Former DOORS drummer JOHN DENSMORE has won a ruling stopping his old bandmates using the band’s name.
The Doors of the 21st Century featuring original keyboard player Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger had been touring and playing the Doors’ songs, however an order by the Los Angeles Superior Court on July 22 declared they may no longer use the band’s name and must share all profits with the original Doors partnership, reports Reuters.
Manzarek and Krieger had recruited former Cult singer Ian Astbury in 2003 to replace late frontman Jim Morrison, but Densmore along with Morrison’s parents and widow objected and subsequently began legal action.
Under a 1971 agreement between the band, all three surviving members and Morrison’s estate must agree any use of the Doors name and logo.
Responding to the ruling in a statement, Densmore said: "I'm just so happy that the legacy of the true Doors, and Jim Morrison in particular, has been preserved by this decision".
The Doors of the 21st Century have yet to comment.
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