Paul Rodgers : "I Was Lined Up To Join The Doors"

Gibson.com is reporting that Bad Company and Free frontman Paul Rodgers has revealed that he nearly replaced Jim Morrison in The Doors, following the singer’s death in 1971. Rodgers told Uncut magazine that he wasn’t aware that the surviving members of The Doors – Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger and John Densmore – were interested, and that he just learned the news recently.

“I discovered quite recently that I was lined up to join The Doors, which blew my mind,” he said. “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.”

Manzarek ended up taking on lead vocal duties on the band’s initial post-Morrison music.

“My jaw actually dropped like in a cartoon when Robby told me this,” Rodgers said. “Would I have joined them? 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!”