Ray Manzarek The Love Lion Tour with Michael McClure April 22, 1990 and May 18, 1991

• John Sinclair (Opening Act) micro-cassette recording (approx. 60 minutes) (72MB MP3 file)
• Ray and Michael (First Show) micro-cassette recording (approx. 70 minutes) (85MB MP3 file)

Wow. I don't quite know what to say about this experience. For that is what I must continue to call it, even after ten years of reflecting on the moment. When I first heard that Ray was touring, I was stunned! And when I purchased my tickets and held them in my hand, I could feel myself trembling with anticipation. Wow. Ray! Live! Here! My musical hero, my creative inspiration, MY keyboard legend, and I was going to see him!

To be only a few feet away... to watch him play... that characteristic head bobbing and toe tapping and the orgasmic "Yeeaaahh" at key points in McClure's poems... WOW! As a young keyboard player, I saw so much on that stage! History. Legend. Genius. Creativity. Inspiration. Rebellion. Freedom.

The photos and artifacts you see here represent some of the most important points in my life. I took these during the performances at Club Heidelberg in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We were allowed to tape record the show as well, and each show provided a new dimension of energy and excitement. Ray and Michael were kind enough to Autograph my prized record album covers.

My favorite photo is Ray At The Top Of The Stairs because nobody else had the experience I did. It was brief, it was over in a flash (no pun intended), but it was mine. After one of the sets, when everyone else was waiting for Ray and Michael at the stage, we went down the "other" staircase to avoid the crouds. Suddenly, who passed me on the way up the same stairs? Ray!

I remember passing him half-way down the stairs. He had a stack of papers in his hand - notes and poems and lyrics, I'm sure. I congratulated him on an excellent show. "Thanks, man," he replied. As Ray reached the top of the stairs, I realized I still had my camera in my hand. Somehow I had enough instant courage to ask, "Hey, Ray, how about one more photo?" He heard me, swung around, and grinned the biggest, widest, most fantastic grin I'd ever seen. After the flashbulb dimmed, I said, "Thanks again!" and he disappeared into the door and into the croud hungrily awaiting his return.