:. interviews@XMFAN:
Pat Simmons of the Doobie Brothers
Have you ever seen a band like the
Doobie Brothers live in concert? If the answer is yes, then you probably
have experienced a scene similar to the one I witnessed a couple of
weeks ago. There was the seventeen year-old girl who stood to my right,
looking like she should have been home chatting on the phone with a guy
named Derek while listening to the new Britney album. There was the
sixtysomething year-old gentleman to my left, standing on a chair
nonetheless, clapping his hands and shaking his ass as if this was the
absolute highlight of his year. To the front of me was a forty year-old
lady - thin as a rail and most happy to be there - locked in a two-hour
embrace with her man for the evening, who seemed to be in equally
buoyant spirits. To my rear was a group of about five or six office
co-workers, each with a beer in
both hands, singing virtually every song word for word (though not
necessarily in the appropriate key).
It was a hell of a show.
Patrick Simmons is more than just a Doobie Brother - he is more
accurately the Doobie Brother.
As the common thread that has held the band together for almost 35
years, Pat has devoted his life to the cause of all-things music. Never
have I met a nicer musician, and Pat was even gracious enough to sign
three vintage albums for the members of XMFan after the show. I
interviewed Pat by phone the week prior while he was enjoying a bit of
rest at his home in Hawaii.
The Doobies will be in your neck of the woods one of these days, and I
would highly recommend your inclusion as a member of the audience. If
your boyfriend Derek can't get a ticket to the show it's his own damned
problem.
XMFan: You first began to play
guitar at the age of eight. Are you mostly self-taught, or did you take
lessons during those early years? Pat: My next-door neighbor gave
me lessons for a while. He was just my buddy who taught me some chords
and starter techniques - how to position your hands and how to hold the
guitar. Around the age of eleven I started taking lessons with a lady,
which lasted about three years. Later in high school I went to a gig and
heard a guy playing some blues, then wound up taking some lessons from
him. He was the one who really taught me about different blues
techniques, and inspired me to look in to that whole area of music.
I did take lessons from another guy who taught me reading and playing
chords - Bossa Nova kind of stuff similar to
Luis Bonfa and
Charlie Byrd. Another guy got me
back to the folk blues finger-style guitar. During this entire time I
was of course teaching myself, which is probably true for any of the
arts - it's what you do between the times you take lessons that really
counts.
XMFan: What were a few albums
that could be found on your record player during your teen years? Pat: Really oddball ones… During
my early teen years I probably listened more to surf music. (Laughs)
I still like to surf but really got in to the surf music for a while. I
always loved Chet Atkins - he
was a big inspiration for me during those early teen years. Organ player
Jimmy Smith was another one.
Later of course, living in California, by the time I got to high school
it was all Stax-Volt and R&B stuff like
Sam & Dave, Otis Redding,
Aretha Franklin, those kinds of
records. Those were the days when you bought 45s, and they were a large
part of what I listened to. Later on I got in to the more "traditional"
music such as the blues, bluegrass, folk blues. These were artists like
Doc Watson,
B.B. King,
Muddy Waters and early
Bob Dylan.
In my mid to late teens I got in to the San Francisco stuff - I was a
flower child, or at least thought I was. (Laughs)
I had every album from every band. Big
Brother and the Holding Company,
The Jefferson Airplane, The
Electric Flag, Moby Grape
was a favorite of mine, early Dead
stuff, The Quicksilver Messenger
Service. Here's an odd one for you - this was my favorite record
when I was a teenager - The Paul
Butterfield Blues Band. I would listen to it every day and still
listen to it. Also Buffalo Springfield,
Crosby Stills and Nash.
XMFan: At which point in life did
you realize music would be your living? Pat: Well I never thought it
would be a real living, but more of a supplemental thing to go along
with real working. (Laughs) From
the time I was fifteen years old I always had jobs, right through high
school and in to college. Even though it wasn't every weekend by any
means, I would make money playing gigs several nights a year, and
sometimes several times a month depending on whether I had a regular gig
at a club. At first these were in little places where you could play
solo, then I played the larger and louder places with a band of course.
XMFan: How long were
The Doobies together before
signing your first record deal? (Warner
Bros.) Pat: About a year and a half to
two years. We had done a few demos and played a lot of shows - we had
regular gigs at clubs and played different places in San Jose where we
would be the featured band a certain night of the week. A month or two
here, a month or two there. Within a few months of doing our first demo
we started to get some feedback, then maybe eight months to a year later
we had a record deal.
XMFan: I've heard stories about
the "biker-bar" type scene you guys came from during those early days…
Pat: We did play a couple of
places where the bikers liked to hang out. In the sixties and early
seventies there was that moment in time when the bikers and hippies were
able to exist together at the same time and same place. (Laughs)
In all honesty, it still works and we play a lot of biker things.
