Ray Manzarek gives us a tour of Venice and Santa Monica, talking about the early days of the Doors. We made this for his 2003 film "Love Her Madly" We miss you Ray, thanks for all the great music and great stories.
I love how much Ray genuinely loves Jim. This is what a true brother looks like. Ray was a great man, true to his friend Jim Morrison til the end. Rare kind of friend to find.
Totally He didn’t That’s Jim Morrison, the Lizard King or the rock icon or my bandmate...he simply said “my friend.” Jim was so misunderstood. He was intelligent and could be animates but from all the books and interviews of him you can see he was just a kind and gentle man-nothing like the Jim Morrison shown in the Doors movie. Ray was just as warm and kind. Sadly he got sick and was taken from us too early also. RIP Ray RIP Jim Good friends reunited at last laughing at us from above. Jim and Ray are freaking legends.
@@grandwonder5858 Ray refound Jim causally strolling Venice Beach, Los Angeles, Calif 1965. Thus History, and the WORLD was Revolutionary Changed FOR THE ABSOLUTE BETTER. THANX GUYS !!!! (👍👊👌**)
I’m just really unlocking these stories and getting to know Jim and Ray. It’s like I’ve met some new best friends but I can’t give to them. They’ve just given me so much that I don’t know what to do with myself. I think everyday what I would say to my heroes.
Ugh ray hams up the story’s so much and perpetuities the “Jim Morrison myth” as he calls it more then anyone else .....I guess when he does ig it’s ok but if anyone else talked about Jim he disagrees.....like Oliver Stone says I listened ray rant an rave about Jim for 6 hours he felt he knew best and no one else knew I think he controlled he mythology to the doors for so long it was hard for him to listen to anyone else’s point of view ....he’s kinda obnoxious .......I would rather listen to Robbie or John any day
I will always remember Ray and Robbie playing as "Riders on the storm in Dublin in 2006. When Ray walked out he toasted the crowd with a class of Irish whiskey to Jim, he then took a flag of Jim from a fan and placed it over the bass drum and returned it to the same fan after the entire set.
I met him. He was very nice. We talked for almost an hour. He wanted to hear my band and told me he loved our music. He thought it was great that my kids love the Doors and wanted to see videos of my kids singing the Doors. He was very kind.
Goggle products The Door’s purpose in music was to open our minds to different perspectives on reality through poetry, literature, and philosophy (With the help of drugs such as weed and LSD) so that we may have the tools to think for ourselves. In essence, they wanted to spark individuality and free thinking through their music and lyrics.
" I tell yeah - I'd rather have him here with us now - telling us some stories - than up there on the wall " - probably the most sincere and touching lines Ray ever uttered about Morrison and shows you just how much he still missed him ... a great video
Listening to him is like a breath of fresh air, the smell of freshly cut grass, and the smell of the pavement on a hot day after a rain. Wish the home owner was home so he could go in.
I saw Jim Morrison and The Doors live, at the University of Michigan on Oct 20th, 1967.I am almost 77 years old but 56 years ago The Doors had the desire to make the worst concert in the world to the greatest concert in the universe. Ray,thanks for being Jim's greatest friend. Picking him up and helping him off the stage was compassionate. Also, thanks for hanging in there and sobering Jim up to bring him back from his drunken stupor and giving me and the the sparse crowd of about 100 people, the greatest concert in the universe. I will never forget what I saw. As a matter of fact, I tell all of my friends that you don't go SEE a Doors concert, you FEEL it. Thank you Jim, Ray, John and Robbie. You will always be no.1 in my ❤😊
The only surviving member of The Doors who could recall such memories and tell stories in great intimate detail was Ray Manzarek. He was a well spoken and articulate guy. He was a very likable person who could be your friend even though you don't know him. I love listening to him talk as he always keeps your attention. What a terrible loss when he died from bile duct cancer last year. Ray, you are sadly missed. I can now envision you and Jim together reminiscing about your rise to fame.
@@sergeytoropin6428 nothing wrong with that it's still relevant. I've answered to 10-year-old comments. that's cool is when someone answers back as if it was just freshen their mind and doesn't act like a douchebag
Rays a cheese ball and he hams the story’s up so much “perpetuities the myth of Jim Morrison” as he calls it when any one else tells him story’s .....apparently only rays aloud to ......I would rather listen to Robby or John tell the story’s any day ......rays book “light my fire” was just him shitting on Oliver Stone the whole book .......riders on the storm johns book is wayyyy better IMO
What was so great about the Doors was the chemistry between them. I can imagine that Jim struggled to integrate himself into normal societies because he maybe was too “out there” and weird for the average person. But not for Ray. Ray understood him and you can tell how much he liked him by watching all these videos and interviews. It think it may have been down to fact that both of them were extremely intelligent and that they connected on the same level, which eventually ended up in them being the best and most famous rock and roll band in the country.
