Posted: October 7, 2005

Athletics:Honolulu Marathon To Light Runners' Fires

From David Monti

© 2005 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

Riders on the Storm, a band featuring original members of The Doors, will play a concert to benefit Gulf Coast storm victims in Honolulu on Dec. 9.

"It will be incredible to hear the timeless music of the Doors played live by the musicians who created it, and sung by Ian Astbury of the group, The Cult, in the outdoor setting of the Waikiki Shell," said Dr. Jim Barahal, president of the Honolulu Marathon Association in a prepared statement.

The Honolulu Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 11, traditionally holds a pre-race concert at the Waikiki Shell, first featuring local talent then an internationally known act. The last two years it was the breathtaking ukulele playing of Jake Shima-bukuro which anchored the concert, and Shima-bakuro is also expected to appear this year. About 7000 people usually attend the concert, according to race officials.

Marathon officials and band members agreed to donate a portion of the proceeds to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

Riders on the Storm is led by Ray Manzarek whose swirling organ and percussive piano defined The Doors' musical identity, and guitarist/vocalist Robby Krieger, who wrote "Light My Fire" and several other legendary hits. Manzarek's music created the hypnotic atmosphere for the band's namesake hit, "Riders on the Storm."

Former Cult star Astbury will provide his rich baritone to Riders on the Storm vocals. Phil Chen, who previously played with Rod Stewart, will be on bass guitar, and Ty Dennis on drums.

The concert will be exclusive to marathon entrants who will pay $25 per ticket in addition to a race entry fee. The concert fee includes a traditional Hawaiian luau.

After New York (36,562) and Chicago (33,125), the Honolulu Marathon is the third-largest marathon in the United States with 22,407 finishers in 2004. It is also the largest marathon in the world in terms of Japanese participants with some 16,000 entrants.