Tom Johnston talks about Michael McDonald replacing him as frontman 

Michael McDonald aside, Tom Johnston is a songwriting legend. A true American treasure and classic.

They are both top shelf front men. That band was deep with talent.

I always get a big smile when I see Tiran Porter killing it with the Doobies!❤

I'm not a Michael McDonald hater but always thought they needed Tom Johnston around as a counter balance. Tom's energy and grit is indispensable.

I will take the Tom Johnston Era any day. What an outstanding group with so much beautiful music and excellent players as well.

I love the Johnston years and the McDonald years. The band turned out great stuff in all its configurations.

Another Park Another Sunday is one of the greatest songs I've ever heard. Thank you Tom.

One thing I’ll say about this band; is that you’ll never be disappointed if you see them in concert……. Now that I’m older, I appreciate every little note, every little nuance that’s created as they sing and harmonize….. I’m glad to have listened to them for almost 45 years now…….❤❤

Tom, what a great attitude. God bless you mate. Doobies were two band, equally great as each other!

I love both equally. Very different, but both great.

I love when they are both onstage together these days. 🤙🏼

Their all touring together, all of them are having a blast...

Went to show last year, one of the best shows I have ever seen, and Michael McDonald was with them. He was just part of the whole group, sang the tunes he was supposed to and played keys. No one overshadowed anyone. They looked like they were having a lot of fun and thd sold out crowd was too.

Both eras of the band were phenomenal and both are legendary eras! I love both equally.❤

I remember hearing China Grove for the first time and I was hooked. Still love that intro! The lead was great as well. Doobies were among the best groups ever IMO. Tom Johnston has a great voice too. He knew how to sing them. So many great songs. Even Peter Frampton made a song Doobie Wah in tribute to them. Great cut as well.

Tom Johnston and his voice/influence are part of the fabric of my youth.. I have nearly broken my radio station finger dozens of times when I hear that horrible song "What a Fool believes" (my opinion).. I respect MM but Tom is the true leader of the Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnstone, what a great underrated American songwriter, I'm 22 and live in the UK I've always appreciated 70's music but in the past few weeks I've discovered a newfound love for this man, particularly "Another Park, Another Sunday" what a great song.

both tom johnston an michael mcdonald were great in the doobies no one was better than the other i liked both of them singing up front

Johnston years were the best, without question.

Johnson and Simmons are great in their own right. GREAT singers, writers and guitarists. The Michael McDonald era brought some beautiful new texture to an already great band!

Simmons is as underrated as any rockstar…

I experienced the sudden loss of Tom Johnston as a tragedy. The new band was more MM than DB's. The old guitar-centric style was basically gone. However, Tiran Porter is still the king.

Like it or not Michael McDonald saved the band from extinction

I was a fan since ‘72 also, but let me tell you, this video answered a lot of questions. Though not the same band Mike stepped in when Tom was ill

I love the Doobies, and only a band like them could turn a catastrophic loss (losing Tom to illness) into massive victory. It worked because the people in the band were all able to listen to each other and not let egos get in the way of music. It bothers me that people feel the need to compare the early version of the band to the McDonald era. To me, it was just a band evolving in order to remain fresh and relevant. They are truly a band of brothers no matter who's in and who's out, and they care deeply about the quality of their music. It's the reason why they always find a great musician whenever somebody leaves or passes away. What I love about their concerts is they always mix up the set list and bring out some old album cuts. Sure they play the hits, but they also play songs that were never big hits, even though they're great songs that could have been big hits had the radio stations decided to play them. Hats off to their producer Ted Templeman also. He has the great ear and the magic touch when it comes to sound. The guitar sound on the beginning of Listen to the Music hooked me the first second I plopped the record down on my stereo back in the early 70's. It was THE BEST strumming sound I ever heard. Like you were sitting next to Tom and Pat. Of course, Ted made other bands, like Montrose and Van Halen, sound bigger than life too, but with the Doobies, the sound was more layered and complex due to the nature of the band and the songs they wrote. He's every bit a band member with the guys, IMO.

Massive 5 star catalog of amazing music, thanks to 3 very prolific songwriters, and a stellar band who could perform them all seamlessly. I do miss Tiran.

Patrick Simmons and Tom Johnston are to me the Doobie Brothers. McDonald not so much. McDonald changed to bands sound and it was not my favorite. I followed the band since 1972 and they are still my favorite. I grew up listening to them thru teenage years, a marriage, divorce, girl friends, and now I’m a young 66…saw them in Vegas this year and sounded just as great as ever…keep rockin guys…

It was all fantastic music in my opinion. They made the best of the situations as they arose. True professionals, all of them!!