Ray explains things about The Doors so eloquently and tells of Jim’s creative temperament which is what true poets and genuine musicians possess. The Doors music is that cinema, air of alchemy, the last of an erotic science.
What a time and place to be alive. When a person is in their 20s the world is big and full of possibilities. As we age, our path in life becomes more narrow and we follow it closer. What Ray is describing is a time in their life where the path ahead was wide and their direction was yet to be determined. So nice to think back on that time in life and retrace some of the steps we took and places we visited...
Exactly Mojo, I could sit here for hours listening to Ray speak his memories of those days. Ya' know Morrison might have been the legend, but Ray was the soul of the band. Ray was THE quintessential keyboard player of all time in my humble opinion. I miss this man and what he meant to my life. Godspeed dear friend !
Who knew Jim Morrison was a steak bandit.🤣🤣 What a great story teller Ray is. He makes you feel like you’re right there as the Doors materialize into a band.
What's amazing is when you think about it it was Ray's wife that really helps get the doors open pun intended. And they stayed married the whole time until his end of his cancer Battle too in 2013
My Doors story. I saw them perform at the Whiskey A Go-Go in Hollywood in 1966. Small place but they filled that sucker with sound, thereby blowing our minds officially right on the spot. Fast forward to the '90s. One day my son told me that Robby Krieger was his favorite guitarist. We got to talking and I told him about seeing the Doors. A few months later I saw in the paper that Robby's band was going to be in town so I got tickets. The concert blew my son away and I said, "Let's go backstage and see if we can talk to him." My son said no way they would let us but we went back anyway and there was Robby and we just started talking. He showed my son some guitar licks and was super nice, and humble! which I really dig in somebody who's a genius. I had to finally break it off cause I was worried we were taking up too much of his time.
Ray was such a great storyteller and the visionary of the Doors. He and Morrison were such a dynamic innovative pair. Certainly brothers of different mothers. RIP brother your contributions will never be forgotten.
Ray's a great story teller and man I am sure he had many cool tales to tell. I grew up with bands like the Doors and they still sound awesome all these years later. Morrison is still an enigma and stories about him and the band still resonate.
Imagine your chilling watching TV in your little Venice apartment and you hear a knock on the door. You swing the door open and standing there is an old man in a slick black leather jacket that has that look about him. He says "Hi, I'm Ray Manzarek. I used to live here in this apartment back in the mid 60's". You know what look I'm talking about. That unmistakable seasoned musician look.
Ray manzarek what a genius! He was the force behind the band, masters degree at age 26! very well spoken, intelligent man, what a great friendship and creative force, very inspiring, RIP they are both united in heavens exploring the unknown
I love this so much! Ray is such a great story teller. He's so passionate and articulate with his story. It gives me a sense of peace listening to him. Specially when he's reminiscing about his experiences with Jim and The Doors. Such an amazing man.
I love how Ray reminisced the whole story and tells it all with passion and happiness while looking back to their golden memories in their early days. He even acted and detailed it even more to make it more specific. If Jim was a poet, Ray was definitely a storyteller. RIP Jim and Ray. Two such a beautiful souls gone way too soon. What a lost. You guys are legends and surely missed. Both are probably considering making a band again together in heaven.
Man Ray could talk well, he would have been a great tv star, personality, talk show host. Great character, enthusiasm. He really opened up on stuff about the Doors that we would never have known. Brilliant. Thankyou. RIP.
I found a copy of Ray's autobiography for a few bucks at a secondhand store. At home I found that it was autographed by the man himself! The proceeds from the shop where I bought it went to support domestic abuse victims, I'd like to believe that's the only reason someone parted with it. He's a magnificent storyteller, was a fantastic book, and autographed?! Can't imagine any other reason why someone would give it away. It's not the lightest of reads, but delicious to anyone who appreciates his depth and sophistication. One of my most treasured possessions. Truly a legend.
(2 of 2) Someone else here commented about Manzarek being an awesome Human being, and most assuredly this is the impression I get from all of his interviews he has given over the years. Without knowing him personally, I doubt that a person gets any better than Ray. It was nice as well to hear Ray read from the original self-published manuscript of Jim Morrison’s poetry
Fond memories of a magic time to be young.....now lost in the Misty past. You had to have been there to understand the feeling......endless summer days and stoned perfect nights...with the Doors soundtrack...
Gosh.. what a story teller. I could listen to these over and over again. Beautiful memories. Doors - i listened to in my kid days. And i am 54 and for no vague reason, i have been on RU-vid since last 2 days seeking Jim Morrison. And i was stumped when i realised that he died on July 3rd.
