The Ups and Downs of the Ever-Evolving Doobie Brothers

Inspired by Moby Grape

Johnston and Hartman were searching for another band member who could help them sound more like their idols Moby Grape. The two tried to recruit Simmons, but he wasn’t interested because the two looked like hardened bikers and didn’t want to be in a tough-looking band.

A dated photo of John Hartman, Tom Johnston, Dave Shogren, and Pat Simmons.

Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

However, after playing with Johnston and Hartman at their house, Simmons realized they were more than a hard rock band. The jam session was enough to convince him to join the group. Hartman and Johnston had called their band Pud, but now that Simmons was in tow, they needed a new name.