God bless them all. Hope they live to be 100!!!!!!

I love how these guys have time and space to look back at what a "blessing" Michael was to the band. This amounts to a David Lee Roth vs. Sammy Hagar argument. Both lent amazing but different skillsets that added to a wonderful playlist. Michael just "added" music. Tom's mark will never be lost and his was the foundation of the band. But adding Michael's keyboard and vocal's brought the band to the next level, as Jeff said, adding longevity to their careers. In my opinion, that is indeed a blessing!

"Things happen for a reason" .... Great attitude! Peace follows thinking this way.

Love both eras but Michael McDonald’s voice is legendary as are some of his hits he wrote

I'll always love the Doobies for giving McDonald a chance to play and record his tunes, what a gift to millions!!! And the Doobies have always been great - before and after!!! The tightest rhythm and best grooves, like nobody else!! 🙏

Love this band so much no matter who is lead singer. It's all good.

Good for the band, they managed to keep working after losing one of the great writers and singers of the day. But I can't listen to any McDonald song for more than 10 seconds, no matter who is backing him. I'm happy that Tom and the Doobies are back together...and still sounding great!

Michael McDonald took them higher up the charts then they ever would've been able to go. Since his departure they have never gotten close to that again and now can be seen at a casino or winery near you. He had a treasure trove of songs when he came on board and in this interview they can't even get that straight or he would quit staring at the floor while peddling his excuses.

Mike was my next door neighbor and the Doobies played in his basement. This would have been in mid to late 70’s.

I like how he speaks of him. It made me want to listen to both now.

I love both eras. And when the 80s came around and Michael McDonald came in, it didn't seem like a harsh, abrupt change, it seemed natural (compared to bands like Starship and Heart)

Such a beautiful blessing for them to have worked together ❤❤❤❤.

McDonald was ok but it changed the band's direction and not to everyone's liking. They went from a rock and roll band in 1972 to a soft pop band in 1976. When Tom rejoined the band it seemed like old times again.

I never cared whether Johnston or McDonald was leading the group. I enjoyed and appreciated the music on every album that they made throughout the 70's and 80's. I'm not sure I would have if it would have been either one of them alone.

Tom Johnston will always be the voice of The Doobie Brothers for me. They should've changed the name to The Michael McDonald Band when they replaced Johnston. They were never the same. The real Doobie Brothers rocked.

Memories of being a 10 yr old boy hearing China Grove ect in the early 70s the last of the hippie era that is still special.

I really respect how gently Pat was able to correct and disagree with Tom's narrative without being course about it. Tommy saying "who knew" that Mike had a "trove" of killer material is almost. . .I dunno, like dismissive. Kind of suggests that the increased popularity was undeserved, like Mike brought a bag of magic beans. No, Mike is just that good that he supercharged an already good band and they created great material together for as long as they stayed together. I respect that Tom was polite and tried to not disparage Mike but the jealousy is still clearly there below the surface.

I think the word that Simmons was looking for was spontaneous instead of sporadic. Maybe not, either way they’ve been part of the sound track of my life. I loved these guys from their first album on. I’ve always felt this was Tom’s and Pat’s band. Skunk Baxter and John McFee are both incredible guitarist. A lot of talent has been in this band including McDonald.

MM carried the bros for many yrs

Michael McDonald extended the group's career and broadened The Doobie Brothers audience with his soulful addition to the group...they all are touring together in 2023, in fact they have had to add 35 additional dates due to the vast popularity of the tour. Prior to resuming their US run, The Doobie Brothers will take their 50th Anniversary Tour to Australia, Japan & Singapore. Also, Tiran Porter is a certified Doobie Brother as well!!!

Okay for those folks who love Michael McDonald, that's when I quit listening to the Doobie Brothers. I saw them in 1973, and they Absolutely ROCKED!

Been a follower of the Doobies since the easy 1970’s when I recall listening to them on my transistor radio, to me the original lineup with Tom is the best. That said, I like Michael McDonald, and he seems like a good guy to boot. Patrick Simmons is just timeless, and the musicians in the band, Jeff Baxter, John McFee, and too many others to list, these people have been phenomenal musicians, all A-listers. Love these guys, God Bless them all!

The early years they were a kick ass rock band and their concerts were epic. McDonald turned them into a piano bar band. I still can’t stand to hear his high pitched wail and have change the radio station any time his songs come on. China Grove will always be one of my favorite rock songs. I just have to turn up the radio full blast every time it comes on.

