The Doors have, well, not reunited, but, I guess, "united" under the Doors rubric in the form of Ray Manzarek, Robbie Krieger (so far, so good), Stewart Copeland (from the Police) on drums, and, get this, Ian Astbury of the Cult on vocals!! Call me nuts, but I do not hear "Light My Fire" in "Love Removal Machine" or "She Sells Sanctuary."

Don't get me wrong, I like (or at least used to like before it became hardened and permanently strident) Astbury's fine shrieking and sometimes bluesy English wailing, but how does this mesh with Jim Morrison - the great poetic baritone of the Sunset Strip? I don't see it, or rather, hear it. It has to be better than Creedence Clearwater Revisited, though. The only English singer I can think of who might fit the Doors is Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen, who did a startlingly faithful version of "People Are Strange" for the Lost Boys soundtrack.

The Doors came alive again Friday (September 6). Founding members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger will be joined by Police drummer Stewart Copeland, Cult singer Ian Astbury, and Krieger's bassist, Angelo Barbera, for a performance at the California Motor Speedway in Fontana, California. It's the latest show on the Harley Davidson Open Road Tour, a series of events celebrating the motorcycle maker's centennial.

The Doors are also set for a second Harley Davidson date on September 29 at Molson Park in Barrie, Ontario.

If all goes as expected, the Doors will set up a major tour of the U.S. and Europe for spring 2003, after which they'll hit the studio for a new album.

Copeland has joined the Doors in place of John Densmore. The original drummer for the group, Densmore is battling the hearing disorder tinnitus, which makes him unable to play live on stage, but he reportedly has given his blessing for this lineup to continue without him.