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Post by TheWallsScreamedPoetry on Dec 24, 2004 14:19:24 GMT
The Great John Densmore
by Ken Zowal
Listening right now to the Elektra CD The Doors (74007-2) copyright 1988, I took a quick look on the Net to see about John Densmore. Was surprised.
First heard him on this album in 1967 when I was twelve in Indiana on vacation from California (is that backward or what?). First record I ever bought. Definitely set the standard in my 'tabula rasa' mind for what an excellent drummer should sound like, having been exposed, early on, to classical music. One of the best debut albums of all time. The best for my money.
Thirty-five years later that hasn't changed. To me John Densmore is still the best. As I listen to him now, I know it. Such clarity. Such purity of sound and rhythm. Not a wasted stroke on any song. Jim Morrison should have been proud. Should have said so.
For sure, Keith Moon was one of the absolute greatest, but, playing with the Who, everybody stepped on everybody else's performance, and, wow, it worked. Only band I know of that could make it work. Unique band. Reached a hard rock summit with Won't Get Fooled Again. Connected a generation with that song. Quite an accomplishment in 1971.
But Keith hardly had subtlety. In another group he'd have flown the band into the side of a mountain.
Well, back at the ranch....
John Densmore played the whole, entire set of percussion instruments, especially the cymbals, as no one ever has. He set the standard for subtlety, and for leap-frogging the band into, first, higher levels of intensity, then, toward the end, back down to earth, almost as an airline pilot takes off, cruises, then brings the passengers back to earth in one piece. Remarkable feat. Almost like an orchestra conductor.
He knew exactly when and how to be assertive, and when to back off and let the other artists shine, with exquisite timing. Maybe two other drummers were in that same league (Grame Edge of the Moody Blues, and the late Al Jackson, Jr. of Booker T and the MGs).
In a class of rhythm artists you could count on one hand. Why does he seem to be so underrated?
In so many outstanding performances in the First Album, the Soft Parade, Morrison Hotel and others (particularly on LA Woman), how can we not appreciate such skilled teamwork, hard-driving leadership and musical artistry? If you take a Doors vinyl record, play the first few seconds of a song on it, noting the pace of the rhythm, and then quickly cut to the last few seconds, the song hasn't slowed down a single beat. John kept them in perfect cadence. We should all thank him for the purity of driving force he was, in one of the all time great hard rock bands.
When I read excerpts from his book, sadly, I can't help but wonder if somehow he felt his talent was inferior to the other three members of the Doors. To me, he most certainly, was NOT. With writing and vocals, Jim Morrison may have been the band's leader, but musically, and especially rhythmically, John Densmore drove the band. He was its driving force.
Give him the credit he deserves.
Call me what you will, I still say John is the best. Not was, is.
Get off it John. You are great. You could lead any band to great heights.
Pick up your sticks and show the world, again, what rhythm is all about. How to accelerate rhythm, and then decelerate it. As you did on The End.
They will love you (again). I will, too.
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Post by ensenada on Dec 24, 2004 16:27:34 GMT
John densmorw certainly did rock to be fair. he makes me laugh on those interview snippets with him from the dvd soundstage performances. where he is explaining how the end came about and joked because it only started as a little love song. well i think that was him.
he also makes me chuckle when i watch the holland soundstage performance where he triesto spin his sticks and fumbles it, trying to carry on cooly as if nothing ever happened! lol
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Post by hippieflowergirl67 on Dec 28, 2004 5:20:38 GMT
That guy makes me laugh. I love him so much. He's the best drummer I have ever heard in my life!
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Post by moses on Jan 8, 2005 13:22:34 GMT
If John were to rejoin the band I might rethink my anti dork views. I had a chance to see them once for $9.89 and didn't!
Pity the lawsuit didn't work out, I would have loved to see Assbury on unemployment.
