One of the last surviving members of an iconic 60s band delighted fans with a rare appearance in LA on Wednesday.
At 80, the legendary drummer, who helps keep The Doors' legacy alive alongside guitarist Robby Krieger, 81, was spotted looking sprightly as he made a trip to a grocery store in the upscale seaside town of Malibu.
The musician looked in high spirits as he strolled through the parking lot, sporting a relaxed, effortlessly cool look that hinted at his late bandmate Jim Morrison's iconic style.
Dressed in a white Oxford shirt, cargo pants, and a fedora, his ensemble was a far cry from his rock star days on the Sunset Strip, where he and the band recorded their debut album at Sunset Sound in 1966.
True fans will recall that Densmore first teamed up with Krieger in a band called the Psychedelic Rangers before they formed one of the most famous bands in history alongside Morrison and keyboardist Ray Manzarek in 1965.
Can you guess the mystery drummer?
One of the last surviving members of an iconic 60s band delighted fans with a rare appearance in LA on Wednesday.
At 80, the legendary drummer, who helps keep The Doors' legacy alive alongside guitarist Robby Krieger, 81, was spotted looking sprightly as he made a trip to a grocery store in the upscale seaside town of Malibu.
Sporting a relaxed yet effortlessly cool outfit reminiscent of his late bandmate Jim Morrison's style, the musician appeared in high spirits as he strolled through the parking lot.
If you guessed John Densmore, you're absolutely right!
The artist has led a diverse career beyond his time with The Doors, delving into the performing arts as both a dancer and an actor, as well as finding success as a playwright and author.
Densmore's best-selling autobiography, Riders on the Storm (1990), chronicled his life, his time with Jim Morrison, and the iconic days of The Doors.
He also penned The Seekers (2020), which reflects on his encounters with remarkable figures throughout his career.
In addition to his literary success, Densmore has made several TV appearances, including a memorable role as himself in the TV show Square Pegs, where he played a drummer for Johnny Slash's band Open 24 Hours.
He also appeared in a 1992 episode of Beverly Hills 90210, where he portrayed Ben, Dylan's sponsor.
According to Riders on the Storm, Densmore once quit the band due to Morrison's increasingly self-destructive behavior, though he famously rejoined the next day.
Densmore repeatedly suggested that the band stop touring because of Morrison's erratic behavior, but his bandmates resisted.
If you guessed John Densmore, you're absolutely right;
True fans will recall that Densmore first teamed up with Robby Krieger in a band called the Psychedelic Rangers before they formed The Doors alongside Jim Morrison and keyboardist Ray Manzarek in 1965;
According to Riders on the Storm, Densmore once quit the band due to Morrison’s increasingly self-destructive behavior, though he famously rejoined the next day;
The Doors became the first American band to earn eight consecutive RIAA-certified Gold and Platinum albums;
Densmore stayed with the band until its formal dissolution in 1973, but the band briefly reformed in 1993 for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and in the years that followed, taking on various one-off projects;
Following The Doors' infamous disastrous performance in New Orleans on December 12, 1970, where Morrison rambled incoherently, the band agreed to stop performing live.
This marked the final public appearance of The Doors as a quartet.
After Morrison's death in 1971, the surviving members recorded two more albums, blending Morrison's pre-recorded poetry with their music.
Densmore stayed with the band until its formal dissolution in 1973.
In 1978, The Doors reunited to create An American Prayer, an album combining new tracks with Morrison's spoken word poetry from 1969 and 1970.
The band briefly reformed in 1993 for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and in the years that followed, taking on various one-off projects.
In 2002, when Manzarek, Krieger, and The Cult's Ian Astbury began performing as The Doors of the 21st Century, Densmore, along with Morrison's estate, successfully sued over the use of the band's name.
The group later settled on the name Manzarek-Krieger and continued to tour until Manzarek's death in 2013.
The Doors became the first American band to earn eight consecutive RIAA-certified Gold and Platinum albums.
They've sold over 36 million albums in the U.S. alone and more than 100 million records worldwide, cementing their place as one of the best-selling bands of all time.
Magazines like Rolling Stone have consistently ranked them among the greatest artists ever, placing them 41st on its list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.