In early 2021, Questlove and Team Supreme sat down with The Doors' John Densmore for a revealing, fun, and spirited conversation. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer reflects on the 1960s Los Angeles scene that gave rise to his legendary band, discusses sharing songwriting credits, and explains why The Doors resisted the temptation to recruit a high-profile new singer after the loss of Jim Morrison.

Densmore, who recently released DoPE with 2026 QLS guest Chuck D, also shares his admiration for another later QLS guest, Stacey Abrams. John is as cool as he ever was. Enjoy.

In early 2021, Questlove and Team Supreme sat down with The Doors' John Densmore for a revealing, fun, and spirited conversation. The Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame drummer reflects on the 1960s Los Angeles scene that gave rise to his legendary band, discusses sharing songwriting credits, and explains why The Doors resisted the temptation to recruit a high-profile new singer after the loss of Jim Morrison.
Densmore, who recently released <a href="https://bio.to/nocountryforoldmen">DoPE with 2026 QLS guest Chuck D</a>, also shares his admiration for another later QLS guest, Stacey Abrams. John is as cool as he ever was. Enjoy.

The Questlove Show builds on the award-winning Questlove Supreme podcast, bringing listeners into intimate, one-on-one conversations with peers, influences, and friends. Hosted by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, each episode uncovers the unexpected — from morning rituals and hidden talents to the art and experiences that shaped a guest’s journey. Sometimes playful, sometimes profound, always curious, QLS offers rare insight into leaders in music, film, television, comedy, literature, mental health, and beyond. It’s a fresh, unpredictable spin from a trusted source — a place where randomness is encouraged, tangents are welcomed, and conversations are anything but ordinary.

The Questlove Show builds on the award-winning Questlove Supreme podcast, bringing listeners into intimate, one-on-one conversations with peers, influences, and friends. Hosted by Ahmir &ldquo;Questlove&rdquo; Thompson, each episode uncovers the unexpected &mdash; from morning rituals and hidden talents to the art and experiences that shaped a guest&rsquo;s journey. Sometimes playful, sometimes profound, always curious, QLS offers rare insight into leaders in music, film, television, comedy, literature, mental health, and beyond. It&rsquo;s a fresh, unpredictable spin from a trusted source &mdash; a place where randomness is encouraged, tangents are welcomed, and conversations are anything but ordinary.

The Questlove Show

This week's episode of Questlove Supreme pairs Quest and Team Supreme with Rock and Roll royalty, hall of famer and legendary Doors drummer, John Densmore.

QLS Classic: John Densmore

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ec8bfd27-2a2a-49ea-b148-ae32009641aa/transcript

Questlove sits down with R&B icon Eric Benét for a deeply human, wildly musical conversation tracing the singer’s journey from Milwaukee family harmonies to gold plaques and Grammy nominations.

Benét opens up about early sonic imprints like Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, and “Wichita Lineman,” his Alabama and Mobile roots, and how discovering Questlove’s own lineage story reshaped the way he thinks about ancestry, Haiti, and spirituality. The two dig into Prince vs. Michael Jackson, a legendary James Brown clip, and what it really meant to grow up in Milwaukee during the Jeffrey Dahmer years.

Benét breaks down his path from band life to major labels, the making and shelving of Better and Better, how David Foster and Dean Parks helped shape Hurricane, and why songs like “Spend My Life With You” and “Sometimes I Cry” never get old on stage. Along the way, the longtime friends talk vocal maintenance, the emotional cost of fame, the rise of Neo-Soul, and what Benét would tell his 16-year-old self. Benét's latest single, "Who's Gonna Save Us," is newly available now.

Questlove sits down with R&amp;B icon Eric Ben&eacute;t for a deeply human, wildly musical conversation tracing the singer&rsquo;s journey from Milwaukee family harmonies to gold plaques and Grammy nominations.
Ben&eacute;t opens up about early sonic imprints like Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, and &ldquo;Wichita Lineman,&rdquo; his Alabama and Mobile roots, and how discovering Questlove&rsquo;s own lineage story reshaped the way he thinks about ancestry, Haiti, and spirituality. The two dig into Prince vs. Michael Jackson, a legendary James Brown clip, and what it really meant to grow up in Milwaukee during the Jeffrey Dahmer years.
Ben&eacute;t breaks down his path from band life to major labels, the making and shelving of Better and Better, how David Foster and Dean Parks helped shape Hurricane, and why songs like &ldquo;Spend My Life With You&rdquo; and &ldquo;Sometimes I Cry&rdquo; never get old on stage.&nbsp;Along the way, the longtime friends talk vocal maintenance, the emotional cost of fame, the rise of Neo-Soul, and what Ben&eacute;t would tell his 16-year-old self. Ben&eacute;t's latest single, "Who's Gonna Save Us," is newly available now.