XMFan: The band has always been
known for excellent and unique-sounding vocals. Were your songs usually
written with a specific lead vocalist and background vocals in mind, or
would the band go in to the studio and try some variations? Pat: Usually the guy who wrote
the song also sang it. I wrote a couple of songs I had Tommy (Johnston)
sing, and he has worked on some things where I sang some of the parts.
The same was true with Mike (McDonald) too - he sang a few things of
mine and vice-versa, both lead parts and backgrounds of course.
XMFan: You and the band once
appeared on a double-episode of the 70s sitcom
What's Happening!! Did you feel
comfortable working in front of the cameras as an actor as well as a
musician? Pat: No, not at all. It's not my
thing. I've never really aspired to do that - I think it's something you
have to take seriously and practice towards. I was in a few things in
high school that were fun but I'm not yet ready for the silver screen. (Laughs)
XMFan: As an engineer and
producer, do you enjoy working behind-the-scenes as much as being on
stage? Pat: I enjoy writing and making
demos - I've helped a number of people with their demo projects. I have
never really produced anyone's records, though I have played on a lot of
them. I have worked as a live musician so much that... You know, when I
get home it's not like I need to go find a project because I'm bored.
It's been a bonus to me because we play so much - to keep my chops up
and like you said, make a living. (Laughs)
I've been more of a blue-collar guy working behind a guitar as opposed
to a producer or arranger for other people. I've thought about it plenty
of times, and it's one of those things where I suppose if you really
went searching you could find artists you'd like to help, but I haven't
stopped long enough for quite a while to do it. Years ago we took a
break for a while, and I did more of that kind of thing, but even then I
was writing more of my own songs than other people's things.
XMFan: What have you been doing
recently musically? Pat: The Doobies almost literally
work year round. We did a record a few years ago called
Sibling Rivalry that I made some
contributions towards. This band has really been my expression. I do a
lot of stuff here on the island (Hawaii) like fund-raisers. I've got
kind of a regular thing I do with
Willie Nelson when he's around - we do a little shtick where I
come and play at his gigs and get to do some solos. (Laughs)
That's pretty cool.
XMFan: Everyone knows you are an
avid Harley enthusiast. With your busy schedule, have you been able to
participate in any rides or meets lately? Pat: We played the
Harley-Davidson 100th Anniversary Party last year, which was probably
the most exciting thing I've done with motorcycles in a long time. It
was an event that was over a week long and was just fabulous. We played
a couple of shows there actually - we played at the Summerfest grounds
in Milwaukee and then they had a huge concert with several different
artists - we played, Tim McGraw,
Kid Rock,
Elton John.
It was an interesting combination of artists and a great musical event
for everyone. For the event on the Summerfest grounds I believe
Lynyrd Skynyrd played,
John Kay and Steppenwolf played
- of course they have the all-time anthem for bikers,
Born To Be Wild.
Craig Chaquico played some jazz
on the side, and B.B. King was
there. It was awesome and I had a really great time.
XMFan: I believe both you and
your wife Cris each have your own bikes? Pat: We have ridden together
quite a bit though the years and yes, we do each have our own Harleys.
Love to ride.
XMFan: As a final question, are
you enjoying yourself today as much as you were 25 years ago? Pat: Much more so, I think. It
just keeps getting better and better as far as... Life is a gift. Music
has been another gift I have been fortunate enough to be a part of. I
just hope to be playing more of it for years to come.
XMFans can listen to the music on Top
Tracks, VH1, The Loft, America, 70s on 7, MTV, Deep Tracks, XM Kids, and
The Heart.
6020 Sports: Sal Paolantonio, Larry Fitzgerald, Sr., Chuck Esposito 10 March 2009, 10:48 am James Carville and Luke Russert discuss their lack of interest in the Super Bowl teams because no players are talking trash during media week. James and Luke debate the firing of the High School women's basketball coach who pummeled a neighboring high school team 100-0. Larry Fitzgerald, sports columnist for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder and father of Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Jr., analyzes the two teams in the Super Bowl, the relationship that his son and Kurt Warner have on the football field, why Kurt Warner's career already merits a Hall of Fame induction, and explains how he began his career in journalism by rejection from pro football. Sal Paolantonio, ESPN NFL reporter, explains why Arizona actually has a chance to win the Super Bowl despite the notion that defense wins Championships. Sal also stresses that Kurt Warner is not yet a Hall of Fame quarterback, and that with a Super Bowl win, he will seal his fate in Canton, Ohio. Chuck Esposito, Head Oddsmaker for Fountaine Bleau Race and Sports book, delivers the betting line for James and Luke to make their picks on the Super Bowl including a slew of proposition bets. James and Luke wrap the show by questioning Joe Torre's decision to include such private details in his book possibly smudging a stellar coaching career in Major League Baseball.
