John news only for 2004
December 4, 2004 John video & audio clips with Reza
John Densmore can be seen in a 4-minute video clip talking about his forthcoming recording with Iranian musician Reza Derakshani recorded at Hen House Studios. There are three MP3 audio clips available on this site as well, at http://www.henhousestudios.com/artists/mkpgartist.php?artistID=1120
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December 1, 2004 John Densmore's birthday
John Densmore turns 60 today. Happy birthday to one of rock's most innovative and spontaneous drummers. Fans can check out his new article in the November / December issue of Utne Magazine in tribute to his idol, Elvin Jones ... or, catch him in a re-run of a vintage episode of "Coach" from 1993 when it's re-run on USA Channel on December 12.
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November 29, 2004 John tribute to Elvin Jones
John Densmore authored a tribute article titled 'Elvin & Me' about his hero Elvin Jones, who died earlier this year. The story appears in the November / December 2004 issue of Utne Magazine. To see the magazine cover or to purchase the article on-line, go here
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November 19, 2004 John on L.A. radio this morning
John Densmore was an in-studio guest on SoCal radio station KPFK 90.7 this morning on a show called Global Village With Sergio. John was on the show to pay tribute to the late drummer Elvin Jones. (thanks, David)
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November 9, 2004 John and Reza Derakshani CD release
John Densmore and Reza Derakshani have a CD release entitled "The Ray of the Wine" set for release on November 1, according to an October 19th news release on www.HenHouseStudios.com. I do not find it listed there yet for sale, but it must be coming soon.
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October 6, 2004 John in rare re-run of 'Coach'
John Densmore appeared in an episode of "Coach" in 1993, which is currently in re-runs on USA channel. Episode #6.6 is entitled 'Uneasy Rider' and was first broadcast October 26, 1993. John plays Chuck, the motorcycle salesman who sells Hayden and Dauber bikes. This episode is scheduled to air at 3:00 a.m. (west coast time). Check local listings.
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September 20, 2004 John becomes a father-in-law
John Densmore's daughter Kelly was married over the weekend in a neighboring state. Best wishes to the Densmore family. Let's hope they enjoyed a wonderful celebration and were able to tune out to the uncertainty of waiting for the jury deliberations outcome -- now entering its third full week.
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September 3, 2004 Tribaljazz CD release <> more "Juvies" screenings
John Densmore's long-awaited 'Tribaljazz' CD is now mentioned on the Hidden Beach website when one searches by artist name. It only says that Tribal Jazz (now, as two words?) is coming soon, so this is progress and hopefully a release date will be made known shortly.
"Juvies" - the documentary film executive-produced by Leslie Neale (Mrs. John Densmore), John Densmore and actor Mark Wahlberg, has been added to the screening schedules of numerous more film festivals in the U.S. and in Europe. All of the upcoming events that are currently listed on the Juvies website have been added to the calendar above.
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August 13, 2004 John's Tribaljazz played earlier this evening
John Densmore's Tribaljazz played a free show earlier this evening at the L.A. County Museum of Art in Hollywood. read more
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August 8, 2004 John mentioned in LA Sunday Times story
John Densmore has been affiliated with the Rainforest Action Network for years, along with many other celebrities. Today's LA Times Magazine section's cover story is about Randy Hayes, founder of that organization. John's activism in this cause is mentioned numerous times in the story. read it
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July 25, 2004 John performs at Native American festival
John Densmore is performing with Keith Secola and Wild Band of Indians at Ganondagan's Native American Dance & Music Festival on July 24 and 25 near Rochester, New York. He was recently interviewed by a Rochester area publication. read interview (thanks, Barb)
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July 21, 2004 John & Leslie are on petition to ban assault weapons
John Densmore and Leslie Neale are among the more than 50 members of the entertainment community who have sent a letter today to President Bush and Congress calling for the federal assault weapons ban to be strengthened and renewed. Without action by the President and Congress, the ban will expire on September 13th, 2004. This information is from a press release dated today from Common Dreams website. To see the entire press release and who else has joined in this effort: go here
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July 19, 2004 John & Tribaljazz will perform free concert
John Densmore and Tribaljazz will perform a free concert at the L.A. County Museum of Art (LACMA) as part of their Friday night jazz concert series. The performance will be outdoors on the Times Mirror Central Court, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, August 13th. Tribaljazz is John on drums; Art Ellis on flute and sax; Quinn Johnson on piano; Osama Affiffi on bass; Christina Berio on percussion; and Azziz Faye & Marcel Adjibl on African drums.
