Pyramid Records The Doobie Brothers play Friday at the
Sun Theatre in Anaheim and on June 13 and June 15 at the House of
Blues on Sunset.
By David Holmberg
Daily Bruin Staff
There are some flames that never die, and as the night rolls on
the blaze only burns brighter and brighter, lighting up the world
with its passion.
Such is the fire of the Doobie Brothers, the legendary band
which continues to transcend time and trends to bring its
definitive sound into the new millennium.
Ignited back in the early 1970s in San Jose, Calif., the Doobie
Brothers has been playing for the last 30 years, in the studio, on
the radio and, most importantly, on the road. For the Doobie
Brothers, being a band is a live experience.
Recently, one of the founding members, Tom Johnston talked about
the band’s music, the changes in the industry, and what has
kept it running all these years.
“We’re basically a live band, and live to play
live,” Johnston said. “Thankfully, there’s still
a demand so we can still do it. We still have enough radio airplay
to keep people interested.”
Tracing the inferno back to its origins, it was not the
band’s 1971 self-titled debut album, but the next
year’s release of “Toulouse Street” started the
fire. Johnston’s “Listen to the Music” and
“Rockin’ Down The Highway” both became major
hits. After that the nation was ablaze with the group’s
subsequent Johnston-written hits, “Long Train
Runnin'” and “China Grove.”
Unlike many surviving bands from the 1970s, many of the original
members are still with the group. Co-founder Pat Simmons still
plays guitar and sings, and long-time members Michael Hossack and
Keith Knudson still keep the Doobies signature beat alive on their
drums. Joining the group in the late-1970s was the multi-talented
John McFee who sings and plays the guitar and violin, among other
things.
The Doobies went through several changes in the 1970s, including
Johnston’s departure and replacement by Michael McDonald, and
the band eventually disbanded in 1982 so each artist could pursue
their own careers. But it was not long before the Doobies was
lighting it up again, and Johnston is pleased with where it has
arrived.
“We’re better now then we’ve ever been, in
terms of musicianship, timing and singing, but this is not
comparing it to Michael (McDonald)’s style, which was very
different,” Johnston said. “I think it’s because
of clear headedness, and just taking it more seriously. Each guys
does what he needs to in order to stay sharp, play
sharp.”
Even being a part of the seemingly exciting world of music
occasionally has drawbacks. For example, the band has played
certain songs for 30 years.
“Some songs I can snooze through, some I still like
playing and are still fun,” Johnston said. “We change
the line-up of songs all the time to keep it interesting. We have
different breakdowns, drums, solos. Some songs like “˜Listen
to the Music’ are not at all like they were recorded, but
others like “˜China Grove’ are as close as
possible.”
But it takes more than just playing the music to keep the fire
aglow, the audience has to light up as well.
“Being on stage is still the best part, certainly not
riding the bus,” Johnston said, laughing. “Seeing the
crowd get up is what it’s all about. We’ve stretched
out, done different stuff. Right now we’re playing five songs
from the new album, and always experimenting.”
Creating a new album can be a challenging task for a band that
is, in many ways, already an institution. Countless musicians have
been influenced by the incomparable funky country rock with a
twinge of jazz that is unique to the Doobie Brothers. With an
already established style, it tried to work within that feel, while
still trying do something new.
“The last three years were spent fiddling around, and then
it was just a matter of finding the time to do it. We’ve all
been writing,” Johnston said. “I tried something new
with “˜Jericho’ that I’ve been wanting to try,
kind of hip-hop. I really dug it.
“We’ve changed over the years but we’re still
doing what we’ve always been about,” he continued.
While the Doobies may still be rockin’ down its own
musical highway, the musical climate in which it began is
considerably different than today’s scene. Burning its way
into the 1970s limelight, the Doobies found itself in the middle of
other now-legendary bands such as The Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd and
the Allman Brothers Band. While some of these bands have made it
into the 21st century in one form or another, pop music is notably
different, particularly in its not so upbeat themes.
“I don’t see the point of un-positive music. Back
when we started, 90 percent of the music was about feeling good,
and nowadays that is quite the opposite,” said Johnston.
“We never have been and never will be into that sort of
thing.”
The business, itself, is also a far cry from the care-free days
of old.
“The people running the industry today are more into the
money nature of things than the musical nature. A lot of record
businesses are run by lawyers, who are focused on whatever makes
money faster, which doesn’t always mean quality material or
musicianship.”
Nevertheless, the Doobie Brothers have successfully kept the
flame alive and bright, illuminating an era of music that will not
soon be forgotten. But at the same time, the band has been able to
flow with the times, evolving into a still relevant and powerfully
influential force in today’s continuously ebbing musical
world.
MUSIC: The Doobie Brothers play Friday at the
Sun Theatre in Anaheim and on the June 13 and June 15 at the House
of Blues on Sunset.