Butts Band

Butts Band came about as a consequence of the Doors trying to find a replacement for lead singer Jim Morrison who died in July 1971. The three remaining Doors had released two albums (Other Voices in 1971 and Full Circle in 1972) with Ray Manzarek and Krieger sharing vocals.[2] Unable to recruit a singer in the US, the three Doors were in London in 1973 looking for an experienced lead singer and auditioned several British singers including Howard Werth (the singer with Audience), Kevin Coyne (from Siren) and Jess Roden (who was the leader of Bronco).

Howard Werth rehearsed with the band for a week with a view to stepping into Morrison's shoes. Elektra records founder Jac Holzman favoured Werth as he had at one stage foreseen Audience taking over the Doors' spot on Elektra – but Audience had fallen apart and he now saw Howard and the Doors merging as the 'new Doors'. However, the three remaining Doors felt that adding a new singer wasn't working out and decided to call time on The Doors. With Manzarek returning to Los Angeles, Krieger and Densmore began looking for a new project, linking up with Roden, Phil Chen and Roy Davies to form the Butts Band (allegedly named after a cave where Roden’s previous band used to practice).

The band signed with Blue Thumb and began working on their first album with long-time Doors' sound engineer/co-producer Bruce Botnick taking the producer role.[3] Recording was split between studios in London (three weeks at Olympic Studios and in Kingston, Jamaica (for another three weeks) on their way home to California. Their debut, the self-titled album Butts Band was released in 1973. Krieger was quoted as saying, "It's not 'head music', it's 'heart music'. It's 'up music'. It's music you can dance to."

Following the album's release the band appeared on The Midnight Special and the Old Grey Whistle Test. Following the pressure of having two members living in California and three in London, this incarnation of the band split up.

The former British musicians were replaced by musicians from the LA-area: Michael Stull (guitar/piano), Alex Richman (keyboards), Karl Rucker (bass), Bobbi Hall (congas) and an additional drummer, Mike Berkowitz. This line-up released Hear and Now in 1975.

The Butts Band then split completely after the second album, Krieger and Densmore going off to do solo projects. In 1978, the three remaining Doors reunited for the first time working on An American Prayer.[4]

• John Densmore – drums (1973–1975)
• Robby Krieger – guitar (1973–1975)
• Phil Chen – bass (1973–1974)
• Roy Davies – keyboards, synthesisers (1973–1974)
• Jess Roden – vocals (1973–1974)
• Mick Weaver – organ (1973–1974)
• Mike Berkowitz – drums (1974–1975)
• Alex Richman – keyboards, vocals (1974–1975)
• Karl Ruckner – bass (1974–1975)
• Michael Stull – guitar, vocals (1974–1975)
• David Paul Campbell – keyboards, vocals (1975)

Timeline

• Butts Band (1973)
• Hear and Now (1975)