Doors

Ian Astbury, singer with The Doors has just quit the band in order to concentrate on relaunching his band The Cult.

In a press release, he added: "I have decided to move on and focus on my own music and legacy. I have learned a great deal from the both of them, and it certainly has expanded my abilities as a performer. This has been a difficult decision to make but I feel I would be holding them back as well as myself if I did not depart at this time."

The singer has been playing alongside original Doors members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger under the name Riders On The Storm for four years.

According to the band's manager Tom Vitorino, The Doors will continue performing without Ian Astbury and will start looking for another singer.

In other news The Doors alongside folk veteran Joan Baez have been awarded Grammy awards for lifetime achievement. Doors' guitarist Robby Krieger said the band's late singer, Jim Morrison, would have been "very honoured" to be recognised. "People think he was anti-establishment, but in reality he wanted to be bigger than the Beatles," he said.