Manzarek: The Unknown Soldier

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Light My Fire has been a college rock anthem for every student who went through the rite of passage called The Doors. Jim Morrison’s sonorous voice is rarely drowned in a song, but Ray Manzarek, the organ player, keyboardist and founding member of the band created the most psychedelic sound that went on to define the song and with it, the tone of The Doors as we know of it today.

Says Subir Malik, organist of famous rock band Parikrama, “Not many people know that I was actually a bass player and the only reason I picked up the Hammond organ was Ray Manzarek and Jon Lord (Deep Purple). Though I saw Lord live a couple of times, never did I get to see Ray and today personally I feel really sad to have lost him. I am where I am today because of him. Ray was a mad powerhouse and one of those gifted musicians, playing the organ from the right hand and the bass from the left. He was my biggest inspiration ever.”
The Doors rode high on the psychedelic wave that swept the 60s-70s, created a definitive sound and stage presence while courting controversy thanks to bad boy vocalist Jim Morrison. “Jim was such a strong frontman, it was natural that he overshadowed the rest of the band. But to think that this was essentially a rock band in the 60s without a bassist but went on to work so subliminally on both roles as a bassist and keyboardist that most people barely realised that it was one man doing both,” said Zubin Balaporia, keyboardist of rock band Indus Creed, who recalls performing Doors songs at Rang Bhavan in the 80s.
When Remo Fernandes’ bassist Victor Alvares died in the horrible car crash, the singer was left looking for a replacement. Taking inspiration from Manzarek, he asked his new keyboard player Mukesh Ghatwal to try and play the bass and keyboard parts at the same time. “Initially Mukesh seemed reluctant to do it; but when I told him about Manzarek and the amazing reputation he had acquired for successfully playing both pivotal roles in The Doors, Mukesh was inspired. Today Mukesh is one of the few, if not the only, keyboard player in India who plays both the bass and synth live on stage, without any pre-programming. Therefore Manzarek holds very special significance in my band, The Microwave Papadums.”
Remo adds that besides the fact that he played both bass and organ/piano parts single-handedly, he created unforgettable riffs and lines in both instruments in several Doors songs. “One just needs to hear the opening four bars of tracks like Light My Fire, L.A. Woman, Riders in the Storm, etc. to recognise them. He was a brilliant and much-copied soloist, whom many keyboard players took inspiration from in the 70s.”
Music composer and producer Sandeep Chowta agrees with Remo. “You know a band from its riff. For me, Ray Manzarek is the better half of The Doors. He created that psychedelic sound that people associate with the band. He set up the soundscape for Jim Morrison to launch himself. He was the unsung hero of the band that he co-founded and held together.”