Takin' A Walk – Music History with Buzz Knight

Episode: Patrick Simmons of The Doobie Brothers: Music Interview – 50 Years of Classic Rock Music History
Released: December 22, 2025
Host: Buzz Knight
Guest: Patrick Simmons (Founding Member, The Doobie Brothers)
Duration: ~27 minutes (content; advertisements omitted)

Overview

This episode of “Takin’ A Walk” features a deep-dive conversation between host Buzz Knight and Patrick Simmons, founding guitarist and singer of The Doobie Brothers. Marking 50 years of classic rock legacy, Simmons reflects on the formation of the band, evolution through lineup changes, influential collaborations, the creative process, and the enduring passion that keeps the Doobie Brothers on the road and recording new music. This intimate discussion draws out behind-the-scenes tales, the importance of musical friendships, and the creative risks that shaped one of America’s most beloved rock bands.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Who Would Patrick Take “A Walk” With?

• 00:12 – 00:43
  • Patrick answers the signature show starter:

    “I’d probably take a walk with Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter. And I don’t care where we walk, we don’t have to walk. We could just stand there. Wherever they want to walk, that’s where I’d be going.”
    (Patrick Simmons, 04:29)

  • Buzz notes the security challenge with that group, and Patrick wittily says, "Yeah, we got that we don't need." (04:51)

2. The Birth of The Doobie Brothers

• 05:04 – 09:00
  • Patrick grew up in San Jose, playing in different local bands.
  • Met future Doobies Tom Johnston and John Hartman through mutual friend Skip Spence (Moby Grape, ex-Jefferson Airplane drummer).

    “John informed me that they were putting together a band and they were trying to find some other players. Would I be interested? And I said, no.”
    (Patrick Simmons, 05:51)

  • Eventually, Patrick began jamming with them and was invited to fill out a set at the Chateau Liberté club.
  • The band’s name originated informally:

    “One of the guys who lived in the house there said, ‘God, you guys smoke so much weed, you should call yourselves the Doobie Brothers.’”
    (Patrick Simmons, 08:17)

  • The band figured the name would be temporary, but it stuck after drawing a positive club response and, ultimately, Warner Bros. loved it.

    “We thought that was a silly… name, and that was just for that night… But everybody thinks we’re the Doobie Brothers. We’re going to hang, stick with that name for a while anyway.”
    (Patrick Simmons, 09:05)

3. Early Band Dynamics & Name Origins

• 09:00 – 10:23
  • The original plan was to consider a new name if/when a label signed them, but that never happened.
  • “We don't even smoke pot anymore. We're kind of over it all. Everybody else I know does.”
    (Patrick Simmons, 09:56)

4. Doobies & Steely Dan – The Skunk Baxter Connection

• 10:32 – 15:09
  • Extensive touring with Steely Dan in 1972 led to close friendships, especially with guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter.
  • Simmons frequently hung out in LA with Baxter, who eventually guested on “South City Midnight Lady.”

    “I said, would you… come in and play some steel on a song that I have. And so that was the Captain and Me, a song called South City Midnight Lady.”
    (Patrick Simmons, 12:41)

  • Baxter started regularly sitting in, eventually becoming a formal member, cementing the “three distinct guitarists” approach inspired by Moby Grape.

    “I was kind of a little country… played the blues. And Jeff was a great kind of bebopper. And then Tommy was a hard rocking guy. And so we had all the elements… of that kind of a band with the three guitar players.”
    (Patrick Simmons, 14:21)

5. Michael McDonald Joins – A Pivotal Change

• 15:09 – 17:13
  • When Tom Johnston took a leave, Baxter suggested Michael McDonald, whom Simmons had admired with Steely Dan.
  • McDonald initially joined as a backup singer/keyboardist, but quickly became a central creative and vocal force.

    “Pleasantly surprised that Mike was a great singer and kind of took the weight off my shoulders… He brought us a wonderful element to the band.”
    (Patrick Simmons, 16:39)

6. The “Taking It to the Streets” Era & Producer Ted Templeman

• 17:13 – 22:51
  • Early relationship with Warner Bros. initiated by executives Lenny Waronker and Ted Templeman after experiencing the band live at the Chateau Liberté.

    “Their eyes were as big as saucers in this club… Hell's Angels… outrageous mountain people, hippies, you know, dressed in …crazy outfits…”
    (Patrick Simmons, 17:45)

  • Templeman became the band’s main producer with a vision to amplify the Doobies’ mass appeal without sacrificing musical integrity.

