San Jose Rocks Podcasts: Recent Episodes
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Welcome to ’Conversations’. We’re just getting started. I will periodically share conversations I’ve had with people over the years who shared their unique San Jose/Silicon Valley music stories with me. Stay tuned for more.
John Densmore sat behind the drum kit for The Doors. He saw many things. Mostly, he saw frontman Jim Morrison hypnotize audiences while Densmore and his bandmates created iconic rock music on stages from coast to coast -- including at The Doors' two gigs in Santa Clara County, which took place at vastly different venues.
The first Doors show in the South Bay was a 1967 appearance at the Continental Ballroom, a converted roller rink on Martin Drive in Santa Clara. The second was as the headlining act at a wild 1968 Northern California Folk Rock Festival in San Jose at the county fairgrounds. Densmore recalls both shows, although given that they took place more than 50 years ago, some of his memories are understandably more vague than others. But in this San Jose Rocks podcast, Densmore also relates how future movie star Harrison Ford ended up as a cameraman for the band's film crew at the San Jose festival -- and why The Doors played there and not at Woodstock or the Monterey Pop Festival.
It's a fascinating and wide-ranging interview, which uses Densmore's latest book, "The Seekers: Meetings with Remarkable Musicians" as a launching point. Densmore also discusses music's technological advances over the past six decades and how his love of jazz infused his technique on such hits as "Light My Fire." He even reveals how he helped create a key transition moment in that song. And upon request, Densmore takes a guess at why fellow rock star David Crosby has occasionally used his Twitter account to diss the Doors. It's a compelling 45 minutes.
What's old and what's new at San Jose's Guitar Showcase. A fun interview with Jack Van Breen and DZ who, between them, have been at Guitar Showcase for over 80 years.
John covered everything from:
- The early days in San Jose, opening up for The Doors, and hanging out with Janis Joplin in Santa Clara
- The formation of performance art and outrageous cover band 'Daddy-o' and their appearance on the Gong Show in 1978
- Playing in the band People! then, and now, with a new album coming out soon.
- The early days in Campbell and Boswell's
- And several nice words about Campbell's own Robert Berry and SoundTek studios
An informative and entertaining conversation, with SJR co-founder Dan Orloff and Grammy-nominated recording artist, and Campbell resident, Robert Berry, about San Jose/Silicon Valley's role in shaping the music industry and plans for a San Jose Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. While San Jose Rocks' plans have changed, the stories are fun to share.
Some good storytelling with Greg Kihn and Chris Jackson of 98.5 KFOX. Stevie Knicks, San Jose State, El Burro and The Pruneyard in Campbell.
Hear the behind the scenes story, told by Connie LoBue, of how San Jose concert promoter Paul Catalana raised the money, just to have the conversation with the U.S. Tour's advance team, to bring the Beatles to the Cow Palace in Daly City, CA on their first stop on 1964 U.S. Tour.