The Doobies Brothers To Perform for Bluesfest With Michael McDonald - Noise11.com
The Doobie Brothers Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons. Photo by Ros O'Gorman

The Doobie Brothers Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons. Photo by Ros O'Gorman

The Doobies Brothers To Perform for Bluesfest With Michael McDonald

by Paul Cashmere on October 5, 2022

in News

The Doobie Brothers will perform in Australia for Bluesfest in 2023 with Michael McDonald back in the band.

The Doobies last toured Australia with McDonald in 1981. The band broke up after their last show on 11 September, 1982 and reformed five years later without McDonald. McDonald has regularly performed with the Doobies but has not contributed to any new albums with the exception ‘World Gone Crazy’ in 2014 where he provided guest vocals on ‘Don’t Say Goodbye’.

With Michael McDonald, The Doobie Brothers had their biggest album ‘Minute By Minute’ in 1978 featuring the hit ‘What A Fool Believes’.

McDonald joined The Doobie Brothers for their sixth album ‘Takin’ It To The Streets’ and immediately transformed them from a rock band to soul band. Michael began dominating the sound for the next album ‘Livin’ On The Fault Line’ but by the final album of the first era ‘One Step Closer’ the McDonald formula was copied by others and he was guesting on so many songs that the sound became saturated and the sales started slipping. The ‘One Step Closer’ was a no 3 album and sold over a million but the Doobies sound was smothering radio and the group disbanded.

The Doobie Brothers (without Michael) last toured Australia in 2017 and have been regular visitors to Australia with tours in 2014, 2011, 2008 and 2006 (their first tour since 1981).

Counting Crows, Allison Russell, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats, St Paul & The broken Bones and Vintage Trouble have also been added to Bluesfest 2023. Bluesfest will take place over 5 days from Thursday 6th to Monday 10th April 2023 at the Byron Events Farm, Tyagarah, NSW.

Stay updated with your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to Noise11 Music News here

Be the first to see NOISE.com’s newest interviews and special features on YOUTUBE and updated regularly. See things first SUBSCRIBE here: Noise11 on YouTube SUBSCRIBE

Noise11.com

Follow Noise11 on Social Media

Noise11 on Instagram

You’ll discover music news first following Noise11 on Twitter

Comment on the news of the day, join Noise11 on Facebook

Related Posts

Jeff Lynne photo from Jefflynneselo website
Dhani Harrison Joins Jeff Lynne For Traveling Wilburys At ELO Concert Birmingham

While Black Sabbath was doing their final ever Back To The Beginning show in Villa Park, in their hometown Birmingham on Saturday night, across town four kilometres away Jeff Lynne was also performing at Utilita Arena in his hometown, Birmingham as well as Dhani Harrison joined Jeff.

4 days ago
Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath photo by Ros OGorman
Black Sabbath Return Back To The Beginning In Birmingham For The End

Black Sabbath played their final show in hometown Birmingham, UK on Saturday (5 July 2025) with a massive all-day festival featuring the world’s biggest rock acts.

4 days ago
The Doobie Brothers at Bluesfest Melbourne photo by Mary Boukouvalas
Tom Johnston Says He Nearly Died When He Left Doobie Brothers in 1977

When Tom Johnston left The Doobie Brothers in 1977, he says he nearly died.

6 days ago
Foreigner Premiere Previously Unreleased ‘4’ Track ‘Fool If You Love Him Ahead of Box Set Release

Foreigner have premiered the previously unreleased ‘Fool If You Love Him’, a song recorded but not used on the ‘4’ album.

7 days ago
Supertramp Crime of the Century
Two Supertramp Classics Remastered for 50th Anniversary

Supertramp’s 1974 classic ‘Crime of the Century’ and 1975 classic ‘Crisis? What Crisis?’ have been remastered to mark the 50th anniversary of the released.

7 days ago
Cold Chisel The Big Five O Live
Cold Chisel To Release Live DVD/Blu-Ray From Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl

Cold Chisel’s ‘The Big Five-O Live’ show, recently broadcast of television, will be available on CD, vinyl, DVD and Blu-Ray in August.

July 2, 2025
Phil Manning of Chain
Phil Manning and Warren Morgan Team Up For Exclusive Melbourne Show

Phil Manning of Chain and Warren Morgan of The Aztecs and also Chain will get together in Melbourne this Saturday night for a one-off performance.

July 1, 2025