    “The difference between our first album and our second album are day and night… Ted had a better vision for… how to make us more appealing to an audience.”
    (Patrick Simmons, 18:45)

  • Discusses the transitional moment when McDonald stepped up as a creative leader after Tommy’s departure, and initial label/industry skepticism.

    “It was a leap of faith on my part and a huge leap of faith for Ted and the label. And I basically had to kind of talk them into it.”
    (Patrick Simmons, 20:56)

  • A pivotal Doobie Brothers moment: “Luckily that guy got shown the door… We had a new guy that again saw our potential and got behind it… We landed on our feet. But thank goodness for Mike. Thanks to Ted for seeing the potential and thanks to Warner Brothers for allowing us to make the change.”
    (Patrick Simmons, 21:44)

7. 2025: New Album & The Road Ahead

• 22:51 – 26:43
  • The band is releasing a new album featuring a collaborative writing effort reminiscent of their classic era.

    “The road is our star master. The album’s ‘Walk This Road’… That was a type of a song that Mike wrote with John Shanks, kind of a gospel inspired tune, if you will. Pretty rockin’ gospel blues kind of thing. And we all sang, we all played. It was really, you know, a great moment for, for us…”
    (Patrick Simmons, 23:09)

  • This is the most the core trio — Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, and Patrick Simmons — have contributed collectively.

    “…Having a new direction if you will… everybody contributed and there’s a lot more going on in terms of contribution from the three of us.”
    (Patrick Simmons, 23:56)

  • Live performance motivation:

    “It’s always fun to have new music, and I think our core audience appreciates that… but the moments are probably the most fun when you get to play some new music and you’re a little off balance when you’re doing that. I think that’s important as a musician…”
    (Patrick Simmons, 25:53)

  • Highlights Mavis Staples’ appearance:

    “We have, by the way, Mavis Staples sings on the track, too. I think she knocked my socks off. See, I, I, Whoops. I have no socks on. And I love that. So, that’s outstanding. You know, Mavis is so fantastic.”
    (Patrick Simmons, 24:43)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Doobie Brothers’ name:

  “One of the guys who lived in the house there said, ‘God, you guys smoke so much weed, you should call yourselves the Doobie Brothers.’”
  (Patrick Simmons, 08:17)

• On musical evolution and addition of Michael McDonald:

  “He took the spotlight, which was fine with me. I loved everything he did. And he brought us a wonderful element to the band.”
  (Patrick Simmons, 16:39)

• On new music and ongoing passion:

  “It’s always fun to have new music, and I think our core audience appreciates that… but the moments are probably the most fun when you get to play some new music and you’re a little off balance… I think that’s important as a musician.”
  (Patrick Simmons, 25:53)

• About Mavis Staples guesting on the new record:

  “Mavis Staples sings on the track, too. I think she knocked my socks off. See, I—whoops—I have no socks on. And I love that.”
  (Patrick Simmons, 24:43)

• On the band's internal support:

  “We worked with each other, you know, very supportive process that we had. And you know, it’s nice to have new music to play for the audiences.”
  (Patrick Simmons, 24:27)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 04:29 – Patrick’s dream “walking” companions (Obama, Carter)
• 05:04 – Story of meeting future Doobies & origin story
• 08:17 – The “Doobie Brothers” name is born
• 10:32 – Early connection with Steely Dan and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter
• 12:41 – First collaboration with Baxter on “South City Midnight Lady”
• 15:09 – Baxter suggests Michael McDonald joins band
• 17:13 – Meeting producer Ted Templeman; Warner Bros. discovery
• 20:56 – Creative leap: Michael McDonald becomes lead force
• 23:09 – New album, “Walk This Road,” and creative process in 2025
• 24:43 – Mavis Staples’ guest appearance “knocked my socks off”

Conclusion

In a candid and nostalgic walk through Doobie Brothers’ history, Patrick Simmons illuminates the magic of creative chemistry, enduring friendships, and the necessity of taking bold leaps — from choosing a band name while high, to inviting game-changing new members. His stories reveal how the band weathered change, found new directions, and continues to thrive, culminating in a 2025 album made with a spirit of collaboration and renewal. Simmons’ warmth and humility shine through as he expresses gratitude for the journey, the fans, and the ongoing thrill of making new music.