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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,
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