John Densmore Quotes

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John Densmore

Profession : Musician

Birth : December 1, 1944

Legislating morality doesn't work (see: Prohibition). It produced the Mafia.

John Densmore

First of all, Turtle Island is the name of this continent we live on... that's right, not 'America... as in North America,' but the name given by the first peoples of this land.

John Densmore

Creativity and self-destruction sometimes come in the same package.

John Densmore

It's your inner life that's the most important.

John Densmore

Yes, the '60s went too far, but we were trying to find new ways, better ways, to do things. And great seeds were planted: civil rights, the peace movement, the environmental movement, feminism. They're big seeds. They take a long time to come to fruition. Please, let's stop fighting, and get out our water cans.

John Densmore

Ulcers come from not dealing with something.

John Densmore

I sometimes joke that I'm half Jewish, because I was raised Catholic... and we share 'the guilt.'

John Densmore

Bass players and drummers are like brothers, working in the basement, cooking up the groove. If they don't lock together with the feel, the ensemble will suck.

John Densmore

The one constant thread through my life so far is that I have been constantly fed and nourished by music.

John Densmore

I'm from the Vietnam generation.

John Densmore

I got Cs in English at school. I hated it. But now I want to be a writer and I'm voracious for new vocabulary and new ideas.

John Densmore

Everybody is a seeker to a degree.

John Densmore

Sometimes I'll be in an elevator and I'll hear a corny instrumental version of 'Light My Fire.'

John Densmore

Everything Bernie Sanders says in his speeches is based on facts and is about empowering people, not making them angry.

John Densmore

A major component of jazz is improvisation, which forces you to stay in the moment because you never know what will be coming up. There's a lot of freedom and space available as you improvise around the chord changes.

John Densmore

Money is like fertiliser. When spread around, things grow; when it's hoarded, it stinks.

John Densmore

When rock loses integrity it's time for renewal.

John Densmore

I mean, take 'Chariots Of Fire.' That opening scene, the long shot of the runners along the beach, and then you hear that music... I think that was one of the first times synthesizers were really used in movie music. I just flipped! I didn't even care what the story was going to be. Give me a nice marriage of sound and music.

John Densmore

We all liked Elektra because it was a boutique label. 'Oh, my God, we can be on the same label as Paul Butterfield!'

John Densmore

Some genres of rock 'n' roll attract more of the party animals. I guess the Stones partied a bit. I think The Doors were more like The Beatles backstage - friends hanging out and whatever. It wasn't crazy. Everything was pretty subdued.

John Densmore