Eric Benét

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2f662a99-718d-4bc8-b385-b4a1014e8fb1/transcript

According to our Questlove, Australian powerhouse The Avalanches—Robbie Chater and Tony Di Blasi—single-handedly changed his perspective on how music could be made and delivered.

Their acclaimed album, Since I Left You, not only “cracked our skulls open,” it remains one of Quest’s “top 10 albums of ALL time.” For two decades, the duo has left no stone unturned in mastering the art of building an entire sonic landscape from the ground up.

So how do they do it? And, perhaps more importantly, why? Listen as The Avalanches break it all down on this week’s episode. They weigh in on how many samples were used, how Prince Paul was an inspiration, and why sometimes archaic technology is more preferred than the cutting edge. Listen back to this classic QLS episode recorded in 2021, during the height of the pandemic. 

According to our Questlove, Australian powerhouse The Avalanches&mdash;Robbie Chater and Tony Di Blasi&mdash;single-handedly changed his perspective on how music could be made and delivered.
Their acclaimed album, Since I Left You, not only &ldquo;cracked our skulls open,&rdquo; it remains one of Quest&rsquo;s &ldquo;top 10 albums of ALL time.&rdquo; For two decades, the duo has left no stone unturned in mastering the art of building an entire sonic landscape from the ground up.
So how do they do it? And, perhaps more importantly, why?&nbsp;Listen as The Avalanches break it all down on this week&rsquo;s episode. They weigh in on how many samples were used, how Prince Paul was an inspiration, and why sometimes archaic technology is more preferred than the cutting edge. Listen back to this classic QLS episode recorded in 2021, during the height of the pandemic.&nbsp;

The Avalanches' debut album Since I Left You, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, not only "cracked our skulls open", it's also one of Quest's "top 10 albums of ALL time"

QLS Classic: The Avalanches 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/81adb1d6-fac4-4753-b440-ae32008b031b/transcript

Questlove is back to answer another batch of listener questions. This mailbag edition with Ahmir and Cousin Jake dives into recent episodes while revisiting classic Roots and Dilla history. Quest' clarifies a detail from the recent DJ Muggs episode, agreeing that Muggs essentially pioneered Hip-Hop's dark, dusty psychedelic sound. He also unpacks the backstory behind Phrenology's "roll call" segment, explaining how a reclaimed Slum Village beat, Ursula Rucker, and an exhaustive Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists inspired Justin Warfield's memorable closing shout-out. Elsewhere, Quest reflects on the Electric Circus sessions with Common and shares his perspective on J Dilla during the Welcome 2 Detroit era. The episode closes with some personal history connected to Philly dialect. Want to get your question on the show? Contact us through QuestloveSupreme.com.

Questlove is back to answer another batch of listener questions. This mailbag edition with Ahmir and Cousin Jake dives into recent episodes while revisiting classic Roots and Dilla history. Quest' clarifies a detail from <a href="https://tr.ee/Y4PQLwIxBg">the recent DJ Muggs episode</a>, agreeing that Muggs essentially pioneered Hip-Hop's dark, dusty psychedelic sound. He also unpacks the backstory behind Phrenology's "roll call" segment, explaining how a reclaimed Slum Village beat, Ursula Rucker, and an exhaustive Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists inspired Justin Warfield's memorable closing shout-out. Elsewhere, Quest reflects on the Electric Circus sessions with Common and shares his perspective on J Dilla during the Welcome 2 Detroit era. The episode closes with some personal history connected to Philly dialect. Want to get your question on the show? <a href="https://www.podpage.com/questlove-supreme/">Contact us through QuestloveSupreme.com</a>.

Questlove Reaches Into The Mailbag & Answers - August 6

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2cf880ea-7d30-41aa-bed1-b49e00e17f07/transcript

QLS Classic: John Densmore

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