John Densmore | |
|---|---|
 Densmore in 1971 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Paul Densmore |
| Born | December 1, 1944 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Drums |
| Years active | 1964–present |
| Website | johndensmore |
John Paul Densmore (born December 1, 1944) is an American musician. He is best known as the drummer of the rock band the Doors and as such is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[1] He appeared on every recording made by the band, with drumming inspired by jazz and world music as much as by rock and roll. The many honors he shares with the other Doors include a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[2][3]
Densmore is also noted for his veto of attempts by the other two Doors members, in the wake of singer Jim Morrison's 1971 death, to accept offers to license the rights to various Doors songs for commercial purposes as well as his objections to their use in the 21st century of the Doors name and logo. Densmore's lengthy court battles to gain compliance with his veto, based on a 1960s contract requiring unanimity among Doors members to use the band's name or music, ended with total victory for him and his allies in the Morrison estate.[4]
Densmore has also worked in the performing arts as a dancer and actor and written successfully as both a playwright and the author of two books on the topic of the Doors and a third book, The Seekers (2020), about a selection of notable people he has worked with and encountered.
- ^ Huey, Steve. "Biography: John Densmore". AllMusic. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
- ^ Fong-Torres, Ben (May 15, 2017). "A Tribute To The Doors". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ "The Doors Honored With Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame". Fox News. (Associated Press). February 28, 2007. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ Lewis, Randy (June 13, 2013). "John Densmore on Court Fights with Doors Bandmates: 'It Wasn't Fun'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 11, 2019.