The Doobie Brothers replace Steely Dan as opener for Eagles' final tour dates of 2023

The American rock band The Doobie Brothers celebrate 53 years in 2023 and will end the year as a supporting act for The Eagles' Long Goodbye farewell tour. Steely Dan was announced as the opening band for the entire tour, but frontman Donald Fagen has experienced health issues that prevent him from performing. Several acts have filled in, with The Doobie Brothers rounding out the year by filling in the remainder of the 2023 dates.

Formed in 1970, The Doobie Brothers have been active for five decades. The current band lineup consists of founding members Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons, both on guitar and vocals, Michael McDonald on keyboards and vocals, and John McFee on guitar, pedal steel, violin, and backing vocals. They are joined by touring musicians John Cowan on bass and vocals, Marc Russo playing saxophones, Ed Toth on drums, and Marc Quiñones on percussion.

The Eagles' Long Goodbye Tour with The Doobie Brothers

Beginning in November, The Doobie Brothers filled in for fellow rock band Steely Dan, of which Michael McDonald was previously involved when singer Donald Fagen was unable to perform due to health issues. Initially signing for two shows, the band would then sign on for the remainder of the tour dates in November 2023.

The band is well known for their diverse sound, which spans multiple genres, and their exceptional vocal harmonies. Across the fourteen studio albums, The Doobie Brothers have six that charted in the top 10 on Billboard 200, including Minute by Minute, which held No. 1 for five weeks. This album also earned them a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, and "What A Fool Believes," a single from the album, earned three Grammys.

Throughout the band's long-running career, 16 singles hit the Top 40 of Billboard Hot 100, with "Black Water" and "What A Fool Believes" topping the charts in 1974 and 1979, respectively. Other Top 40 hits include "Listen To The Music," "Jesus Is Just Alright," "Long Train Runnin," "China Grove," "Takin' It To The Streets," and "The Doctor." The Doobie Brothers' top songs are heavily rotated on classic rock radio and streaming stations.