XM Satellite Radio, America’s no. 1 satellite radio service (featuring 68 commercial free music channels), assembled a small audience of friends and fans of DOOBIE BROTHERS for a taping session with the artist on the afternoon of May 7, 2006 at XM’s Washington, DC broadcast studios. Thanks to everyone who attended the taping session!

UPDATE: The episode of “Artist Confidential” will be airing as follows:

• Mon. 7/3 @ 6PM ET- 70s (7)
• Wed. 7/5 @ 9AM ET- Top Tracks (46)
• Fri. 7/7 @ 2PM ET- Deep Tracks (40)
• Sat. 7/8 @ 3PM ET- The Loft (50)
• Sat. 7/8 @ 6PM ET- The Blend (25)
• Sun. 7/9 @ 3AM ET- Deep Tracks (40)

Every now and then the guys in the Doobies actually have a chance to get out and hear some musical performances by artists that they admire. On a rare night off on the road just such an opportunity presented itself, in Dallas, Texas, when some of the members got a chance to attend the Joe Satriani / Eric Johnson concert at Grand Prairie’s Nokia Theatre.

It was a great night out, and we’d like to thank all of Joe’s and Eric’s people for being so gracious to the Doobies. There was no shortage of fine guitar playing and good music all ’round. These guys put on a great show, and the audience certainly enjoyed it - Doobies included.

Check out the picture accompanying this article, of Doobie Brother John McFee happily standing alongside one of his favorite guitarists in this or any other universe, Eric Johnson - Eric is truly a gifted player (and an excellent singer and composer as well, talents sometimes overlooked via “guitar hero” syndrome, as deserved as that accolade may be).

Speaking of guitar heroes - as for Mr. Satriani, keep your eyes and ears on the lookout for his outstanding appearance with the Doobies from last year’s Katrina Relief benefit (see other articles on the news page) - the DVD is still in the works, and we’ll be keeping you posted here as release details become available.

Some people have all the luck - like those who happened to purchase tickets for one of the Doobies recent performances. Specifically, we’re talking about the second of two sold out shows at Vancouver’s River Rock Casino showroom. For that matter, the band members themselves feel incredibly fortunate to have had one of the greatest singers ever to hit the rock or any other scene join them onstage for a classic musical evening.

None other than Paul Rodgers, of Free, Bad Company, The Firm, and more recently Queen fame, came out with the lads to perform his classic “All Right Now”. We’re here to say that Paul, widely recognized as one of the finest and most influential vocalists in all of rock, is actually - and considering his history this is a truly amazing thing - singing better than ever, and that’s no jive.

Paul went on to blow everybody away with his soulful version of the classic blues rocker “Rock Me Baby”, and joined in on the finale “Listen To The Music”. Wow, wow, and more wow would be an understatement for how cool this night was!

You may already know Tex-Mex group Los Lonely Boys from their smash hit “Heaven.” On their upcoming release Órale! , they’ll have a new song featuring a little help from a Doobie Brother. That’s right, one of the new tracks, entitled “Roses” was co written by Pat Simmons!

Read more about the album (which also features a collaboration with Willie Nelson) on the USA Today web site.

Doobies and friends do benefit performance for Katrina victims

The Doobie Brothers decided they wanted to do something to help in regard to the terrible tragedy surrounding Hurricane Katrina, so they turned to their manager, Bruce Cohn. The result was that a second show was added to the sold out benefit for various charities that the group already had scheduled at Bruce’s B.R. Cohn Winery in Glen Ellen, California.

The Hurricane Relief benefit show was held Sunday, October 2nd at the B.R. Cohn Winery Amphitheater as part of the 19th Annual B.R. Cohn Charity Fall Music Festival , featuring the Doobie Brothers, Little Feat, Loggins & Messina, Joe Satriani, the Turtles, Lisa Loeb, and other special surprise guests. 100% of the proceeds are going towards Hurricane Relief, direct to suffering Americans whose families were displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The Saturday October 1 show had already sold-out and benefits several local charities.

The October 2 event was filmed and recorded and there are plans for a DVD, the proceeds of which will also go towards Hurricane Relief. Some excerpts may be shown on VH1 in the near future - more information will be posted here on the news page as it becomes available.

With sympathy and best wishes for all those affected by Hurricane Katrina,
- The Doobie Brothers

Benefit Concert Raises Nearly $75,000, Pays Tribute to Keith Knudsen

Glen Allen, VA - On August 3rd, the Doobie Brothers Band raised nearly $75,000 for the National Veterans Foundation at a benefit concert before a capacity crowd of 6,200 at Innsbrook Concert Pavilion near Richmond. The show, which included an emotional tribute to the band’s former drummer Keith Knudsen, was the latest chapter in a two-decades long partnership between the Doobies and the NVF that has become one of the most inspiring stories of philanthropy and patriotism in rock history.

