Bruce Springsteen & John Densmore Perform The Doors’ ‘Light My Fire’

The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music held the 4th Annual American Music Honors ceremony on Saturday at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey. Among the collaborative performances included Bruce Springsteen singing “Light My Fire” by The Doors with John Densmore on drums.

The Doors — who were co-founded in 1965 by Densmore, Robby Krieger and the late Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison — were among the 2026 American Music Honors recipients. Other honorees were Dionne Warwick, Patti Smith, Dr. Dre and Springsteen’s backing group, The E Street Band. The event at the Pollak Theatre also presented a musical tribute to The Band.

The E Street Band guitarist Stevie Van Zandt, who was a 2023 American Music Honors recipient, and his band the Disciples Of Soul served as the house band for the night.

Singer-songwriter Steve Earle took the stage (and Densmore exited) to perform The Doors’ “Roadhouse Blues.” Patti Smith was tasked with singing The Doors’ “Crystal Ship” and also helmed takes on “Because the Night” and “People Have The Power,” the latter accompanied by the rest of the event’s participants.

Dionne Warwick was joined by renowned vocalist Darlene Love and harmonica player Mickey Raphael on “That’s What Friends Are For” and Public Enemy performed “Fight The Power.” Singer-songwriter Amy Helm, daughter of late The Band drummer Levon Helm, joined performances of “Up On Cripple Creek” and with Springsteen, Earle and Love, “The Weight.”

Watch a compilation of 2026 American Music Honors performances below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mdeg74SUWQ