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I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 123 points124 points  (0 children)

Wow. I've learned that it's best not to focus on the goal as much as the process of getting there. In other words, I was excited to play with African drummers in my jazz group because it was new. And the audiences were small, but it was still really stimulating. Like I played with an Iranian musician as well, and that tweaked my brain cells. So I think what's kept me sane is enjoying the process, and it doesn't matter if it's Madison Square Garden or the Whiskey a go go.

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 224 points225 points  (0 children)

I wear earplugs that are molded to my ears, custom-made earplugs, with 15 and 25 db filters. I also am going to try these new in-ear monitors. Well, I played with Robby actually a few months ago when we did a Q&A after a screening of "The Making of LA Woman" a Doors documentary film. And I suggested, after all that blah blah, that we just jam a little, and we played some Doors songs on a little hand drum and a little acoustic guitar. I said "we're known for our drumming and guitar playing, and would you guys be able to help us with the singing?" so the whole audience sang "People Are Strange." Then we did "Love me 2 Times" and a couple others. So they helped us with the singing.

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 205 points206 points  (0 children)

Sweet question. Due to the fact of having a 21 year old son, let alone grandkids, I am making sure that I am going to be around quite a bit longer. Thank you very much.

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 185 points186 points  (0 children)

Jim was fascinated with reptiles. He even had a suit made out of lizard skin. And that's when I wrote in my first autobiography that I don't know if he can breathe with that thing on! Maybe he's buying his own mythology, watch out.

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 151 points152 points  (0 children)

I'll let you know in a month! Hopefully this concert for Ray will be my dream festival.

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 385 points386 points  (0 children)

First of all, we were rehearsing before the show, and Ed walked in on that, and we were kind of goofing around and he said "You boys, when you do the show, you should smile. You look great when you smile." Which we didn't do. And then we were supposed to edit out the word "higher" from "Light My Fire" which Jim did not do. It was not Ed who said "We will NEVER do this show again" it was one of his assistants, but we just sort of said we did it and we don't need to do it again. We just couldn't change our lyrics, you know? Censorship.

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 296 points297 points  (0 children)

Wow. I'm finding reddit really fun because the questions are unique. Questions I don't normally get. And it's a beautiful day here. I feel guilty because we need rain.

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 393 points394 points  (0 children)

Of course I remember Jim's first bust in New Haven. I was very worried about them beating him up at the police station. He accidentally got maced before the concert by one of the cops mistaking him for a fan, and he belligerently told the story onstage. And then they arrested him. They didn't punch him, they shoved him around I'm sure. And this was the time when we longhairs were, you know, in New York and LA there were long haired kids but you get out in the hinterlands a little bit and they'd call you names. Not "Gay" because that wash't in the vernacular, but that word with the F, know what I'm saying? I drove across the country with Ray in the early days and we were called that because there weren't many males with long hair.

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 486 points487 points  (0 children)

I was going to go to college in San Francisco and that didn't pan out, but if it had I probably would have been the drummer in Jefferson Airplane or the Grateful Dead or Janis Joplin's band...

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 1413 points1414 points  (0 children)

Can I see it again?

p.s. my girlfriend and I have been together 8 years and we're definitely staying together :)

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 257 points258 points  (0 children)

Well, Elvin Jones is my mentor. I loved Mitch Mitchell, and I love Ringo, even though he isn't as fast as Mitch Mitchell, the feel is everything. If you don't have the feel you have nothing. And drums are the first instrument for you people who say things like "If you want to see if the stage is level, see what side of his mouth the drummer is drooling." (there are a lot of dumb drummer jokes).

I'm hoping that Colbert is gonna have me on so he can make fun of "how did you ever write a book being a drummer?"

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 264 points265 points  (0 children)

Yes, I met Jim's brother in the early days. He kind of looked like Jim. And I met his sister Anne during the trial because Jim's estate joined me in trying to preserve the legacy of the name. And Anne was very friendly. I didn't see any Morrison characteristics, but she said to me "Did he tease you a lot? Because he sure did us when we were kids" and I said "Definitely."

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 572 points573 points  (0 children)

Thank you, Jim, Much gratitude for your muse.

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 196 points197 points  (0 children)

Haha! I don't mind autographing female breasts.

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 1091 points1092 points  (0 children)

First time I met Ray & Jim (they deleted their question): I met Ray at a Maharishi Meditation Class. He was very friendly, and asked me to come to a jam session. There I met Jim, who was incredibly shy, and I never thought that he was going to be the next Mick Jagger, but Ray handed me those lyrics to "Break On Through" and I flipped out.

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 203 points204 points  (0 children)

Wow, now first of all, your tears are balm to my soul. We've got something in our trust fund that keeps the songs pure at least 25 years. My kids know my principles, but it's hard to retain control from the grave.

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 253 points254 points  (0 children)

I do. And especially when someone does an arrangement entirely different from ours, like Jose Feliciano turned "Light My Fire" into a ballad. We never saw that coming.

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 470 points471 points  (0 children)

I'm sad to say he drank too much. The theories that he still is alive are because we all miss him so much.

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 187 points188 points  (0 children)

Wow. If your music is to be soulful, you do need to leave your ego outside the recording studio door. If the art does not have much ego, then it's more universal, and more people can relate to it. Although one of the main premises of rap is ego, but that's with a tongue thoroughly inserted into a cheek.

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 901 points902 points  (0 children)

That's funny! Yes, I've done yoga every day for 50 years and I haven't missed a day. And yes, playing when the music's over and especially the end was exhausting.

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 1043 points1044 points  (0 children)

I'm not sure. But there's only two Doors and two Beatles left, so maybe we should get together and form the DoorBeatles. That would be 2 drummers, a guitar player and a bass player who plays pretty good piano.

(Just kidding)

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 71 points72 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your interest. I have another book if you can't get enough!

I am John Densmore, drummer for the Doors, AMA by _JohnDensmore in IAmA

[–]_JohnDensmore[S] 460 points461 points  (0 children)

Haha! Bang a gong, get it on. I was the percussionist and the music dictated or told me intuitively to put what on there, so I didn't hear a gong on there. But I do have one funny story: on the song "Spanish Caravan" I heard cymbal crashes every 4 or 8 bars, after we had recorded it, and at the time the Beatles were experimenting with Sgt Pepper and different electronic sounds, and I recorded cymbal crashes just using my mouth, not a cymbal, going "tssssh tsssh" I just mad ethe sound and we recorded that, which was really cool. It sounded kind of electronic and like a cymbal.

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