Doobie Brothers Expand Reunion Tour With Michael McDonald
by Best Classic Bands Staff
The Doobie Brothers’ Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and John McFee (Photo: Clay Patrick McBride; used with permission)
The Doobie Brothers have expanded their 50th anniversary tour and reunion with Michael McDonald.
The run was originally set to start on June 9, 2020, but was delayed due to the pandemic and postponed for roughly a year. It finally began on August 22, 2021 for the first of several dozen dates that kept them running through October of that year.
The 2022 edition began on May 13 with a Las Vegas residency. The tour currently continues through mid-October. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.
See the complete 2022 itinerary below. The classic rock legends had originally announced the celebration with their former lead vocalist and keyboardist on Nov. 18, 2019.
The band has typically played a 24-song set that includes such classic rock favorites as “Rockin’ Down the Highway,” “China Grove” and “Listen to the Music,” plus deeper cuts like “South City Midnight Lady” and “Neal’s Fandango.”
Watch McDonald sing “What a Fool Believes” at their Sept. 14, 2021 concert
Watch them perform “China Grove” at the same show
On Jan. 15, 2020, the Doobie Brothers were finally chosen for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2020.
Watch Patrick Simmons sing “Black Water,” their 1974 #1 single, at the Sept. 14 concert
Watch McDonald sing their 1976 hit “Takin’ It to the Streets,” on the tour’s second show on Aug. 24, in Milwaukee
The group’s Fall 2019 original surprise reunion announcement was at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium when the former frontman joined the band on stage. The tour reunites McDonald with founding members Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons, and longtime member John McFee, for a North American run to celebrate the group’s 50th anniversary.
As they finished the Nov. 18, 2019, encore of “Black Water,” Simmons said to the audience, “You might remember him from, well, he has his own band these days… But you might remember him from his band, the Doobie Brothers… Mr. Michael McDonald.”
Out came McDonald who led the band on a performance of “Takin’ It to the Streets,” the group’s first single with him as lead vocalist.
Following the song, Simmons revealed the news of the reunion tour.
Michael McDonald performing “Takin’ It to the Streets” with the Doobie Brothers, Aug. 24, 2021
McDonald, born Feb. 12, 1952, joined the band in 1975 as a temporary replacement for Johnston who had been in poor health. It is Johnston who provides the classic rock lead vocals on many of the Doobie Brothers‘ early hits including “Listen to the Music,” “Long Train Runnin'” and “China Grove.” Simmons sang lead on their first #1 single, “Black Water.”
A greatest hits collection, Best of the Doobies, released in October 1976, contained songs from both lead singers. Though it peaked on the chart at only #5, it has over 10 million copies.
Watch Johnston perform one of his signature songs, “Long Train Runnin'” during the Aug. 24, 2021 stop of the reunion tour
And here he is singing lead on their 1975 cover of “Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)” on Aug. 29
Related: “China Grove” – Admit it, you don’t know the lyrics
The Doobie Brothers’ Minute By Minute album was #1 for 5 weeks in 1979
McDonald’s soulful voice soon led to such hits as “Minute By Minute,” “Real Love” and the group’s second #1, “What a Fool Believes.” The group’s Minute By Minute album was a huge seller, topping the album charts for five weeks.
The band’s career soared to even greater success and when Johnston returned, briefly, he had a diminished role. Several years later, when Simmons also departed, the Doobie Brothers disbanded.
Related: Our interview with Johnston and Simmons
When the Doobie Brothers were finally inducted into the Rock Hall, the following members were included: Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, John Hartman, Michael Hossack, Johnston, Keith Knudsen, McDonald, McFee, Tiran Porter and Simmons.
Watch Simmons sing “South City Midnight Lady” on Aug. 29
The Doobie Brothers 2022 Tour (Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com and here)
Jun 30 – London, ON – Budweiser Gardens
Jul 02 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center For the Arts
Jul 04 – Sep 02 – Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre
Jul 06 – Toledo, OH – The Zoo Amphitheater
Jul 07 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
Jul 09 – Burgettstown, PA – KeyBank Pavilion
Jul 10 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
Jul 12 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Jul 14 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
Jul 17 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Jul 18 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
Jul 20 – Tampa, FL – MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre
Jul 21 – West Palm Beach, FL – IThink Financial Amphitheatre
Jul 23 – Orange Beach, FL – The Wharf Amphitheater
Jul 25 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Sep 02 – Pelham, AL – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
Sep 03 – Memphis, TN – Live at the Garden
Sep 08 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
Sep 10 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre
Sep 11 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater
Sep 14 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre
Sep 16 – Welch, MN – Treasure Island Resort & Casino
Sep 18 – Louisville, KY – Bourbon and Beyond
Sep 23 – Puyallup, WA – Washington State Fair
Sep 24 – Portland, OR – Theater of The Clouds
Sep 27 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
Sep 29 – Sacramento, CA – Hard Rock Live
Sep 30 – San Diego, CA – CalCoast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
Oct 02 – Inglewood, CA – YouTube Theater
Oct 04 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Federal Theatre
Oct 07 – Dallas, T – Majestic Theatre
Oct 08 – San Antonio, TX – Tobin Center
Oct 12 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
Related: Listings for 100s of classic rock tours
23 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationNoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Don’t tour with McDonald! He single-handedly destroyed The Doobie Brothers! McDonald took a rockin’ band and turned it into shit!
