Latest news with #WalkThisRoad
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Frontman Records With Classic '70s Rock Band For First Time in 45 Years
Frontman Records With Classic '70s Rock Band For First Time in 45 Years originally appeared on Parade. An iconic 1970s rock band announced this week that they reunited in the studio with their former frontman, 45 years since the last time they all recorded an album together. The Doobie Brothers dropped a new album called Walk This Road on Friday, June 6, and they brought back the iconic Michael McDonald, who was last with the band full-time for the 1980 album One Step Closer. McDonald was a lead vocalist for the Doobie Brothers from 1975 to 1982, then appeared with the band sporadically over the years, but has not been on one of their albums since One Step Closer. The 73-year-old Hall of Fame vocalist also famously performed with Steely Dan, Toto, Christopher Cross and Kenny Loggins. RELATED: Iconic '60s Rocker Talks Wild Times With Elton John, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and More McDonald reunites with Doobie Brothers founding members Patrick Simmons (guitar, lead/backing vocals), Tom Johnston (guitar, piano, lead/backing vocals) and John McFee (guitar, steel guitar, backing vocals) to go on tour starting August 4 in order to promote Walk This Road, their 16th studio album. The album also features Mavis Staples and Mick Fleetwood. You can pre-order the 10-track album here. In an interview, McDonald told USA Today that times sure have changed in the recording studio due to all of the technological advances. "The technology has changed, for better or worse… The new procedure is interesting. As you're writing the song, you're recording it into a file, and that is the basis you use for the track, even if it's just a feeling," said McDonald. "So it's kind of fun to feel like the song hasn't had to morph into something else. Some of my fondest memories of being in the studio are the first time I heard the band play 'Takin' It To the Streets.' I was like, wow! When the band started playing it, it took on a whole new life. RELATED: Rock Icon, 78, Being Honored by Trisha Yearwood and James Taylor in Concert About the upcoming tour, Simmons told USA Today that they do realize they are in the 70s now and that makes performing live and the grind of a tour a bit harder, but they've been preparing for it. "I've got a hill I live on and walk it several times a day, and am always working on a project. Not that that counts as calisthenics. But I try to always stay in motion and on the road try to get out and walk every day. We're all in our 70s now. I used to think that was old. I do feel it, but it's hard to believe we're out here doing it at this age, and in my head, I'm still 16. You have to think beyond your age. It's a life adventure," said Simmons. The Doobie Brothers released a string of hits starting in 1972. They are best known for "Listen to the Music," "Jesus Is Just Alright," "Long Train Running'", "China Grove," "Black Water," "Takin' It to the Streets" and "What a Fool Believes." 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Later this summer, McDonald, Johnston and Simmons will all be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in the Performing Songwriters category. Frontman Records With Classic '70s Rock Band For First Time in 45 Years first appeared on Parade on Jun 6, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Doobie Brothers On ‘Civic Duty,' ‘Limitations' in Today's Music & Writing Songs With Charlie Puth
Over two distinct sonic eras, The Doobie Brothers — led by singer-guitarist Tom Johnston and singer-pianist Michael McDonald — have sustained a genre-agnostic, commercially viable career since the early 1970s. That includes nine top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 and 10 top 20 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as hits spanning the rock, adult contemporary, R&B and country charts. But what truly defines the band is that 'it's a democracy,' according to Karim Karmi, its comanager of a decade alongside Irving Azoff. More from Billboard The Doobie Brothers, Queen, Bee Gees and Other Groups in the Songwriters Hall of Fame Kylie Minogue Joins Prestigious '21 Club' at London's O2 Arena Kevin Parker Previews New Tame Impala Music During Barcelona DJ Set Now, 50 years in, the Doobies are proving just that with Walk This Road, their first album to feature significant contributions from all three principal songwriters (Johnston, McDonald and Pat Simmons). Produced by pop-rock stalwart John Shanks, the project is McDonald's first appearance on a Doobies album in 20 years and will arrive a week before he, Johnston and Simmons are inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (alongside George Clinton, Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins, Ashley Gorley, Mike Love and Tony Macaulay) on June 12. After which, McDonald teases, the Doobies 'might even do another' album. How did working with John Shanks