Every so often some startling news is unearthed from the vaults of rock that turns certain heads. It has emerged that Paul Rodgers, former singer with Free and Bad Company was a serious candidate to replace Jim Morrison in The Doors when the Lizard King died in 1971.
In an interview with Uncut (via Spinner), Rodgers says that the remaining Doors members gave up on procuring his services after he proved too tricky to track down, and thus Ray Manzarek took on singing duties.
Rodgers was apparently unaware of the fact The Doors wanted him until guitarist Robby Krieger told him recently.
“I discovered quite recently that I was lined up to join The Doors, which blew my mind,” said Rodgers. “Robby Krieger told me that the Doors were all fans of Free, and after Jim Morrison’s death, they came to England looking for me.
“(The) thing is, at that time, I had buried myself in the country, working on things, and they couldn’t get a hold of me. My jaw actually dropped like in a cartoon when Robby told me this.”
That would have been an interesting partnership, and might have prevented Rodgers from hooking up with Mick Ralphs and forming cock-rock monoliths Bad Company after the wonderful Free had disbanded.
Of course, Rodgers now has previous form replacing dead singers, what with him taking on vocal duties for Queen in recent years, replacing Freddie Mercury.
Would Rodgers have joined? He says, “I dunno. It’s hard to say, looking back. But I think not. I tend to form bands, that’s what I do. Although it’s always flattering to be asked!”