I want to sit on the sand where they first met. I used to live in Santa Monica and Venice had a darker and more dangerous vibe... the few times I walked under the Santa Monica pier... it was scary.... I used to roller skate fast to get out of it faster! Lol yet now I know where that magical spot is on the beach, I’m going to go there!❤️
He really loved and missed his friend. His book made me tear up. He was so happy during that time. His book shows it and made me wish I was with them back them.
LOVE IT!! note: in the 80s Ray Manzerek lived at Ironsides & Ocean Front Walk on the Marina Del Rey peninsula.. in a condo complex to the right side, facing beach, about 4 condos from the corner. we would see him now & then walking on the beach or pathway to his condo & he was the most friendly, upbeat happy laid back neighbor.. I was introduced to him one day by another neighbor in the same complex, Mike Pinera from Iron Butterfly & Blues Image..He said "do you know Ray? he's in the Doors.."
Thanks so much! I took Ray's passing so hard. I began to get so emotional. The Doors were from my era...Ray made everything so simple to understand, in such a complicating time. When I see a photo of him, it still hurts. I also appreciate your compliment in my great taste in music. Jimi Hendrix was also such a sweet and gentle soul. I use to love him.,Before he got famous, he use to drop down to the Cafe Wha @ the west village, NYC. I couldn't get over how tall he was.
Ray of sunshine, thanks for all the great music, what a very down to earth cool guy. I love the Doors music and those 4 guys really connected on a very special wavelength.
Can you imagine Jim and Ray plotting and planning to form the Doors? What a period of time to be alive and experience the music and the creation of music that goes on forever
What a great trip down memory lane. You are sorely missed Ray and I wish I could've said all I wanted to say when I had the high honor to meet you but alas... Looking forward to continuing the conversation when we break on through to the other side. We are all Riders on the Storm! Peace & Love
What a nice video. So interesting hearing Ray telling some of their stories, what a delightful and creative guy. Awesome hearing him read some of Jim's poems, it's obvious how much he liked his friend's work. Very nice of him to share all this! :) Wish they were both still here. Best wishes to their families :)
Lovely comment. I also enjoyed his delight in his friend's work 😊 so much love... It makes me happy he had such a good friendship with Jim... How wonderful.
Damn, this was a most excellent video. Great to see Ray Manzarek tell how it all began, in so much detail. Thanks so much for uploading. Too bad Ray has left us, God Bless!
So missed that Ray. So full of life and stories and great memories. Still holding Jim near to his heart. I met Ray in 2005 and he was the nicest person. We talked about a lot of stuff, he was very kind and just the way you see him on film. I still have the pen he used to sign my Doors LP and the photos we took. What an awesome person. R.I.P. Ray, may you be in total peace and with Jim in paradise.
What a great man and what a great story teller. He was telling facts of his life like it was a faded dream and passion was pouring out from his eyes and gestures. What a great time must have been the sixties. Truly one a legendary band💯
Final thought: Also starting at the 11:50 time marker Ray is reminiscing about the days when he was struggling, trying to scrape enough together enough to have a barbecue, As I notice his expression on his face one gets the impression that it is not the destination that counts but rather the journey. Even though he had long since become well established in his career during the making of this mini documentary, that those days of struggling where among the happiest in his life.
well the best part too is that he had Dorothy by his side who was his Rock stayed married from 1967 until the passing of Ray in 2013. 10 years after he made this little mini doc on Venice.
Great Video!!! So cool to see some of the important Venice-Beach "doors landmarks" that I had only read about. For me, listening to the doors has always invoked a dark, magical, and strange world. And so cool to see how Venice Beach inspired the music and poetry. Ray Manzarek: such a great spirit, keyboardist, intellect, and articulate spokesman for the doors. Thank you for everything Ray!!!
That was so awesome I am so glad I ran across this the Story's Ray could tell about The Band and Jim I could sit and listen forever I just wish Jim and Ray were still with us today
Ray Manzarek, you will always in my soul and my heart forever. Thank you for the tour that you showed me about the beginning and the end,of you and Jim Morrison. When you talked about Jim, your face lights up, and you look so enthusiastic. Both of you were in the right place at the right time. The Doors were meant to be. When The Doors were opened, I experienced so many wonderful things, that I've never seen nor heard before. R.I.P.
Awesome to hear Ray remenis about their early days THE DOORS is a band that grips your soul,and when the music grips you it stays with you and in your soul forever...once a Doors fan always a Doors fan. For me THE DOORS is the best band to sing karaoke👍..if you want to show you can sing,sing THE DOORS👍✌👌
Wonderful video! I will miss your storytelling & memories that you so generously shared with us all Ray. It's hard to believe you're gone. RIP beautiful friend.
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