affect your songwriting process for ? Michael McDonald: We found ourselves revisiting old ideas that might have never gotten recorded — in my case, songs that I might have demoed, gosh, 10 years ago, that I would every once in a while run across in my phone. And then some of the stuff was more immediate, where we just sat down with John and came up with a song in a moment. Tom Johnston: John's a hell of a guitar player, and he has good ideas on sound. He's got a place up in the Hollywood Hills overlooking part of the San Fernando Valley and he's got a lot of toys, so you can try pretty much anything you want to try and that's liberating. McDonald: It's every musician's fantasy man cave — literally every kind of keyboard, keyboards I never even knew existed. A sense of social conscience is central to the band's music, especially on this album's title track with Mavis Staples. Do you feel a responsibility to address current times in your writing? Johnston: The civic duty bit that you express when writing, that's something that you just feel — it's an organic thing. McDonald: With 'Walk This Road,' I think John had the original idea for the title — of us getting back together, here we are still trudging the same road all these years later. But it immediately took on a bigger meaning, and I think bringing Mavis onto the track cemented that idea because she is an ambassador of the gospel of humanity. The sound of her voice and her intent made it clear what we might be talking about in the bigger sense, which is, we're all here together. As a band, we hope to appeal to the collective better nature of people. You have a long track record on the charts. What does it take to write a hit? Johnston: When you're writing a song, you're not thinking about that; you're just trying to put into it what you feel at that moment. The only time I ever even thought [about] that was on 'Listen to the Music.' You just want to do the best you can. McDonald: We came up in the middle of the '60s and the '70s, when recording artists were starting to exercise a lot more latitude in terms of style and genre, and the Doobies were always a very eclectic band; we were free to do what we wanted or whatever we thought we could be sincere at portraying musically. I always felt fortunate that we came up in a time when there were a lot less limitations set on artists to stay in their lane. HBO's highlights that aspect of you and your contemporaries — as well as your habit of turning up in unexpected places, Mike, both in the Doobies and as a solo artist. What's the most unexpected place or collaborator you've found yourself around recently? McDonald: I wrote a couple songs recently with a kid named Charlie Puth, who's a really talented musician. And I find that I'm being taken more places than I would ever have gone on my own. I've been trying to co-write with people, which I always do with a little bit of mixed feelings. I never really know if what I'm writing is good or not. You start to compare yourself to everything else, and it gets a little scary sometimes. But I do like co-writing because it gets me out of the house and it makes me do something rather than watch another episode of HGTV. (Laughs.) This story appears in the June 7, 2025, issue of Billboard. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
USA Today
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Doobie Brothers celebrate new album with intimate, feel-good concert
Doobie Brothers celebrate new album with intimate, feel-good concert Show Caption Hide Caption Doobie Brothers' founding drummer dies more than 50 years after band started John Hartman, the founding drummer of 70's rock band the Dobbie Brothers, has died at 72. Associated Press NEW YORK — The Doobie Brothers haven't lost their stride. The genre-melting rock 'n' rollers released new album 'Walk This Road' June 6, which they toasted with an intimate, sold-out concert at Irving Plaza that evening. Playing to a raucous crowd of just over 1,000 people, the jazz- and soul-infused band debuted a smattering of fresh tunes, from the breezy, good-natured 'Call Me,' to the bluesy 'Learn to Let Go,' a silky showcase for singer/keyboardist Michael McDonald's inimitable vocals. 'This is kind of our record release party, so we're celebrating and we're so glad you're here with us,' cofounder Patrick Simmons said, noting the challenge of swapping in a multitude of instruments between songs in such a tiny venue. 'We're moving slow up here, because everything's coming from that corner up there. But you know, we're just having fun.' Highlights of the roughly hour-and-a-half-long set included 'Without You,' featuring a scorching guitar break as Simmons, Tom Johnston and John McFee all jammed and swayed in sync at the lip of the stage. Marc Russo's swirling saxophone enraptured the audience on 'Here to Love You' and 'Long Train Runnin',' while Ed Toth's dexterous drums helped propel country-fried fan favorites 'Black Water' and 'Jesus is Just Alright With Me.' 