While I love a lot of the Tom Johnston albums from the 70s, to me after 50 listens of all their albums up to the last one with Michael Mac, these days it’s only the Michael Mac ones that I play. He wrote so many great songs that just melt you when you hear them. His voice was a one in a generation voice along with Steve Perry and Steve Walsh. These guys could take you on an emotional charged ride with their singing.

Tom Johnston is definitely my favorite. The original guys for sure. Mikes a great musician but I prefer the original sounds.

Michael took the band to another level.

Even though Tom Johnston left the band he started and didn't feel they were playing his style of music when he returned from his illness, he has never held a grudge against Michael McDonald and the rest of the Doobies and has even called it a "blessing" for the band. Both Tom and Michael are class acts and very good friends and you can tell the admiration they have for each other whenever they are together for interviews. I can't find the video on RU-vid anymore, but Pat, John, Tom and Michael were being interviewed together. While the interviewer was talking to Pat Simmons and John McFee, Tom and Michael were chatting with each other and were so engrossed in their own side conversation, Tom missed hearing the question the interviewer had asked him.

What a fool believes was written by both Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins. Kenny also recorded the tune on his Night Watch Album

agreeing with most who say Tommy Johnston era is the best. Mike Macdonald had some great Mike Macdonald tunes and was a record labels dream for $ success.

I've always wondered what happened with the switch and now I know, thanks for sharing

Tom Johnston was more like John Fogerty.....pure original Americana. Michael McDonald is pure R&B sprinkled with subtle genius of 'Steely Dan ' harmonies. "Taking It to the Streets" is a brilliant album but a different sound.But that Doobie Bros. original rhythm section? the best....next to the original Allman Bros. (Live at Fillmore).

I loved the original fresh and happy rock sound of the Doobies. Hearing the McDonald version of the band was a loss for me. Not because he isn't or wasn't very good in his way, but because the spirit, identity and feeling of the Doobie Brothers that I loved was turned onto something with an entirely different feel.

The day Michael McDonald joined the Doobies was the saddest day of my music fan life. The earlier shows at Winterland were some of my best high school era concert memories.

The Captain and Me is one of the 25 greatest albums ever recorded.

All wonderful musicians giving their precious and inspiring gifts to us lucky ones. Michael’s voice, Wow!!

Two different eras. As a massive Doobie fan, I like both versions

Their entire body of work was great. 👏👏👏

Both great, just different sounds and vibes. I loved both eras.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I like both eras!

I saw these guys 3 or 4 times. Great band

I love it ALL!!

Whoa. Uncomfortable, much? The McDonald era was "Michael McDonald with his backing band, the Doobie Brothers."

Man, as a young man I hated that move. Later I accepted it, but I missed Tom's voice and songs😢. Needles to say , I was fortunate to experience the various stages of this peerless band!❤

Tom Johnston era by far the best

Not too many bands I know of can change directions with musical styles and bring their past and new fans along. When Tom Johnston had to leave, they were lucky to have McDonald come into the void and give them a newer sound and style of music. Naturally when Johnston got his health back I was wondering when he would get back with the group, he did, and the group was even better than ever!

I think the fact that they could play Micheal McDonald songs just as well as their own speaks volumes about the talent in that band. It's all good.

The year that happened I saw the Doobies in Norfolk Virginia. Great show. Then later that year I was in Jacksonville Florida and saw them expecting Tom Johnston and was thouraly disappointed. So much so I left before the end of the show.

Greenwood Creek is one of my favorite songs

Good for you, Mr. Rather was trying to bait you lol. But you’re right things do happen for a reason. I can’t wait to see all of you in Edmonton.

The Doobie brothers in my opinion wrote and played a song that should be in the top 5 songs of all time cause of it’s message a the melody and harmonies. “Listen to the music”…

He's been an incredible asset to the band, and kept them viable in the 1980s. They accidentally "fell in" with one of the greatest singer-songwriters of the 1980s before the 1980s occurred. I like that the interviewer tries to make this out to be a tense thing, and it probably was in the late 1970s 🤣. Tom's health problems needed time to resolve themselves and something amazing happened while they did. And now the two musical traditions blend together beautifully!

I was a hardcore Doobies fan in High School. GREAT live. I thought they jumped the Shark with MM. I did see the Vices & Habits tour in ‘76. The Outlaws opened then Frampton with Frampton comes alive, And the Doobies. That was in Dayton’s Hara Arena. Then I moved to California (Great Recession of ‘76) and saw a weird lineup on November 12th. Bob Seeger opened then Boston and Black Sabbath. Fresno’s Selland arena. Good to see Tommy cleaned up his act. Mt wife went to High School with him for a short time. Redwood High. Visalia Ca.

