Still Going Strong The Doobie Brothers Reflect on Longevity New Music and Letting Go of the Past
In a recent conversation featured on CBS Sunday Morning, members of The Doobie Brothers offered a clear and honest reflection on what it means to remain active and united after more than fifty years together. Speaking with correspondent Jim Axelrod, Michael McDonald, Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, and John McFee discussed the band’s remarkable longevity, their shared history, and the release of their first studio album in more than a decade, Liberté.
Rehearsing in a hall in Burbank, the band sounded relaxed and focused, a contrast to the stereotype often attached to long running rock acts. With more than fifty million albums sold worldwide, The Doobie Brothers occupy a rare position in popular music. Few bands have managed to survive changing trends, internal tensions, and personal struggles while continuing to tour and record new material. The members themselves acknowledged this sense of good fortune, emphasizing that mutual respect has played a major role in keeping the group together.
The interview traced the band’s origins back to nineteen seventy in San Jose, California, where Johnston and Simmons first connected through shared guitar work. Early success came quickly, fueled by a hard driving rock sound that resonated with audiences across Northern California. As the hits accumulated, so did the pressures of constant touring and sudden fame. The realities of excess took their toll, most notably when Johnston was forced to step away due to serious health issues.
That turning point led to the arrival of Michael McDonald, whose musical sensibility introduced a noticeable shift in the band’s sound. McDonald recalled being acutely aware that his songwriting and vocal style were changing the group’s direction. While the transition was uneasy at times, it ultimately led to one of the most successful periods in the band’s history, including the album Minute by Minute and the Grammy winning single What a Fool Believes.
The conversation did not avoid the subject of internal conflict. Instead, the band addressed it with perspective shaped by time. Resentments that once felt defining no longer hold the same weight. According to the members, those disagreements have faded in relevance, replaced by a shared appreciation for still being able to play together and connect with audiences.
That outlook is reflected in Liberté, an album created not from nostalgia, but from the present moment. The band described it as music made by artists aware of time passing, yet grateful for the opportunity to continue. As they prepare for a new tour, The Doobie Brothers appear less concerned with reliving past glory and more focused on the simple joy of making music together.
For a band often associated with the sound of the nineteen seventies, their message is firmly rooted in now. These, they insist, are the better days.