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Post by TheWallsScreamedPoetry on Jan 8, 2005 13:49:38 GMT
If John were to rejoin the band I might rethink my anti dork views. I had a chance to see them once for $9.89 and didn't! Pity the lawsuit didn't work out, I would have loved to see Assbury on unemployment. If JD joined those idiots my respect for him would be zero...I had a chance to go see those morons for free...I wiped my ass on the ticket and gave it back...bad cowboy framed it I think  |
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Post by moses on Jan 8, 2005 14:05:30 GMT
Well you certainly made that ticket a genuine collectable.
I wonder if at those bookstore deals of Ray's if someone at the head of the line doeasn't give him the shake with a shitty hand?
I shook his hand once, but immediately washed it. He had soft hands like a woman. I don't think he ( Ray) had ever done a lick of real work in his life.
Ok, let's put it this way if John were to join up, Assbury replaced with ANYONE else, then I might get into it, but just as a one time novelty act.
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Post by thebadcowboy on Jan 8, 2005 14:46:30 GMT
here we have the ticket in question....  as you can see not a shit stain in sight...! although it sure dont smell too good..... i think alex was just pissed because it was a seated ticket and it meant he would have been too far from the stage to hit anything of note with his bag of eggs and tomatoes..... on the other hand if i had offered my own general admission ticket he could have been right up front and centre only feet from ray and robby....... maybe he would have come with us...... if only just to hurl vegetables and insults..... incidently he missed a great show...... ;D If JD joined those idiots my respect for him would be zero...I had a chance to go see those morons for free...I wiped my ass on the ticket and gave it back...bad cowboy framed it I think |
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Post by TheWallsScreamedPoetry on Jan 8, 2005 15:07:03 GMT
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Post by othercircles on Apr 30, 2005 23:49:26 GMT
lol I like how the ticket says: THE DOORS
of the 21st century |
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Post by darkstar on May 1, 2005 0:50:55 GMT
here we have the ticket in question.... as you can see not a shit stain in sight...! although it sure dont smell too good..... i think alex was just pissed because it was a seated ticket and it meant he would have been too far from the stage to hit anything of note with his bag of eggs and tomatoes..... on the other hand if i had offered my own general admission ticket he could have been right up front and centre only feet from ray and robby....... maybe he would have come with us...... if only just to hurl vegetables and insults..... incidently he missed a great show...... ;D Interesting you mention food.....a couple of years ago Ray was asking people to bring can/perisable food, etc. in exchage for a ticket to see the new incarnation. Ray had to think of something to quell the attacks he received in the press for cashing in. It would be interesting to know if anyone actually took him up on the offer. Did you pay for your ticket or barter? |
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Post by TheWallsScreamedPoetry on May 1, 2005 9:48:58 GMT
Before I was removed from the Official Doors forum I did try to encourage people to turn up with fruit and vegatables to dork gigs and demand entry but I dunno if anyone tried that....... There is no way to debate such a thing now in official circle as the dork faction control Doors thought pretty tightly over there nowadays but anyone arguing that this dork experiment is anything at all to do with art and not just a way to make money is pretty much an idiot.... The price of gigs has indeed nosedived since the $150 a shot they were charging in 2002 as people began to think 'its a bit expensive this for a bloody tribute band?' but its creeping up again ......once this new album is trumpeted by R$ay as the first Doors album in 30 years and the critics tear it to bits because of that boast and fans get a bit pissed of when the tribute show loses some decent numbers to accomadate Cops talk and other such drivel the tickets will fall again...... this would not normally be of the remotest interest to me but as OtherCircles mentions the name on the ticket happens to be my favourite band and I am a bit peeved that the name is dragged through the sewer by these people....   |
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Post by stuart on May 1, 2005 10:10:58 GMT
Im waiting to actually Hear the whole album first before saying anything about the actual album, I quite like Cops Talk, it's not a bad song.
