Throwback Concert: The Doors of the 21st Century at Toyota Oakdale Theatre 2003

By Drew Carrano

The last time The Doors played Connecticut, lead singer Jim Morrison was arrested on stage. That famous incident happened in December 1967 in the old New Haven Arena. Morrison would later make reference to that night in the song “Peace Frog” with the lyric “Blood in the streets in the town of New Haven.”

Fast forward to 2003. Though Morrison is longer with us, two of the original members of The Doors – organist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger – went on tour together and returned Connecticut. They went as “The Doors of the 21st Century,” a name they would later be forced to change. Today we look back at their 2003 show at Toyota Oakdale Theatre.

Today’s Throwback Concert:

An Evening with The Doors of the 21st Century

Monday April 28, 2003

Toyota Oakdale Theatre – Wallingford

About The Tour:

In 2002 Manzarek and Krieger reunited to form a new version of The Doors called “The Doors of the 21st Century” featuring lead singer Ian Astbury of The Cult. Not in the band was original drummer John Densmore. Instead it was Stewart Copeland of The Police on drums and later Ty Dennis.

The very first concert was at The House of Blues in Los Angeles on September 3, 2002. Two months later Copeland injured his left arm while bicycling and was replaced with Dennis. Meanwhile Densmore filed a lawsuit against The Doors of the 21st Century for using the name and logo of The Doors. After losing the lawsuit in 2005, the band changed its name to “Riders On The Storm,” after the 1971 Doors song.

On April 28, 2003, The Doors of the 21st Century came to Toyota Oakdale Theatre and played before a full house on a Monday night. Bringing out the band was 99.1 PLR’s Mike Lapitino, who introduced them like it was 1970 by saying, “Ladies and Gentlemen, from Los Angeles, California…The Doors!” Immediately the band went into Roadhouse Blues, much to the delight of the Oakdale crowd. What followed was a Doors set that was full of hits and classics. A memorable night, no doubt.

Watch: The Doors of the 21st Century Live