The early DB sound was relevant to a time but when the late 70's early 80's kicked in Michael's songs fit more with those times. I think the Doobies would've been considered old hat if it wasn't for the change. A lot of other bands didn't adapt then faded, even ZZ Top adapted. I like both the older & newer versions of DB because they were great written songs.

The McD years worked out because his crazy good vocals went along with the really popular R&B at the time. If you didn’t know it, you would think Micheal was African American, like a Jeffrey Osborne or someone with a similar vocal style. Not many bands outside of Van Halen or AC/DC had that kind of success with a drastic change in vocals. Just a great band, period.

I saw the Doobie Brothers in 1972 as the lead-on band for Rare Earth. I was a Doobies fan from then on...and a fan of Ted Templeman's production skills! When Michael McDonald joined, it was still a good band, but some years later I heard Savannah Nights on the radio, and just knew that was Tom Johnston! I called the radio station and confirmed it, and then went to buy the album - glad he was back in the game!

The early Tom Johnston Doobie Brothers is the only Doobie Brothers! Those early albums prior to MM were incredibly deep albums. Give them a listen. They are not one or two song albums. Especially The Captain and Me and What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits. Fantastic albums.

I never got McDonald. Hated the voice, hated the songs. Tom is the Doobie Brothers. That voice. Black Water will forever bring me to the best place in my mind I've ever been.

Michael McDonald brought a whole new vibe to an already outstanding, talented and creative line up. They made it work beautifully. ❤❤❤

Michael expanded their sound...the Doobies have such a well rounded sound, and both Michael and Tom are responsible for that...Pat and John too..

Still love “Another Park Another Sunday”

My wife and I went to a Doobi Brothers concert in Champaign I'll around 1975. We were about to leave while the band was playing because they weren't playing any songs we recognized and they were not good. We did not know that it was the warm up band. The Doobies came out and put on the best concert I have ever seen. Almost blew it because we didn't know what they looked like when we went to their concert.

It's healthy to evolve and grow as humans. Artists who do this tend to have longevity. I love all evolutions of the Doobies. I did in 1972 when I was 12 years old and as a 62-year old artist, appreciate that they could grow apart and together, apart and together and explore separate interests and directions as a sign of emotional and artistic maturation. It was the same as the Beatles. Also this handwringing about who did what and who broke up who. Paul evolved into Wings. George Harrison was doing his spiritual thing. John was experimenting in his own way. Tina Turner, as one of many examples, has eras. All were amazing. She was always growing - R&B, performing, then writing, then rock. She went global because she evolved. The only constant we can count on in life is change.

The Doobie Brothers are by far and above my favorite band. Fantastic song writing, singing and musicianship. There really isn't another group that I think comes close other than the Rolling Stones. I'd have to say that the Stones are right there with the Doobies. Still the Doobies are my fave.

I went to see them in the mid 70s with McDonald at the helm and Lynyrd Skynyrd open for them, I remember someone telling me that Skynyrd was gonna blow them off the stage and that's exactly what happened, they had the crowd going crazy and it was a major let down when the Doobie Brothers started.

If bands are fortunate to be around long enough, they will go through changes. And this is whether they have changes in members or not. I loved ALL versions of the Doobie Brothers, if we didn't have the Michael McDonald era, we might not have been able to hear all of the great Patrick Simmons' songs from that time frame 'Wheel of Fortune, 8th Avenue Shuffle, Rio, Echoes of Love, Chinatown, Depending on You, Sweet Feelin'. As their entire discography have so many songs that continue to sound great after all of these years.

for any new listener check out "cotton mouth" from their first record and then you tell me if Tom Johnston has any talent. One of the best ever. "China Groove", "Listen to the Music" are some highlights of his prowess

It was all good !

Michael McDonald SAVED the Doobie Brothers. And none of the band member's bank accounts went dry during his time. THANK YOU, Michael McDonald for saving the Doobies from nowhere'sville.

Ok, everybody points to the McDonald period with rolled eyes. I saw it as not a new direction but an EXTENSION… their virtuosity, and how well they could pull it off.

Michael McDonald has one of the best voices around. Doobies were always great, he came on board at the perfect time and brought them more success by modernizing their sound. Great songs and recordings from that period, the Doobie's background vocals on his songs are insanely good. These are all cool people and top notch musicians, there's no animosity at all about the changes they went through.

Versatility Masters. There is no match.

Tom Johnston era was the best.