It has been more than five decades since the founding of the Doobie Brothers, who are in the midst of a busy year.
Their 50th Anniversary Tour, which stops at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on Aug. 29, marks the first time in more than 25 years that current members John McFee, Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons and former bandmate Michael McDonald have been back on the road together.
“It’s been really rewarding so far. It’s coming together well,” said Simmons about rehearsals for the North American tour, which was rescheduled from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s fun to be able to do the songs that we really haven’t been able to without Michael. We’ve done a couple of songs of his from time to time in our set but without Mike. There’s nobody quite like Mike.”
Vocalist and keyboardist McDonald, who was originally a Doobie Brothers member from 1975-1982, wrote hits including “Takin’ It to the Streets” and “You Belong to Me” (with Carly Simon).
McDonald shared in the band’s Grammys for best pop vocal performance by a duo, group or chorus for “Minute By Minute” and record of the year for “What a Fool Believes” for which he also received Grammys for song of the year with Kenny Loggins and best arrangement accompanying vocals.
Johnston (guitars and vocals) and Simmons (guitar and vocals) founded the Doobie Brothers in 1970 while McFee (guitars, pedal steel, dobro, fiddle and vocals) joined the group in 1978.
“We’ve continued to work and be productive in terms of trying to be creative through the years,” said Simmons, who lives in Maui, Hawaii, with his wife, Cristine Sommer Simmons, who lived in Addison when they met 32 years ago.
“We’ve continued to get out and play for people to make that personal connection with audiences. That really keeps you alive. Naturally classic rock radio certainly has helped us in terms of continuing to play our music.”
“The internet is another thing. There’s so many elements that we’ve been fortunate enough to have be a part of our dynamic through the years. Every time you think things are declining, something happens that helps you to continue.”
The set list for the 50th Anniversary Tour, which includes opening act Dirty Dozen Brass Band, will be a trip down memory lane for the Doobie Brothers, who were among Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020.
“It’s looking like it’s going to be about a two-and-a-half-hour set,” said Simmons, who sings on tunes he wrote including “Black Water,” “Echoes of Love” (with Willie Mitchell and Earl Randle) and “Wheels of Fortune” (with Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and John Hartman).
“I’m sure we’re going to play all the songs that we’re well-known for from ‘Minute By Minute’ and ‘Long Train Runnin’ to ‘China Grove’ and ‘Black Water,’ and playing some songs that people know but don’t really hear that often.
“Then there’ll be some odd stuff that we want to play just for fun. We’ve got some new music that we’re going to present as well.”
On Aug. 6 the Doobie Brothers announced their 15th full-length album, “Liberté,” by streaming “The Doobie Brothers EP” featuring “Oh Mexico,” “Cannonball,” “Don’t Ya Mess With Me” and “Better Days” from the 12-track album to be released on Oct. 1.
“It’s all brand-new and produced by John Shanks, who is a great producer. He made us step up a little bit,” said Simmons about Shanks who won the Grammy for producer of the year, nonclassical in 2005.
“He produced some Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge and Bon Jovi, which is not really a band like ours but that’s certainly a feather in his cap. John’s a great writer and a real talent himself as a musician and certainly as a producer so I want to give credit where credit’s due because he’s really helped us.
“More than anything, we wanted the quality of the material and the performances to stand up with things we’ve done in the past. The songs are well-performed and there’s some great messages in the music. Our band has pretty much always been about uplifting themes.”
Also ahead for the band is the July 12 release of the book “Long Train Runnin’: Our Story of the Doobie Brothers” by Johnston and Simmons with Chris Epting via St. Martin’s Press.
The Doobie Brothers
When: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 29
Where: Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, 19100 S. Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park
Tickets: Start at $29.50
Information: 708-614-1616; livenation.com and search for The Doobie Brothers or thedoobiebrothers.com/events
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