'We thank you all for coming down here,' Johnston said, before launching into familiar hit 'Listen to the Music' to close out the night. 'You sound so good and we appreciate it. We're going to sing one last song, and if you'd like to sing along, we've love to have you, alright?' Interview: Doobie Brothers on new album, tour, hall of fame: 'You have to think beyond your age' The Doobie Brothers' Manhattan stop was an appetizer before their upcoming North American tour, which kicks off Aug. 4 in Detroit. The Coral Reefer Band, who toured and recorded with the late Jimmy Buffett, will join the grizzled foursome on their six-week trek. 'We're all in our 70's now,' Simmons told USA TODAY in a recent interview. 'I used to think that was old. I do feel it, but it's hard to believe we're out here doing it at this age, and in my head I'm still 16. You have to think beyond your age. It's a life adventure. The Doobie Brothers 2025 setlist 'Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)' 'Here to Love You' 'Dependin' on You' 'Walk This Road' 'Rockin' Down the Highway' 'It Keeps You Runnin'' 'Call Me' 'Minute by Minute' 'Learn to Let Go' 'Angels & Mercy' 'Without You' 'Jesus is Just Alright' 'What a Fool Believes' 'Long Train Runnin'' 'China Grove' 'Black Water' 'Amazing Grace' 'Takin' It to the Streets' 'Listen to the Music' Contributing: Melissa Ruggieri
USA Today
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Doobie Brothers on new album, tour, hall of fame: 'You have to think beyond your age'
Doobie Brothers on new album, tour, hall of fame: 'You have to think beyond your age' Show Caption Hide Caption Fans of Jimmy Buffett fill the Key West streets at parade in his honor Key West residents and fans of Jimmy Buffett gave the singer-songerwriter a last goodbye with a parade in his honor. Ariana Triggs, Storyful With a new album, tour and impending induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Doobie Brothers are takin' it to the streets like it's 1976. The quartet of Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston, John McFee and Michael McDonald will hit the road Aug. 4 partially to jam through their 50-plus years of hits such as 'Listen to the Music,' 'Black Water,' 'What a Fool Believes' and 'China Grove,' but also to support their 16th studio album, 'Walk This Road,' out June 6. The album, which features Mavis Staples and Mick Fleetwood, also marks their first with McDonald in the studio in more than 40 years. A bit of nostalgia also colors their upcoming live shows, as the six-week tour will spotlight openers The Coral Reefer Band, the beloved touring and recording outfit of Jimmy Buffett, who died in 2023. Recently, Simmons – from Maui, his home of 30 years – and McDonald – from his 100-year-old hacienda in Santa Barbara, California – talked about the inherent positivity in the new album, the Doobies' history with the Coral Reefer Band and why Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones might end up directing their documentary. The Songwriters Hall of Fame is such a huge honor. What went through your mind when you heard about it? Michael McDonald: To be inducted alongside my friends Pat and Tom means all the more to me. Those were the guys who gave me the opportunity to be recognized as a songwriter. To be recognized with a group of people you've admired all your life is pretty meaningful. Patrick Simmons: It's a little surreal. You never think of yourself as having that credibility. When you're first starting out writing songs you never have confidence in anything and when people start responding to your songs, it's such a kick. You're always in search of the next song. Do you remember the first song you wrote? Simmons: I can't specifically, but it was probably some kind of blues-gospel thing with religious overtones from my Lutheran heritage (laughs). I was 15 and singing it in a coffeehouse while I was doing mostly covers and people politely applauded. You've got another lengthy tour coming up. How do you physically prepare? McDonald: Since I don't do anything, I'll let Pat answer. Simmons: I've got a hill I live on and walk it several times a day and am always working on a project. Not that that counts as calisthenics. But I try to always stay in motion and on the road try to get out and walk every day. We're all in our 70's now. I used to think that was old. I do feel it, but it's hard to believe we're out here doing it at this age, and in my head I'm still 16. You have to think beyond your age. It's a life adventure. What went into the decision to tour with the Coral Reefer Band? Simmons: The concept was more of, who is somebody we can tour with who will be complementary musically and be of interest to the audience. I think everybody went, that's really cool. Were you friends with Jimmy Buffet? Simmons: I would run into him occasionally. We had toured with him for years and years in the '70s. He was such an understated guy. He was always quality. Great playing, great singing, some funny songs with eccentric and esoteric