We report electronic spectra of the DNA base adenine and its derivative 9-methyladenine in a molecular beam, using [1 + 1] resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionisation. In addition an excited state lifetime of adenine was determined by picosecond time-resolved [1 + 1â ²] photoionisation. The spectrum of adenine is dominated by a band at 36105 cm^{â 1}, with several low-frequency bands nearby. A comparison with the spectrum of 9-methyladenine with its origin at 36136 cm^{â 1} confirms that the electronic spectrum of adenine is dominated by the Ï â Ï * transition of the N9â H tautomer. Several bands observed before and assigned to a n â Ï * transition were not observed. For the most intense band of adenine at 36105 cm^{â 1} we determined an excited state lifetime of 9 ps.