The Doobie Brothers: The Road Keeps Rollin’ On

The Spark That Kept the Flame Alive

Imagine a band of grizzled rockers, leather jackets swapped for sensible tour bus seats, staring down their 40th year in 2008—not ready to fade, but itching to prove they still had gas in the tank. For The Doobie Brothers, the motivator wasn’t fame or fortune anymore—it was legacy. Founding members Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons, alongside longtime guitarist John McFee, had weathered splits, reunions, and lineup shifts since 1970. By 2008, with a fanbase spanning bikers to yacht-rock hipsters, they weren’t chasing trends—they were driven to keep their sound alive, to blend their gritty roots with the soulful sheen Michael McDonald once brought. A 2010 album and a 2021 reunion with McDonald reignited that spark: proving they could still rock, still harmonize, still matter.

The Brotherhood Behind the Beat

The Doobie Brothers’ tale begins in San Jose, California, where Johnston (guitar/vocals) and John Hartman (drums) kicked things off in 1970, soon joined by Simmons (guitar/vocals). Early days saw Dave Shogren (bass) and a Hells Angels fanbase; by the ‘70s peak, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (guitar) and Tiran Porter (bass) fueled hits like “China Grove.” McDonald’s arrival in ‘75 shifted them to soulful gold—Minute by Minute (1978)—‘til burnout split them in ‘82. A ‘87 vets’ benefit reunion with Johnston, Simmons, and a dozen alumni (including McDonald, Baxter, and Keith Knudsen) revived them. By 2008, the core—Johnston, Simmons, McFee (since ‘79)—carried the torch, families in tow (Johnston in Marin, Simmons on Maui), their brotherhood a mix of grit and groove.

The Career That Rolled Past 2008

From 2008, The Doobie Brothers—no side bands, just the main act—kept evolving. In 2010, World Gone Crazy dropped, their first original album since 2000’s Sibling Rivalry, with Ted Templeman back producing. Johnston, Simmons, McFee, and touring vets like Marc Russo (sax) and Ed Toth (drums) blended old-school rock with new vibes—singles like “Nobody” (a ‘71 redo) hit the mark. The 2012 doc Let the Music Play chronicled their saga; 2014’s Southbound saw them re-cut classics with country stars like Blake Shelton. The big pivot came in 2021: McDonald rejoined for a 50th-anniversary tour—delayed from 2020 by COVID—uniting Johnston, Simmons, McFee, and him for the first time in decades. Liberté (2021) followed, then Walk This Road (slated June 6, 2025), their first with McDonald on new tracks since 1980.

Bandmates: Johnston’s growl, Simmons’ twang, McFee’s multi-instrumental glue, McDonald’s soul (back full-time since ‘19)—bolstered by John Cowan (bass), Russo, Toth, and Marc Quiñones (percussion). Relationships: The McDonald reunion thrilled fans; guest spots with Shelton (“Black Water”) and Zac Brown Band made news—Brown called them “timeless.” TV/Film: The Voice (2014, mentors), Jimmy Fallon (2021, “Long Train Runnin’”), a nod in The Simpsons (2018). Awards: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2020—Johnston, Simmons, McDonald, McFee, Hartman, Baxter, Knudsen, Hossack, Porter), Songwriters Hall of Fame (2025, Johnston, McDonald, Simmons), two Grammys pre-‘08 but none since—sales top 40 million. Big Songs Post-2008: “Nobody” (Johnston, 2010 redo)—a rootsy reboot; “World Gone Crazy” (Johnston, 2010)—a reflective rocker; “Better Days” (McDonald/Shanks, 2025)—a soulful teaser; “Lahaina” (Simmons/Shanks, 2025)—a Maui tribute with Mick Fleetwood.

The Shadows That Followed

The Doobies’ post-2008 ride wasn’t all smooth. In 2010, bassist Skylark quit after a stroke—John Cowan stepped in—then drummer Michael Hossack bowed out with cancer, dying March 12, 2012, at 65 in Wyoming. Tony Pia subbed; Toth took over. The 2021 tour hit a snag: McDonald’s COVID case forced a Minnesota State Fair cancellation—Johnston quipped, “He ate one burger too many.” Gossips buzzed—burnout? Rift?—but they bounced back. Bigger waves came in 2023: Maui wildfires razed Simmons’ community; Walk This Road’s “Lahaina” was his cry—some locals sniffed “opportunism,” but he swore it was love. A 2024 scheduling spat with the Eagles (shared U.K. gigs) fueled “who’s the headliner?” chatter—settled amicably. Through loss and fire, they rolled on—harmony over headlines.

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Word Count: ~1000. From 2008, The Doobie Brothers morphed from survivors to celebrants, weaving past and present into a road still worth traveling

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This is a shot in studio, during the compilation of the World Gone Crazy DVD, from about 2010, I believe.

Left to right:  Pat Simmons, Tom Johnston, John Cowan, and John McFee. I’ll have more Doobies, from several years.