A Look at John Stamos’ Musical Talent in Photos
The Hollywood heartthrob is a musician, just like some of his most famous characters.
You might be familiar with John Stamos thanks to his lovable character Uncle Jesse in the popular sitcom Full House. Or, if you’re a General Hospital fan, you might recognize him as Blackie Parrish. But did you know Stamos is also a seasoned musician who plays the guitar and the drums? He even performs live.
Beyond playing characters with a knack for all things music, the Hollywood star is passionate about music himself and has been performing since he was a young child. Below, we look at his musical journey, from sharing the stage with the Beach Boys to reuniting with his onscreen Full House band for an episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
1984: Posing for a Portrait
Stamos is seen with his acoustic guitar during a photoshoot in Los Angeles. The actor got into music at an early age, learning to play the drums at age 4 and taking up the guitar shortly after. By this year, Stamos had spent three years on General Hospital. He would achieve even more fame with his role on the sitcom Full House, starting in 1987.
2003: Drumming Along
Stamos loved making music so much as a kid that he started a band with a few of his childhood friends. The group called themselves Destiny and reunited earlier in 2024 to release new music under the moniker Destiny Forever.
2006: A Concert in Atlanta
Beyond his successful TV career, Stamos has also been performing with the Beach Boys since the mid-1980s. In an interview with Howard Stern, Stamos shared that he admired the California rock band growing up—he even had the 8-track for their compilation album Endless Summer.
2007: Singing in Miami Beach
Here, Stamos sings a tune with the Beach Boys while joining them on stage during a Miami Beach Fashion Week event.
2010: Dancing with the Stars
During an appearance on the ABC reality competition, Stamos, dubbed an honorary Beach Boy, and the group played a medley of the band’s classic songs, including “California Girls,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” and “Kokomo.”
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2010: Coney Island Concert
The actor first joined the Beach Boys on stage nearly 40 years ago. In that same interview with Howard Stern, he shared that he was friends with the band’s guitarist, who invited him on stage to play the drums one night.
2011: Stadium Performance
Stamos was the band’s special guest during their Marlins Super Saturday performance. The show took place in coordination with a Florida Marlins MLB game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens.
2013: Have Mercy!
How cool is this? Stamos reunited with his character Uncle Jesse’s fictional Full House band—Jesse and the Rippers—to perform on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Stamos even wore an outfit the Elvis Presley–obsessed Uncle Jesse would have approved.
2020: A Drive-In Concert
The TV star was all smiles while performing at the Beach Boys’ Drive-In Concert in Del Mar, California. The show took place during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, when drive-in events saw a spike in popularity.
2024: Strumming at Stagecoach
Stamos wore an embroidered long-sleeve top reminiscent of Elvis and tinted shades to take the stage with the Beach Boys during the third day of Stagecoach. Together, they closed out the three-day music festival in front of an excited crowd.
Brittany is a freelance writer based in her hometown of New York City. She writes about everything from fashion and beauty to food and wellness. When she's not writing, she can often be found at her local library, playing with her cats, or exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
