However, for their debut album The Doobie Brothers, Tom Johnston penned seven of the ten tracks and Patrick Simmons just one. Unlike many groups, The Doobie Brothers had two songwriters, Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons. The four members of The Doobie Brothers were ready to begin work on what would be their debut album, The Doobie Brothers. They didn’t waste time, and sent The Doobie Brothers into the studio on October 1970. who signed The Doobie Brothers in the second half of 1970. Having established themselves on the North California live circuit, The Doobie Brothers quickly came to the attention of several record companies. and released their eponymous debut album. This would change quite quickly, when The Doobie Brothers signed to Warner Bros. They wore leather jackets and rode motorbikes. That’s not surprising.Īt this time, The Doobie Brothers’s were no different from the Hell’s Angels who came to see them play live. The Doobie Brothers were particularly popular amongst the local Hell’s Angel’s chapters. Whenever and wherever The Doobie Brothers played live, the venues sold out. Meanwhile, Dave Shogren was The Doobie Brothers bassist, as they began to make a name for themselves around North California. Patrick Simmons had played in a number of groups, including Scratch, which coincidentally, featured future Doobie Brothers’ bassist, Tiran Porter. That’s where the two members of Pud singer, songwriter and guitarist Patrick Simmons and bassist Dave Shogren. John Hartman and Tom Johnson began experimenting musically, and were soon playing live around the San Jose area as Pud. Little did anyone realise, that The Doobie Brothers had just been born, That however, didn’t happen, At least Skiip Spence introduced John Hartman to a singer, songwriter and guitarist Tom Johnson. John Hartman met Skip Spence, and was invited to join a newly reunited Moby Grape. John Hartman was determined to meet Skip Spence, Moby Grape’s legendary frontman. That’s when drummer John Hartman made his way from Falls Church, Virginia, to Los Angeles. However, The Doobie Brothers’ roots can be traced to 1969. It was a roller coaster ride for The Doobie Brothers, whose recording career got off to an inauspicious start in 1971.īy then The Doobie Brothers had been a familiar face on the North California live scene. The Doobie Borther’ Warner Bros.Years’ 1970-1983.īetween 19, The Doobie Brothers could do no wrong when they released eight albums, which sold in excess of ten million copies.