“The Doobie Brothers and their fans are more than our friends – they are the greatest possible champions for those who count on us for help,” noted Shad Meshad, President and Founder of the NVF. “They understand that ‘coming home’ from war is often a difficult, lifelong process, and that one of the best ways to ’support the troops’ is to ensure services that prevent returning veterans and families from ‘falling through the cracks’ are always available.”

Keith Knudsen, who died this past February, was the catalyst who first connected the Doobie Brothers Band with NVF Founder Shad Meshad prior to the band’s first NVF Benefit-their 1987 Hollywood Bowl Reunion.

Armed with a sincere gratitude to all veterans, and a deep concern for the hundreds of thousands struggling to overcome homelessness, substance abuse, PTSD, and a myriad of other readjustment problems, the Doobies have never looked back. They’ve continued to tour, make records, and work tirelessly to raise awareness and money for veterans services.

“This year’s Benefit was a great success for us and the NVF. It was a beautiful night to celebrate the return of our brave veterans, and a wonderful opportunity for family, friends, and fans to pay tribute to Keith,” noted Doobie Brother Pat Simmons. “He is the one who brought us together with the NVF in the first place, and this concert was the perfect way to express our affection and gratitude to him for being a part of our lives.”

To help the NVF expand its services to meet the needs of a new generation of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, the Doobies will continue to auction autographed guitars and the chance to Sing on Stage at many of their upcoming performances. In addition, as part of a joint venture with the group’s Manager and California Winemaker Bruce Cohn, the Doobies are donating proceeds from the sale of “Doobie Red” Wine (produced by BR Cohn Winery in Glen Ellen, CA) to the NVF. Finally, the band has begun planning for an even bigger NVF Benefit Concert in 2006.

“The next benefit will be even bigger and will have some surprise musicians and guests. Our support for the NVF is unwavering, and we will continue to help in any way we can,” Simmons added.

The National Veterans Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit human service organization. The NVF operates the Nation’s only Toll-Free Helpline (1-888-777-4443; vetsupport@nvf.org) offering live crisis management, information, and referral services for all veterans and their families. Since 1985, the NVF has helped more than 275,000 in need access earned benefits, acquire the basic necessities of life, connect with counseling and rehabilitation services, and address the lasting emotional scars of war including more than 15,000 last year. Visit the NVF website at http://www.nvf.org/

Pat Simmons reports from the road

We were lucky enough to be invited to play this July 4th at Willie Nelson’s Picnic in Ft. Worth, Texas. We shared the bill with Los Lonely Boys, Bob Dylan, Leon Russell, Asleep At The Wheel, and of course Willie and his great band. We had a wonderful time and the audience in Ft. Worth made us feel right at home. Willie treats all his guests like family, and even honored us by joining in on “Listen To The Music.” What great way to spend Independence Day!

At the Chicago White Sox game on June 21st, we sang “Listen To The Music” and “Black Water” acoustically, as well as the national anthem. The Sox beat Kansas City that day 5 to 1. Everybody with the White Sox organization was so nice to us. We even had seats right behind home plate!

-Pat Simmons

Tough-as-nails music industry commentator listens to the music

Legendary music industry gadfly Bob Lefsetz does not mince words, but in the June 14th, 2005 issue of his Lefsetz Letter, he has nothing but good things to say about The Doobies’ 2001 album Sibling Rivalry. Check out his commentary below:

“…rather than fade into the woodwork, rather than just go through the motions playing ‘Long Train Runnin’ in casinos, they went into the studio and cut a new album, 2000’s Sibling Rivalry.

It was the equivalent of the Dead Sea Scrolls. All these years later,
finding the pure essence of what existed YEARS before. Yes, there are tracks on Sibling Rivalry every bit as good as those from the Doobies’ heyday. There’s the signature sound, the harmonious vocals, the searing electric guitar, the powerful riffs, it’s just amazing. But I think very few people have ever heard Sibling Rivalry. Because it didn’t get the major label push. And today’s radio bears no resemblance to 1975. Top Forty doesn’t want music created on real instruments, it wants people who look better than they play, it wants URBAN MUSIC! And in order to be spun on AAA, you’ve got to be an outsider, someone sensitive making music that’s never hit, and probably never will. If you’re a rocker of yore, and you’re still vital, there’s NOWHERE for your music to be heard…”

Read the entire article here.

Doobies announce new drummer

Putting an end to rumors and speculation, the Doobie Brothers have announced Ed Toth (pronounced like “both”) as their new drummer to sit alongside Mike Hossack. You may already be familiar with Ed’s fantastic work with Vertical Horizon - if not, check it out!

UPDATE: The Doobies have also issued the following statement:

This week we held auditions for a new drummer. As most of you may have already heard we have hired Ed Toth, former drummer for the band Vertical Horizon. At the auditions we were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to play with some great drummers and we wish we could have hired them all. We wanted to post this message to express our gratitude and to thank all of them for their time and efforts.

We also want to thank M.B. Gordy for filling in and playing with us for these past few years. We wish him well and hope our paths cross again sometime.

See you at a show this summer.

Thanks,
- From the Doobies