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July 12, 2004 trial enters its third week
Testimony continues in the trial of John Densmore, the Morrison family, and the Courson family -vs- Ray and Robby, et al. The first week was spent entirely on jury selection, so this is only the second week of actual testimony. Witnesses expected this week include the band's former business manager and former attorney, among others. read more
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July 9, 2004 first week of trial testimony
Week One of testimony in the trial of John Densmore, the Morrison family, and the Cuurson family -vs- Ray and Robby, et al, is concluded. John spent about three full days in the witness chair going through direct examination by the attorneys for the plaintiffs, and then cross-examination by the attorney for the defendants. read more
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July 8, 2004 John testified today <> Scottish story about D21C controversy
John Densmore spent the entire day in the witness chair giving testimony today at the jury trial in progress. Check the following link later this evening for today's re-cap: Diary of a Doors Drama
The Scotsman, an on-line news service, runs a story today about band reunions and specifically mentions next week's upcoming show by The Doors of the 21st Century in Glasgow, and offers the writer's opinion on the tour and lawsuit. read it
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June 12, 2004 correction to translation of Italian story
Several Doors fans from Italy who visit this website have written me to advise that the English translation of the story about the Genoa Poetry Festival is at fault in the mis-translation, resulting in the curious statement: "...former drummer with The Doors Ray Manzarek". According to both of them, the original Italian text does correctly refer to Ray as the keyboard player, not the drummer. (thanks, Faith and Marco)
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June 11, 2004 Italy story thinks Ray is the drummer
"...former drummer with The Doors Ray Manzarek" is an intriguing and confusing quote from an online story from Italy about the Genoa International Poetry Festival from June 17 to June 30. If this is really Ray that is appearing, he's going to have a very busy month sandwiching this in between D21C dates in Denver and Las Vegas later this month. On the other hand, John Densmore has worked with several poets and participated in poetry events over the years, so maybe this is intended to reference him, instead. I guess time will tell. (thanks, Beverly) read it
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June 1, 2004 John attended Topanga festival over the weekend
John Densmore attended the Topanga Days Country Faire in Topanga Canyon over this past holiday weekend. He was spotted with a friend at a vegetarian food stand, and was wearing sunglasses, straw hat and bandana. (thanks, Gerry)
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May 31, 2004 FX channel has upcoming re-run with John
John Densmore appeared in an episode of "Beverly Hills 90210" in 1992, which is currently in re-runs on FX channel. Episode #2.23 is entitled 'Cardio-Funk' and was first broadcast February 27, 1992. John plays Ben, Dylan's sponsor. This episode is scheduled to air on Saturday, June 12 at 7:00 a.m. (west coast time). Check local listings.
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May 26, 2004 update on release of John's Tribaljazz CD
John Densmore's Tribaljazz will finally release their CD this fall on Hidden Beach Records. It is a cultural jam where jazz runs into rhythms from across the globe. Although primarily instrumental, a couple of world-class guest artists contribute vocals. The renowned actress Alfre Woodard makes her hip-hot debut, along with veteran conscious rapper Michael Franti from Spearhead, doing his own lyrics concerning the state of violence in the world. (thanks, Dave D.)