concepts in his music. We got to be friendly with all the guys, so this is coming full circle. With this new album, Michael, how did it feel to be back recording with the guys? McDonald: It's been a while since we did it that way and the technology has changed, for better or worse … The new procedure is interesting. As you're writing the song you're recording it into a file and that is the basis you use for the track even if it's just a feeling. So it's kind of fun to feel like the song hasn't had to morph into something else. Some of my fondest memories of being in the studio are the first time I heard the band play 'Takin' It To the Streets.' I was like, wow! When the band started playing it, it took on a whole new life. The title track features Mavis Staples. What was it like recording with her? McDonald: (Producer) John Shanks came to us and said, "You've been walking this path for 50 years. Let's write about that." It became a broader message and what better ambassador for humanity and with empathy for each other and someone who remembers we're all on this path together than Mavis? That was always the message of (The Staple Singers). It was a thrill, though, when she came into the studio. What's the status on a new Doobie Brothers documentary? Simmons: We're still fumbling around. We have so much film and archives and so much film from 1973, stuff we shot on 16 millimeter and for a whole tour back then. But I think what's happening is we're so mired down in that there are so many documentaries out there so do we want to do this right now? It's almost a little saturated now, so we thought let's put it on the back burner for now. We'll wait 'til we're 90. It can be directed by Keith Richards.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
50 years on, the Doobie Brothers are more harmony than testosterone
These days, the Doobie Brothers are much more relaxed and open when heading to the recording than in the band's heyday in the 1970s and early 1980s. "Anything goes, we don't really have any presuppositions entrenched," singer and keyboardist Michael McDonald tells dpa in London. "We might have done that more like in the old days when we all suffered from more testosterone than we do now," he says with grin. A milestone in the band's long history "Walk This Road" is the name of the new Doobie Brothers album, a work marking a milestone in their history. After more than 50 years of music making, it is namely the first record which has been jointly recorded as a band by Tom Johnston (76), Pat Simmons (76), John McFee (74) and Michael McDonald (73). There were the occasional guest appearances and tours, but never - until now - were the four Doobie veterans together in a studio as full-fledged band members. Amid the differing musical ideas of guitarist and singer Johnston and the later band member McDonald, the two men never worked together for any length of time. Johnston stood for classic rock'n'roll, blues and boogie and for such hits as "Long Train Runnin'." Later, McDonald helped the band achieve megahits such as "What A Fool Believes" with his style of soulful pop and R&B sounds. The many musical sides of the Doobie Brothers The Doobie Brothers now agree that their versatility is one of their strengths. This was in evidence during the recently concluded tour marking the band's 50th anniversary, during which Michael McDonald returned as a firm member. "We can present all eras of the band. That's pretty cool. Because it gives you a variety," a jubilant Johnston said. "There's really no downside to any of this." The same thing can be said about the new album, although the members mostly wrote the songs separately with successful producer John Shanks (Bon Jovi, Take That). "We're shooting for the songs that work best for the band and that we think the band can express and represent as the Doobie Brothers," said McDonald. The method worked perfectly for the new LP. Highlights include the rousing Southern rocker "Angels & Mercy" sung by Simmons and the soulful "Learn To Let Go" featuring McDonald's uniquely unmistakable voice which still sounds powerful and warm at the age of 73. A stroke of fate as source of inspiration McDonald had written some of the songs years before in an attempt to come to terms with a stroke of fate, the death of his friend and Doobies drummer Keith Knudsen in 2005. "It rattled the hell out of me," the singer recalled. "It was a big loss for me, the family, and the whole band." And so he began to write. The best example for the harmony that today defines the Doobie Brothers is, by the way, the good-natured title song with soul legend Mavis Staples - with Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons and Michael McDonald all singing along, together. The different styles harmonise as well with each other as do the band members. "Walk This Road" combines the qualities of such different album classics as "The Captain And Me" and "Minute By Minute" seemingly effortlessly. A wonderful late work by the Doobie Brothers.
