Friday, Oct. 11, 2002 | 3:17 a.m.
WEEKEND EDITION: Oct. 13, 2002
Ian Astbury is no stranger to attention and the criticism that comes with it. For nearly 20 years, the vocalist has played a lead role for the popular hard rock band The Cult.
But this year, the 40-year-old British singer finds himself under a more intense spotlight than he ever imagined. Tapped by the remaining members of the famed '60s group The Doors to join them for a reunion, Astbury will be sitting in for one of rock music's most legendary performers: Jim Morrison.
Last month, Astbury played two shows with surviving Doors members Ray Manzarek (keyboard) and Robbie Krieger (guitar). Former Police drummer Stewart Copeland filled in for original Doors drummer John Densmore, who suffers from hearing damage these days.
Wednesday night Astbury and The Cult will play The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel. The show, part of a six-concert run, will be the band's only appearance outside of California. From there it's on to The Doors, with a tour and even a new album among the possibilities.
Last week, Astbury sat down for a phone interview with the Las Vegas Sun from his Los Angeles home.
Las Vegas Sun: What's the status of The Cult these days?
Ian Astbury: After we re-formed (in 1999) we were involved with Atlantic (Records) and doing the whole circuit again and it was really intense. So we just wanted to take a break for a while again. And The Doors thing came up as well.
Sun: Who's in The Cult right now, other than yourself and guitarist Billy Duffy?
IA: Scott Garrett is our drummer and Craig Adams is on bass. They're both on (1994's) "The Cult" album. It's a family thing in a lot of ways. The four of us are close in terms of personality and chemistry.
Sun: What types of things will you be playing?
IA: I put together a set that reflects from 1982 and the Southern Death Cult days through (last year's) "Beyond Good and Evil, so that's 18 or 19 years.
Sun: It sounds like you're enjoying not having an album to tour behind.
IA: I think the wonderful thing is there's no pressure. It's not political. We're not trying to impress anyone. It's purely for the enjoyment of being able to perform these songs.
Sun: So as far as The Cult goes, this could be it for a while?
IA: Yeah, I think it will be it for a little while. I just didn't want to be a part of the circus anymore, be somebody else's bitch, really ... being told what to do, how to do it. Having to do all those cynical, horrible things like perform for radio stations in the middle of the day. I hated it.
Sun: You contributed to a Doors tribute album and played at last year's VH1's "Storytellers" show, but how did this more official Doors reunion come about?
IA: Their long-standing manager, Danny Sugarman, has been a close friend of mine for a long time, and this is something he's been trying to orchestrate for about 12 years. I met the guys at an album release party in the early '90s. About three years ago I sang at one of Robbie's shows.
Sun: The Doors have been inactive since 1973 (two years after Morrison's death). Why do you think they decided to do this now?
IA: I think they felt collectively like 30 years was a respectful mourning period for Jim Morrison, and they didn't want to be seen to be exploiting the name of The Doors and their body of work. It was really an honest desire to perform the songs.
Sun: You did two shows with Manzarek and Krieger last month. How did those go?
IA: They really wanted to do something out of the way and off the radar, test it out and see what the validity was. Some of the reviews were mixed, but most of the negative comments were about obvious things which are quite ridiculous. I mean, how can you criticize somebody for their age? And I think it's kind of immature to constantly harp on the fact that Jim Morrison isn't there. He hasn't been there for 30 years.
Sun: Being a Doors fan yourself, what's it like to look around and see Manzarek and Krieger playing alongside you? Do you get goosebumps?
IA: Yes. It's very powerful. I'm in heavy company. It's an amazing opportunity.
Sun: What is Densmore's status?
IA: John has tinitis, which is a really intense ringing in the ears. If you've ever been to a really loud concert and you come out with your ears ringing, imagine having that permanently. It's horrible. But John is working with a doctor. He really wants to play, and that's a really important part, facilitating John being able to perform.
Sun: Can it be a Doors reunion if there are only two original members?
IA: I'm not sure what's going to happen if the guys go out without John. There's some talk of the name being altered slightly, to The Doors Project or something that distinguishes that it's a little bit different.
Sun: Is there a full tour in the works?
IA: Right now, it's really a case of planning. There's been so much speculation on how to do it. I think if it does happen it won't be like a mass tour. I think it will be a minimal amount of shows in major cities.
Sun: Do you think we might see it this year?
IA: There have definitely been conversations, but nothing has been set.
Sun: What about a new Doors album, has that been discussed?
IA: Yeah, Ray's been spouting off about there being another record. I think that will be a collective work.
Sun: Are you pretty familiar with most of The Doors' lyrics?
IA: It's amazing, with things like "Break on Through," you think you know it, and then you go into it and you realize there are two or three separate verses in there. "When the Music's Over" is a vastly complex song. But I spent most of the late summer learning those songs. I also use a music stand, but mainly to sort of signify that it's a recital. It kind of signifies a podium, a presence of Morrison to show that it's a classical recital and not a traditional rock concert.
Sun: Are you almost in a no-win situation as far as pleasing people? They want you to sound like Jim on the one hand, but on the other hand if they think you sound too much like him on stage, they'll probably criticize you anyway.
IA: There's definitely been harsh criticism, especially from England, but I expect that ...
If Ray and Robbie want to play the music, they have a right to do that. And if it's not going to be me, it's going to be somebody else.
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