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May 18, 2004 political fundraising event included drum lessons from John
John Densmore donated four drum lessons which raised $9,000 in an auction, as part of a political fund-raising event for the Liberty Hill Foundation held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on April 29th. (thanks, Beverly) read it
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April 22, 2004 John will record with symphony orchestra
John Densmore is going
to play with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra and a Native American band
(probably Burning Sky) on a
forthcoming CD, according to a recent story about the conductor,
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March 30, 2004 'Road To Return' can be purchased on video
"Road To Return" is an award-winning, one-hour documentary produced by Leslie Neale and her husband, John Densmore in 1998. This program was broadcast last night on L.A. channel 58, which may be the first time it has aired locally on cable television. Narrated by actor Tim Robbins, this intense and thought-provoking film focuses on a program in New Orleans that helps ex-convicts return to society. Although Robby Krieger does not appear in the program, his name is among those credited with Special Thanks. At the end of the broadcast, information was provided for ordering a videotape of the program: call 1-800-499-5202 to order by credit card, or send check or money order for $29.95 to WYES-TV, 916 Navarre Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70124. A detailed summary can be found on the official Doors website under John's bio, at http://www.thedoors.com/band/john/?fa=road_info
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March 25, 2004 review of John Densmore's conference appearance last month
John Densmore appeared at a conference in February sponsored by the C. J. Jung Institute on the subject of "L.A. Myths" (see prior story). The Santa Monica Mirror ran a story the following week with a summary of that conference, including John's appearance. read it
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March 23, 2004 "Juvies" has multiple screenings in coming months
"Juvies" is the latest documentary film from Leslie Neale & John Densmore and actor Mark Wahlberg. The film chronicles the journey of Los Angeles area adolescents as they make their way through the criminal justice system. The film has already had screenings and received an award, and the screening schedule is accelerating with showings scheduled so far at film festivals in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and L.A., as well as other screenings scheduled at L.A.'s Loyola Marymount University and in Santa Barbara, California. The dates have been added to the above calendar of upcoming events. The following website link provides a history and an overview of the documentary, the screening schedule, as well as how to order a copy. go here
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March 20, 2004 "Road To Return" will be broadcast on L.A. television
"Road To Return" is an award-winning, one-hour documentary produced by Leslie Neale and her husband, John Densmore in 1998. This program is scheduled to air on L.A. channel 58 at 10:00 p.m. and may be the first time it has aired locally on cable television. Narrated by actor Tim Robbins, this intense and thought-provoking film focuses on a program in New Orleans that helps ex-convicts return to society. I attended a screening of the film at UCLA when it was first released, and can tell you that John appears in the film several times discussing the program that is the film's subject. A detailed summary can be found on the official Doors website under John's bio, at http://www.thedoors.com/band/john/?fa=road_info
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March 16, 2004 new documentary film from Leslie Neale & John Densmore
"Juvies" is the latest documentary film from Leslie Neale and John Densmore. The film chronicles the journey of Los Angeles area adolescents as they make their way through the criminal justice system. It had its world premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 1st, and has been awarded an OSI (Open Society Institute) Justice Media Fellowship to show the film at major metropolitan area high schools across the United States. The Open Society Institute is a private operating and grant-making foundation based in New York City. The following website link provides a history and an overview of the documentary, the screening schedule, as well as how to order a copy. go here (thanks, Beverly)
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January 24, 2004 John to participate in panel discussion
John Densmore will lead a panel discussion entitled "The Flowering and Fading of the 1960s L.A. Music Scene" at a weekend conference on Saturday, January 31st and Sunday, February 1st at St. Mary's College in L.A. This two-day event is sponsored by the C. G. Jung Institute of L.A., and is designed to evaluate and chart the experience of living in L.A., as defined by the city's diversity, history, mythology and culture. more info (thanks, Ilona)
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January 3, 2004 John's picks for Top 7 Bass Players
John Densmore was asked by Rush Magazine to name his 'Top 7 Bass Players.' To see his picks, go here (thanks, Jim)
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January 2, 2004 John Densmore visited Dallas for the holidays
John Densmore spent the holidays in his wife's hometown of Dallas, Texas, according to a story in today's The Dallas Morning News. read it (thanks, Beverly)
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John news 2006 <> John news 2005 <> John news 2003 <> John news 2002
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Robby news only
Ray news only
http://www.henhousestudios.com/ John is involved in Hen House Studios, a community recording studio in Venice, CA
return to Ida's L.A. Woman Confidential home page
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