"Tribute" bands do not come up with new material and with the intent of putting out a new album such as ray and co are doing, i for one will be buying the album the 1st day it comes out ;D
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Post by TheWallsScreamedPoetry on May 1, 2005 10:22:52 GMT
Im wating to actually Hear the whoile album first before saying anything about the actual album, I quite like Cops Talk, it's not a bad song, "Tribute" bands do not come up with new material such as ray and co are doing, i for one will be buying the album the 1st day it comes out ;D It is irrelevant as to whether its a great song or a bag of shit it is NOT the first new Doors song in 30 years as Ray has described it. That is the argument. Not about the songs worth or not....not whether the album is brilliant or bullshit....not whether Ray and co are charalatans or the greatest musicians on planet earth....the argument has ALWAYS been that these people are NOT The Doors and this 'new' music is NOT 'DOORS' music....and if it is DOORS music then so is ALL The Butts Band songs, all of the Nite City Songs etc etc....which is clearly NOT the case..... Buy it, eat it, shove it up your arce....its all neither here nor there.....it is NOT a Doors album .....the people involved are NOT The Doors....3 of them have NO connection to The Doors whatsoever and leeching off the name insults that great name not enhances it. |
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Post by stuart on May 1, 2005 10:29:03 GMT
I always draw a very clear distinction between the two and this is how i look at it and that is when their album gets released it will be to ME the first DOORS OF THE 21ST CENTURY album NOT the new DOORS album for 30 years.
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Post by TheWallsScreamedPoetry on May 1, 2005 10:39:34 GMT
You show your total ignorance with those comments....it does not matter that YOU think that....the argument has always been since 2002 that Ray and company DO NOT share that view.....D21C or dorks of the 21st century is a label of convenience forced upon them by John Densmore.....that label was not there at the early gigs ....they called the band The Doors......Ray will call the new album The Doors if he can NOT Doors of the 21st century.... Your 'kind' are the worst of the lot in the Doors community.....I can 'respect' dork fans who argue thier corner with a passion the same way we anti dork fans argue back equally passionate ........true that has become a bit over the top with the hate and enmity that has summed up the last couple of years but your wishy washy stance is puke inducing to me.....  |
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Post by stuart on May 1, 2005 11:37:10 GMT
I simply share a different viewpoint on the doors 21st century situation and to me that does not make it"wishy washy" but if you think that then fair enough that is up to you  ;D. |
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Post by darkstar on May 1, 2005 13:03:47 GMT
Interesting debate........I've noticed a few people anticipating the release of the new incarnation album, a release that if I'm not mistaken has been promised to hit stores for close to three years. As for the success of such an album.....it depends if the album gets any radio airplay.
I live on the east coast of the US and I've noticed for the last three years that following a "Doors" song being played on the radio the DJ will announce at the end of the set "Jim Morrison and The Doors." Didn't used to be that way but lines have been drawn. Not only by radio stations but also in the press. If only Mr Manzarek and Co didn't have to rely on "The Doors" name to sell their products I believe it would bring more respect to their formation.
In keeping up with the news/press releases, I find the majority of the articles/reviews are on the negative side when it comes to the new incarnation, due in part to Manzarek's defensive attitude that he throws up like a sheild, excuse after excuse after excuse. Insults certainly don't pave the way for a decent write up in the press it only shows the ignorance and immaturity of a an old fuck trying to rekindle his youth.
Too bad the Manzarek website doesn't reflect the entire aray of news thats' hit the internet for the past three years. Seems like the fan base is getting a deluted version of popular opinion.
The fact remains that the new incarnation will either make it or break it depending on how much airplay it gets on the radio if and when their new album is released and to what marketability it will have remains to be seen.
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Post by jimbo on May 1, 2005 16:21:02 GMT
Well I really anticipate the new album, and bringing Ken Scott onboard only furthered my excitement. Will I consider it the ninth Doors album? Probably, but that may be just to satisfy my personal needs. I do love Cops Talk, and An American Express, even though they aren't written by Doors. "Who Spoke the Word" (another new one) is written by Robby however, and "Please Dont Look into my Eyes" is a song written by Jim (according to a few articles) that the D21C may use as well. Perhaps not now thoough after the lawsuits.
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