In another universe, Stewart Copeland could have been the drummer for The Doors, but today, we know him as the drummer of The Police.
In a new interview with Big Take Over, the drummer revealed he once auditioned for The Doors. Well, apparently, it was the other way around: it was The Doors who invited Copeland to join them. He recalled:
“Well, there was The Doors who invited me to join them. And it was a funny thing where I couldn’t believe it. They’re my thing. Like, kid these days, the Foo Fighters are happening for them. The Foo Fighters is the thing. For me, my age group, The Doors were right there, along with Jimi Hendrix and Cream and so on.”
It appears that the drummer could not believe it when he received a call from The Doors. Additionally, just like the way The Doors invited Copeland to join them, The Doors also implied to Copeland that they were the ones auditioning for the role instead:
“So to get a call from The Doors is unbelievable. And I said, very meekly, ‘Let’s have a jam and see if we’re right for each other.’ I was being super humble. And so we did and we met up at SIR Studio and we played together and Ray Manzarek said, ‘So, did we pass the audition?’ I said, ‘You were auditioning me, not the other way around.’ Jesus Christ, weird that they saw it from that point of view.”
Copeland Thinks He Was Not Right For The Doors
Following the studio session, the drummer had to make a decision as to whether or not to join the band. Well, he ended up not joining. Apparently, he did not join because he was ‘not that guy’:
“But I wasn’t right for them. We enjoyed the jam. I was transported playing those songs with Robby [Krieger] and Ray. I couldn’t believe that I was really doing that. But I was the wrong guy. I am no John Densmore. He does trance and he was one of my big influences, but I’m not that guy.”
Though he did not see himself as a possible member of The Doors, it didn’t stop Copeland and Densmore from becoming friends. Touching on their friendship, The Police drummer continued:
“He’s actually a friend of mine now. And I do explosion. It wasn’t The Doors with me, it fell between two stools, so we parted company. But yes, that’s it. I mean, I get calls every day from somebody in Argentina saying, ‘Hey, you know, I’d love you to play on my album.'”
Copeland’s Legal Dispute With The Doors
The relationship of the two parties go even further. Copeland had once filed a lawsuit against The Doors, alleging a breach of contract. He claimed that founding members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger had failed to honor their commitment to include him in the tour and a forthcoming studio album.
Though the details of the settlement were not made public, Copeland spoke positively about the band, encouraging people to attend their performances and praising Ian Astbury. In response, Manzarek expressed satisfaction with the resolution and extended well wishes to Copeland for his future endeavors.
The legal dispute between Copeland and the two surviving members of the Doors was eventually resolved.
In addition to the legal dispute between Copeland, Manzarek, and Krieger, the original drummer John Densmore, not part of the reunion, initiated a breach of contract lawsuit against Manzarek and Krieger. Densmore asserted that after lead singer Jim Morrison’s death in 1971, the remaining three members had agreed to equally share any future profits from the Doors’ music. He also claimed an agreement that the band’s name would only be used if all three original members were involved.
