VALLEY COLLEGE : Doors Drummer Plays Back ‘60s

More than 2,500 Valley College students chose to explore a rock legend in person this week rather than watch the music industry’s Grammy Awards on television.

Moments before Whoopi Goldberg, hostess for Tuesday’s awards, appeared on television locally, John Densmore, drummer for The Doors, began to lead the assembled students into the life of the rock band.

Lighting a ritualistic stick of incense, he signaled that “for this time, we are leaving the outside world behind.”

In his presentation, “Riding the Storm: The Doors, the ‘60s and Now,” Densmore spoke candidly about life with The Doors.

Soft church bells, incense and dim lights set the mood for Densmore as he read and performed passages and scenes from his book, “Riders of the Storm.” Densmore’s readings were enhanced by periodic displays of his acoustical talent and by brief clips of rare video footage of The Doors.

Densmore said star Jim Morrison called the band’s cult-like status among fans “a game called insane.” He often referred to Morrison as “the voice of belligerence” and as one of the reasons the band’s concerts resembled something akin to “the coming of the anti-Christ.”

The surreal atmosphere at the band’s concerts was portrayed in Oliver Stone’s recent movie, “The Doors,” which Densmore said should have been called “The Jim Morrison Story.”

Although Densmore agreed with most of Stone’s account, he said he found himself asking, “Where were all the naked girls? I don’t remember that.”

He said he was content with the portrayal of his character, but added: “My humor got me through the ‘60s, but it wasn’t even portrayed.”

During a question and answer session, Densmore contrasted the 1960s and 1990s, citing excess as a major fault of the ‘60s and exploration and polarity against war as good aspects. The ‘90s, he said, are showing a trend toward polarization of the rich and the poor. “The gap gets bigger and bigger,” Densmore said.

Although he said he has left the past behind, Densmore’s future plans include an instrumental album with the two remaining members of The Doors. Summing up his experience with the band, he said, “It was worth it.”