Agree 100%. I was excited to get tickets until I saw that travesty. I never cared for the band while he was a member.
Your comment sounds so uneducated, you did not like the McD. Era that’s fine, but it sure was not shit, they were 2 different sounds and allowed a great band to continue and expand there musical sounds. If 4 Grammies and multi amount of top singles is shit, then I guess shit is good. Your opinion is your own, but to define thu music as shit is very narrowed minded. Give the McD. Era it’s credit if you like it or not. It’s still has its value and many fans agree. M. McD. Is one of the greatest vocalist/Song writers /Keyboard player who created a style of music that was copied by many of artist. I’ll be at a few of the shows rocketing out and appreciating both era’s of the DB’s. —Peace…
Well said, friend. I for one like pre-McDonald and with him.
I agree that he is a great songwriter and keyboard player. But his voice is nightmare to me. Every record he made with the Doobie Brothers would be much better, if someone else sings those songs!
Thank you! McD held band together when Johnston had bleeding ulcers…with Tom’s blessings. And the band has endured.
Michael McDonald made the Doobie Brothers. Minute by Minute, Taking it to the Streets, What a Fool Believes, all classic hits.
Lola… McDonald joined the group after their first 5 albums. While his contribution is significant, the band had already had plenty of success with 3 Top Ten albums and pop hits with “Listen to the Music,” “Long Train Runnin’,” “China Grove” and more, before he joined.
Doobies HOPE to make it to The RR Hall of Fame? What a travesty. I mean NWA and The Beastie Boys are there. Which is a fucking JOKE. RRHOF has lost all credibility.
When I was in junior high our entire class won their greatest hits album.Hope Skunk Baxter takes some time off to tour with them
This will be a great 50th tour. I have my tickets. I have been talking to Michael on line about the tour. I’m really looking forward to the show.
Would love to see them tour down under in Australia. No covid here!
McD kept them going for many years!! Definitely had a better sound WITH HIM!!
They were, essentially, two different bands that both sounded great in their own ways. But McDonald certainly did not “destroy” the Doobie Brothers. If anything he kept it going after Tom Johnston jumped ship. The band probably would have disbanded were it not for McDonald. Instead, they had some of their greatest success. Also, with regard to Bomber’s comment, they have no room for Skunk Baxter in the band as they already have three guitar players. Plus, Johnston pretty much wants to play lead all the time, so their other excellent guitar player in John McFee has to just play rhythm (along with Patrick Simmons) and some steel. Johnston is the voice of all those iconic early Doobies hits, but for a guy who left the band high (no pun intended) and dry, at one point, he’s pretty much reclaimed it as HIS band. Adding McDonald for this tour is a nice touch, which will make their shows a lot more interesting. For as many hit songs as they had, a night of listening to almost all Johnston’s voice gets wearisome, even if you’re a fan,
To be fair to Johnston, he was pretty sick when he left.
Tom Johnston had a bleeding ulcer when he left the band for health reasons.
Johnston didn’t jump ship. For Christ’s sake, he had bleeding ulcers. He approved of Mcdonald joining the band. He saved it.
Da Mick has it right in one regard in that the McD Doobies and pre-McD Doobies are two different bands, each with their own strengths. I love them both and have seen them several times with both line-ups. Baxter is currently touring in support of his own (strong) album and wouldn’t have time to join the Doobies.
Surprised there was no mention of Little Feat keyboardist Bill Payne in the article. He’s been accompanying The Doobies on tour quite frequently for the past 2 years or more…
Come to the smaller venues who supported your band
My mistake, folks. With apologies to Tom Johnston. I was not aware of his illness as the reason for his departure back in the day. Glad he made it through that and back to the stage
I saw tgem with Tom just a few years ago, and as you pointed out, Paco. Bill Payne was playing keyboards with them. Wonder if he’ll be able to do this Doobies Anniversary tour, as he’s doing the Feat Anniversary tour for “Waiting For Columbus,” Thanks for setting me straight, Jeff, Rick, and Dr. Love.
Kudos to you for acknowledging and apologising. 🙂
I was disappointed to hear Michael McDonald joining the Doobie Bros. The only reason I’ve seen them in concert was when McDonald decided to leave the band.
There’s something about his voice that makes me either change the radio station or switch to another CD.
I can barely put up with background voice on Steely Dan’s “Peg” which is the only week cut on Aja.