6020 Sports: Frank Deford, Steve Sabol, Jon Wertheim 10 March 2009, 10:48 am James Carville and Luke Russert debate the stupidity of Michael Phelps getting caught smoking marijuana. Frank Deford, six time US sportswriter of the year, commentator on NPR's morning edition, contributor to HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, and senior contributing writer for Sports Illustrated, discussed the cultural event that is the Super Bowl, and his affinity for the color purple. Steve Sabol, Emmy award-winning President of NFL Films examines where Super Bowl XLIII ranks in the history of the game, and Sabol's art exhibit. Jon Wertheim, Sports Illustrated columnist, analyzes Roger Federer's tearful defeat to Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open.
6020 Sports: Jack Ford, David Aldridge, Rob Dibble 10 March 2009, 10:48 am James Carville and Luke Russert begin the show debating the stupidity of the South Carolina court which issued 11 indictments in relation to the picture of Michael Phelps holding a bong. Jack Ford, Co-Host of Banfield & Ford Courtside on In Session on TruTV, talks about the number of indictments doled out in South Carolina in relation to Michael Phelps' use of marijuana, Alex Rodriguez' positive test and subsequent admission, Bud Selig's self-defense, the latest on Barry Bonds' perjury, Roger Clemens' defamation suit against former trainer Brian McNamee dropped by the court. David Aldridge, TNT Broadcaster, courtside reporter at the NBA All-Star Game, discusses the reunion of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neil, the Slam Dunk contest, All-Star weekend in general in Phoenix, and a preview of the 2nd half of the NBA Season. Rob Dibble, Color Analyst of the Washington Nationals and Analyst on 'The Show' on MLB Home Plate, calls out Alex Rodriguez for lying to the media and praises Adam Dunn for his approach to his new team taking young players under his wing. James and Luke wrapped the show with a new segment examining the "Worst Person in Sports" for the week.
6020 Sports: Bill King, Vince Gennaro, Dave Zirin, Olivia Manning 10 March 2009, 10:48 am James Carville and Luke Russert begin this special edition of 60/20 Sports focusing on how the ailing economy will influence the changes in sports business activity in 2009 and beyond. Bill King, Senior writer for Sports Business Journal, examines the economics of sports, and how sports organizations and businesses are responding to the lack of revenue. Vince Gennaro, author of Diamond Dollars, consultant to the Cleveland Indians, and former executive at Pepsi, analyzes the economics of baseball, sports marketing, and how the recession has changed the game. Dave Zirin, author of "A People's History of Sports in the United States" and host of Edge of Sports Radio, discusses the historical context of this recession's effect on the sports industry reflecting on sport during the depression and throughout America's history. Olivia Manning, NFL's number one mom to both Eli and Peyton Manning, wife to Archie Manning, and proponent of making Mardi Gras a national holiday, discusses her campaign to bring national attention to the Cajun festivities celebrated with respect to Mardi Gras.
6020 Sports: Bob Costas, JC Watts 10 March 2009, 10:48 am James Carville and Luke Russert discuss Alex Rodriguez' positive steroids test. Bob Costas, NBC Sports and MLB Network anchor, talked about Alex Rodriguez' positive test and subsequent admission, the Hall of Fame requirements and how each case should be judged separately, and Hank Aaron's 75th birthday party and the fact that his legacy has grown as the details of the steroid era continue to be revealed. JC Watts, former congressman (R'OK), 2-time Orange Bowl MVP quarterback for the University of Oklahoma, discussed Alex Rodriguez' human fallibility, his belief that congress should not interfere in sports, Tim Tebow's uphill battle to find success in the NFL, and JC's college career at Oklahoma.
6020 Sports: Morgan Ensberg, Tim Cowlishaw, Chuck Esposito 19 December 2008, 2:57 pm James Carville and Luke Russert discuss Plaxico Burress' decision to bring a handgun into a nightclub, and what punishment fits the crime. Morgan Ensberg told his story of being held up at gunpoint as a minor leaguer, his decision to buy a gun for protection, and eventually to get rid of the weapon prior to having his first child. James and Luke talked about Sean Avery's offensive comments about his former girlfriend Elisha Cuthbert. Tim Cowlishaw columnist for the Dallas Morning News and frequent contributor to Around the Horn on ESPN discussed both Avery's punishment from the National Hockey League and the fact that the Texas Longhorns will not compete for the Big XII Championship, and consequently, a National Championship. Fountain Blue Casino Executive Director of the Race and Sports book Chuck Esposito provides the betting line for James and Luke to make their weekly football picks.