THE DOOBIE BROTHERS
ORIGINAL LINE-UP: (L to R) Pat Simmons, John Hartman, Dave Shogren, Tom Johnston
CLASSIC LINE-UP #1 (circa 1972) (L to R) Tiran Porter, Pat Simmons, Tom Johnston, John Hartman, Michael Hossack
CLASSIC LINE-UP #2 (circa 1976) (L to R) Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, John Hartman, Michael McDonald, Pat Simmons, Tiran Porter, Keith Knudsen
2014 Current Doobie Brothers (L to R): Mark Russo, John Cowan, Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons, John McFee, Ed Toth, Guy Allison, Tony Pia
ORIGINAL LINE-UP:
Tom Johnston - Vocals, Guitar
Pat Simmons - Vocals, Guitar
Dave Shogren - Bass, Backing Vocals (died 1999)
John Hartman - Drums, Backing Vocals
CLASSIC LINE-UP #1 (circa 1972, Toulouse Street LP)
Tom Johnston - Vocals, Guitar
Pat Simmons - Vocals, Guitar
Tiran Porter - Bass, Guitar, vocals
Michael Hossack - Drums (replaced by Keith Knudsen [drums, vocals] in '73)
John Hartman - Drums, Backing Vocals
CLASSIC LINE-UP #2 (circa 1976)
Pat Simmons - Vocals, Guitar
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter - guitars, backing vocals (joined 1974)
Tiran Porter - bass, guitar, vocals
Michael McDonald - keyboards, synthesizers, vocals
Keith Knudsen - drums, percussion, vocals
John Hartman - drums, percussion, backing vocals
2014 TOURING BAND
Tom Johnston - Vocals, Guitar
Pat Simmons - Vocals, Guitar
John McFee - Guitar, Violin, Pedal Steel, Vocals (1979-1982, 1987, 1993-present)
John Cowan - Bass, Vocals (1992-1995, 2010-present)
Mark Russo - Saxophone
Ed Toth - Drums
Guy Allison - Keyboards, Vocals
Tony Pia - Drums
(Bold names are original members. Bold Italic are early members.)
For all intents and purposes, there were two different Doobie Brothers bands: the Tom Johnston fronted, guitar driven version, and the Michael McDonald fronted, blue-eyed soul version. If you're wanting to hear the "early" version of the band, with hits like "Listen to the Music," "Long Train Runnin'," and "Black Water," then you're in luck at the current band's concerts. If you only jumped on the Doobie Bandwagon with "Takin' It to the Streets," and "What a Fool Believes," then you're not so much in luck.
WHO'S IN THE BAND?
The 2014 Touring Band features original members Johnston and Pat Simmons (the only mainstay throughout the band's history). These two handled the lead vocals, and most of the songwriting, for all the hits and popular album cuts up through 1975. Longtime multi-instrumentalist John McFee, who joined in 1979, is also still with the group. The rest of the musicians are listed as the "Touring Band," but include a ringer in John Cowan on bass and vocals. Cowan was the lead singer/bassist in New Grass Revival.
Michael Hossack, long-time drummer with the band, died in 2012 from cancer. Keith Knudsen, another long-time drummer (they've almost always had two at a time), also died from cancer in 2005.
WHAT WON'T YOU HEAR?
If you own The Best of the Doobies - and apparently half of the United States does own at least one copy - then you'll likely hear all of those songs, with the original lead vocalists, with only a couple exceptions. When Michael McDonald filled in for an ailing Tom Johnston, he brought a totally different sound to the band. Keyboard based songs, with a more R&B sound (which allowed the then current lead guitarist, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, a chance to take things even jazzier) gradually took over - at least on the hit singles. So, while the current band will probably play "Takin' It to the Streets," (with Simmons and Cowan handling the vocals), you won't hear any of the latter day hits ("It Keeps You Runnin'," "What a Fool Believes," or "Minute by Minute.") The only song you might hear from the Minute by MInute album is "Dependin' On You," a Simmons-McDonald co-write that Simmons sang lead on.
OFF SHOOTS
If you're mainly a fan of the latter day Doobies, check out Michael McDonald in concert. He plays his hits from his Doobie days, along with his solo hits. Visit: http://michaelmcdonald.com
WORTH SEEING?
I last saw The Doobie Brothers in concert around the time that Tom Johnston had to leave the tour because of illness, and Michael McDonald had just joined (around 1975 or '76). But, based on their videos, these guys are putting on a great show these days. Plus, they're not resting on their laurels. They released a new CD in 2010 (World Gone Crazy). So you may hear a couple of new songs, but mainly you'll hear a show of hits and top-notch musicianship.
BAND LINKS
