Simmons, Doobie Brothers to rock Honeywell Center
By JOSEPH SLACIAN
Friday, August 22, 2008 9:06 PM EDT
Patrick Simmons has played the guitar since he was about 8.
But he's been doing something else almost as long.
“I've been riding a motorcycle almost all of my life,” Simmons, guitarist and vocalist for The Doobie Brothers told the Plain Dealer in a telephone interview this week.
So how ironic is it that the band's concert at the Honeywell Center's Ford Theater on Wednesday is sponsored by Brandt's Harley-Davidson. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.
“I've heard that,” Simmons said of the sponsorship. “Hopefully I'll get some time to get down to the shop and check it out. I'm a biker from way back.”
An Aberdeen, Wash., native, Simmons is the longest serving member of the group, have been in every lineup the band has had since it was formed in San Jose, Calif., in 1970.
“I figured we end up playing a few clubs back then,” he said.”Most guys are never in a group that long. I just never figured it would last.
Since it was formed 38 years ago, the band has had a series of hits including “Listen to the Music,” “Taking it to the Streets,” “China Grove” “Long Train Running,” “Rockin' Down the Highway” and its first No.1 hit, “Black Water.”
Simmons wrote the song, which appeared on the band's 1974 album “What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits.” It was the band's first hit to feature him as lead vocalist.
“I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote that,” the soft-spoken Simmons said with a laugh. He said he was thinking it was to be more of an album cut, and didn't expect to have the song released as a single.
It was released, and skyrocketed to the top of the charts, selling more than two million copies.
Wednesday's show will likely include “Black Water,” as well as many of the group's other hits.
“We try to play stuff from almost every album we've ever done,” Simmons said of the upcoming show. “We play most of the tunes we're known for.
“But we try to sneak in some obscure stuff from older albums. We have a little bit of everything. We also like to jam a little bit.”
The band's first album, the self-titled “The Doobie Brothers,” was released in 1971. It was followed up with “Toulouse Street” in 1972, and album which featured one of their first hits, “Listen to the Music,”written by Tom Johnston, a founding and current member of the band.
What's the secret for the band's longevity?
“That's a good question,” Simmons said. “I don't know if there is one.
“Some things hang together. Some things don't.”
Some things that are key to success, he noted, are “good chemistry, personalities and musical tastes.”
“We've had so many changes (over the years,” he continued. “We've had so many personnel. Guys coming and going.”
Among former Doobie Brother members are Michael McDonald, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and Tiran Porter.
The band had a farewell tour in 1982. About five years later, several alumni - including Simmons and Johnson - got back together to play a series of charity concerts.
“Tommy and I got back together for a series of benefits that generated funds for charity,” Simmons said. “We had so much fun doing it. That was in about 1987, and we've been together for 20 years.”
One current member, drummer Michael Hossack, will be missing from the lineup. He was injured in a taxi cab accident earlier this year and is still recovering from his injuries. He will be replaced by drummer Ed Toth.
“He's doing really well,” Simmons said of Hossack's recovery.
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