The Soft Parade was formed in 1990 by lead vocalist Joe Russo. His goal was to re-create - for today's audiences - the theatrical, poetic, primal atmosphere of a live Doors concert.
He has succeeded. The Soft Parade stands as the most fascinating, convincing example of a tribute performance there could ever be.
Seeing The Soft Parade is like reliving the legendary concerts Jim Morrison and The Doors performed over 20 years ago. The Soft Parade is internationally recognized as one of the most authentic, realistic tribute bands working today. From the vintage musical instruments and sound equipment right down to stage clothing and hairstyles - watching The Soft Parade is as close to seeing the Doors as anyone can possibly get.
The show is so hauntingly authentic that critics and fans continually use words like "eerie" and "chilling" to define the experience. The NEW YORK TIMES summed their impressions by saying, "The Soft Parade's show is so eerily convincing, often causing the audience to temporarily suspend it's disbelief".
But the excitement of The Soft Parade is beyond literary description. It must be seen.
Photographs can only hint at the uncanny physical resemblance Joe Russo bears to Jim Morrison. The voice, the emotional abandon of his performance, the potent sexual charisma, is so genuine and intense that audiences are held spellbound.
The Notion to create a band that eventually became The Soft Parade started as an idea Joe Russo had about ten years ago. "I saw it as a viable way to begin my career as a performer", he says.
The eventual formation of The Soft Parade in 1990 was a culmination of several factors coming together at the right time. "I always knew I would become a performer and a singer. It was a desire and ambition I've had since I was a boy. I knew that performing the music of the Doors was something I could make successful. I decided to take my musical ambition and put it together with the affinity I had for the music of the Doors. I combined that with my natural similarities to Jim Morrison. Then I developed a concept for a show. It had to be something special, something that would do justice to the incredible power the Doors had on stage. "
It is this focus, talent and expertise that has made The Soft Parade the number one Doors tribute in the world. And their success is not confined to the United States and Canada. They have done three major tours within a two year period. They have an enormous following in Europe, particularly in Germany, Holland and France. They are also one of the only tribute bands to tour successfully in Israel.
A highlight of their recent trip to France was when original Doors' guitarist Robby Krieger joined the band on stage. Together they wowed a sold-out crowd of 2,000 Doors fans, many of whom surely felt as though they had been transported through some kind of time-warp. An audience members' amateur recording of this event is circulated amongst Doors collectors as a treasured piece of Doors-related history.
The Soft Parade also has the distinction of being the only tribute show to be invited to perform at the Woodstock 25th Anniversary Festival in Bethel, New York. There, at the original site of the original 1969 Woodstock concert, the Soft Parade joined such luminaries as Mountain, Canned Heat, and Country Joe MacDonald.
Following a set by the legendary Richie Havens, the Soft Parade took the stage and burned through a set that, according to the former Young Rascals member Eddie Brigati, "stole the show".
Fronting the Soft Parade is amazing lead singer Joe Russo. He looks Morrison. He moves Morrison. And most importantly, he sings Morrison. His dreamy yet menacing performance invokes a myriad of emotional shockwaves which he creates with the support of three astounding musicians.
Drummer Roy Weinberger pounds his Ludwig drums with the same unique, jazz- oriented stylings created by John Densmore.
Keyboardist Mike Abel, intensely hunched over his vintage Gibson keyboard and Fender piano bass, captures the fluid rhythms of Ray Manzarek.
Guitarist Joe Bilotti plays his Gibson SG, reproducing the same strange, unearthly sounds and unconvential style of Robby Krieger.
Together these musicians have captured the magic and majesty of a past era. They have mastered a repertoire of over 50 Doors classics. Wherever they perform, The Soft Parade draws massive audiences from the Doors' diverse worldwide following. When they play, something unique and entrancing starts to happen that draws crowds from all age groups that come to experience something many of them were too young to witness firsthand.
The Soft Parade is:
Joe Russo - Vocals
Roy Weinberger - Drums
Mike Abel - Keyboards
Joe Bilotti - Guitars
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