The Doobie Brothers to Release Their First Album with Michael McDonald in 44 Years as They Reunite on Tour

Fans of The Doobie Brothers aren’t just looking forward to tour dates in 2024.

The legendary rockers reunited with their core lineup in 2019 for a 50th anniversary tour that kicked off in 2021 after a pandemic delay and haven’t been on the road since. Having recently announced a massive run of dates from 2024, the group, which now consists of co-founders Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons, as well as longtime members Michael McDonald and John McFee, will also release a new album — marking their first with McDonald, 72, in 44 years .

Simmons, 75, and Johnston, 75, have revealed their plans to release their 16th studio album and successor in 2021. Liberty in an interview with Board.

Patrick Simmons and Tom Johnston of The Doobie Brothers perform on the 50th Anniversary Tour in Wheatland, California in October 2021.

Steve Jennings/Getty

The Doobie Brothers announce a 38-city tour scheduled to begin in June

The two guitarist/singers expressed their excitement about making new music with the former Steely Dan member, who was in The Doobie Brothers from 1975 to 1982 before officially rejoining nearly four decades later for a 50th anniversary tour.

“It’s very exciting,” Simmons told the paper. “At one point I said, ‘Hey, we’re recording all these dates… As long as we’re doing this, it would make sense to make a record. I think people would be thrilled with that.’”

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer also spoke about how fulfilling it was to join forces in the studio with the keyboardist after so long, as he last appeared in the 1980s One step closer and has not been on an LP with Johnston since 1975 Takin’ It to the Streets. “[Johnston and McDonald] I’ve never had the opportunity to communicate like this before, so it makes me happy to see it happen,” Simmons shared. “I think it’s more than the sum of our parts.”

Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston and John McFee of The Doobie Brothers perform in Los Angeles in October 2017.

Scott Dudelson/Getty

While the title hasn’t been announced and there’s no official release date, Simmons confirmed that the “songs are done” and revealed that he feels like the project is halfway to completion.

There are few details on what fans can expect from the new songs, although at least one collaboration is in the works. Board reports that the song, titled “Walk This Road,” features lead vocals from McDonald and Johnston, as well as a guest appearance from R&B/soul legend Mavis Staples.

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It’s unclear if the Listen to the Music band will play new material on the road, but they will embark on a 38-date North American tour later this year. The group will play in a few cities they’ve missed in recent years on their June 15-August 30 tour.

Michael McDonald performs at the MusiCares Person of the Year event in Los Angeles in February 2023. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty for The Recording Academy Steely Dan keyboardist Jim Beard Dies at 63.

In addition to live performances and upcoming new music, McDonald will soon release a memoir. It was published on May 21, the book is titled What a fool believes and named after the Grammy-winning song by The Doobie Brothers.

The legendary songwriter collaborated with actor Paul Reiser on the memoir, and the two talked about their collaboration to PEOPLE when the cover was revealed late last year.

“The scariest thing was wondering if there was even a story about it,” McDonald said. “Because my story really, I always felt, existed more in the people I worked with. That was actually my story. It wasn’t really so much about me as it was about my happiness to work with a lot of different people.”

He continued, “But as we kind of progressed, the story came to me, and I think for the first time I understood my own story a little better on a more personal level.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education