you mean. ---
**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 21, 2013, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/26 "2013-05-21T01:41:07Z")
This is [Schroeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUQX2B67KL4) playing and this is [Ray](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcPTAeohmVc#t=1m22s) playing. It’s the best one I could find for Ray (though I’m sure there are more out there, I just didn’t want to sift through them), but they both hunch over the keyboard in the same way. ---
**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 21, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/27 "2013-05-21T01:44:21Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > This is [Schroeder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUQX2B67KL4) playing and this is [Ray](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcPTAeohmVc#t=1m22s) playing. > It’s the best one I could find for Ray (though I’m sure there are more out there, I just didn’t want to sift through them), but they both hunch over the keyboard in the same way. Ah. Never thought of that. Then again, never really saw any videos of Ray playing, so I wouldn’t know. I just thought it was a typical “musician getting into his instrument” kind of thing. I know sometimes I will space out, close my eyes, and drop my head down when I’m really getting into it. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/28 "2013-05-21T01:51:25Z")
“Well the clock says its time to close…now…” ☹ Sucks to get old. RIP Ray. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/29 "2013-05-21T03:21:46Z")
I loved his work with X. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/30 "2013-05-21T05:27:35Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > Just cranked up [Riders on the Storm](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbx6gULYNbc) in his honor. > > RIP. ☹ Have you ever heard the song that’s the instrumental track for “Riders on the Storm” and the vocal track is Blondie’s “Rapture”? It must be heard to be believed. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/31 "2013-05-21T10:52:39Z")
Wow, that was unexpected. And saddening. I was listening to Gideon Coe (UK radio dj) last night and he broke the news and immediately played _Crystal Ship._. After the Doors, Ray did a couple of solo lps which I used to like a lot, despite their completely different sounds. _The Golden Scareb_ was fun, with tongue-in-cheek new age lyrics - ‘the source of the Nile, which is in Tibet…’ 🙂 And, later, the rockier \*The Whole Thing Started With Rock and Roll, Now it’s Out Of Control! \*. Great title! And, yes, he ws the spirit of the Doors to me at least as much as Morrison. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/32 "2013-05-21T11:12:45Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > TFrom 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. Search the archives of the NPR show Fresh Air. Terry Gross did an interview with Ray in which he came across as witty, wise and a fantastic musician. He sat at a piano during the interview, and used it to illustrate points, to introduce the Doors’ bass player Lefty, and to provide mood music. I came away from that interview really liking and respecting him. Now that I think about it a little more, Fresh Air will probably play at least part of that interview some time this week since Ray has died. RIP Ray ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/33 "2013-05-21T12:49:33Z")
RIP indeed. Count me as another who read “No One Here Gets Out Alive” as a teenager. I never really knew of The Doors when Jim was alive. I imagine the next time I hear one of their songs on the radio I’ll choke up a bit, like I did the first time I heard “Here Comes the Sun” after George’s death. There’s probably going to be a whole lot of this in the next decade…unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/34 "2013-05-21T13:13:53Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Count me as another who read “No One Here Gets Out Alive” as a teenager. I find this interesting - I read NOHGOA as well - but man, it really put me off The Doors and Morrison in particular. I thought the book spoke to many of the bad things about Morrison especially as he spiraled down. Please note: I am NOT trying to threadshit - at all. The Doors are an essential band in the 60’s/early 70’s pantheon and Manzarak was a great player and key to their sound. I am merely noting that folks are citing that book as something that attracted them to The Doors, whereas I read it and was put off. Just curious - no bearing on Manzarek and his contributions; and if the book worked for you, totally cool…just curious. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/35 "2013-05-21T13:27:08Z")
If Jim is really alive, (as i suspect), he will show up…probably in disguise. looking forward to seeing him after all these years!🆒 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/36 "2013-05-21T13:33:58Z")
I still remember first hearing LA Woman as a kid when it came out. I’d spend a month at summer camp outside of Austin and our cabin would have KLBJ on. A summer storm might pass by, you could smell the rain, look out through the screen at limestone hills cut by clear streams and listen to Riders on the Storm. It defined that year, as did Layla another. I vividly remember discussing RotS with my sister when camp was over, we’d catch up and talk about all the great music we’d grown fond of since seeing each other last. Wonderful memories. Thanks, Ray. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/37 "2013-05-21T13:44:26Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I find this interesting - I read NOHGOA as well - but man, it really put me off The Doors and Morrison in particular. I thought the book spoke to many of the bad things about Morrison especially as he spiraled down. > > Please note: I am NOT trying to threadshit - at all. The Doors are an essential band in the 60’s/early 70’s pantheon and Manzarak was a great player and key to their sound. I am merely noting that folks are citing that book as something that attracted them to The Doors, whereas I read it and was put off. > > Just curious - no bearing on Manzarek and his contributions; and if the book worked for you, totally cool…just curious. As a teenager, Morrison’s antics seemed cool and rebellious. I already liked the music and had the Lizard King poster on my wall. Some of the stories didn’t sit well, but overall I came away more interested in him and the band. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/38 "2013-05-21T15:08:17Z")
My reasons are similar to **Southern Yankee’s**. As a teen, Jim Morrison’s rebelliousness seemed cool, and while some of his behavior seemed assholish, it didn’t seem all that bad. As a 38 year old man, it definitely strikes me differently now. I’d say Morrison had pretty serious substance abuse problems and that he tended to treat people poorly. He may or may not have been an asshole, but he tended to act like one. I do still like the music. For me, Ray Manzarek really defined their sound. Whenever I heard him play, I could tell it was a Doors song. ---
**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 21, 2013, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/39 "2013-05-21T16:22:28Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I find this interesting - I read NOHGOA as well - but man, it really put me off The Doors and Morrison in particular. I thought the book spoke to many of the bad things about Morrison especially as he spiraled down. Yes it did – but in addition to that innate teenage attraction to rebellion as cited by **Southern Yankee** and **Caffeine.addict** , it also provided an interesting history of the band coming together, with insight into both Morrison’s genius and his (all-too-often, yes) sophomoric idiocy. To me, it was a fascinating portrait of a damaged person, and strengthened my curiosity about the music the band produced with him. So yeah, even at the time I would have acknowledged Morrison could be a gigantic asshole, but I would defend the music of The Doors vehemently. Conversely, and by the way, Densmore’s account (_Riders on the Storm_) put me off Densmore, who comes across (in my opinion) as a whiny jerk. Had I read that before _No One Here Gets Out Alive_ (though it didn’t exist yet back then), I certainly would have had a different perspective of Morrison _and_ The Doors. (I wasn’t aware of Manzarek’s bio; I’ll probably look that up.) ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870/40 "2013-05-21T20:04:33Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The very first LP I ever bought with my own money was _The Doors_. I wore that sucker transparent. > > RIP Ray. My first album was also the Doors. Little bits of my youth going away… I have a vivid memory of lying in bed, listening to the radio & hearing (for the first time) “Riders on the Storm.” Nothing else like it, even now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-manzarek-of-the-doors-has-died-at-age-74/658870.md?page=3)