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Sad news, longtime Doobie Brothers drummer Keith Knudsen passed away today.
By KIM CURTIS, Associated Press Writer
SAN FRANCISCO - Keith Knudsen, the longtime Doobie Brothers drummer who was
part of the band during a string of hits that included "Taking it to the
Streets" and "Black Water," died of pneumonia Tuesday. He was 56.
Knudsen had been hospitalized for more than a month, according to the band's
longtime manager Bruce Cohn.
"I just saw him Sunday, just before the Super Bowl," Cohn said. "He was in
good spirits. He was weak, but he was OK."
Knudsen began drumming in eighth grade and joined the Doobie Brothers in
1974. "After a week's rehearsal, I went on the road with the band," Knudsen
said in his biography on the band's Web site.
The Doobies were known for incorporating gospel and jazz stylings into
popular hit songs. They also were well-regarded for their live performances.
Their other hits included "China Grove" and "Jesus is Just Alright."
Knudsen played with the Doobies until the band's 1982 farewell tour. During
the band's hiatus, Knudsen and bandmate John McFee formed the country rock
group Southern Pacific, which released four albums and had several hits.
He rejoined the band full-time in 1993.
"He's going to be missed," said Tom Johnston, the band's founder. "We're
going to miss him on drums. I'm going to miss him as a buddy."
Knudsen, who lived in Sonoma County's wine country, had cancer in 1995
Johnston said.
"It left him weak and I don't think he ever fully regained all his
strength," Johnston said.
He said the band was currently performing about 100 concerts a year and is
scheduled to release a new album this summer.
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ February 09, 2005 09:19 AM: Message edited by: Randy Walker ]</font>
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That's a shame. I remember playing "Long Train Running" at my first ever club gig!
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Man.. Yeah that's truly a sad day, i hope they mention him at the Grammy's.
Those songs where truly great!
May god bless his soul!
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They wre great in concert. I saw them play in the early 90's (if Knudsen wasn't with them, I apologize) and the two drummers were throwing back and forth a huge rubber chicken, most of the time trying to hit the percussionist between them and most of the time right in the middle of a song.
It was pretty funny. Great show too.
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Oh man, that's very sad news. I really enjoyed his playing with the Doobies...he was fun to watch, too...he played with a sort of "sophisticated conviction."
Ironically, I was just blasting the "One Step Closer" album in my car on the way home last night. I ripped it from vinyl, so it was very nostalgic to hear the crackles, Michael McDonald's super-smooth vocals, and the cool "studio" drumming from Keith.
RIP, Keith!!
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takin' it to the (golden) streets.....
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I doubt they'll mention him at the Grammys. Those people usually only like to exploit tragedies to make themselves look better, such as the recent natural disaster overseas. And, I'm sure they'll bore us with yet another Ray Charles tribute. I'm sure that Ray Charles will probably win like 10 Grammys. I personaly think it's unfortunate. It's not like the guys still around to enjoy the success and the after parties. They really should give someone else a chance, like someone who is still able to give an aceptance speach.
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Well, I'm so sorry to hear that, It's so sad that such a solid player as him goes unrecognised. I hope MD will do something for him...
BTW, did he play on "What A Fool Believes"?
MP
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I played a society gig with a guitarist who played him. Keith got the idea to quit the band move out to Cali, everyone thought he was nutz and was just in fantasyland.
Then he sent a pressing of his new bands demo album back to his family and friends. It was the Doobie Bros, everyone still thought he was nutz. But then they hit it big.
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[img]frown.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/heart.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rainbow.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/sun.gif[/img] [img]cool.gif[/img]
...[great story FT.]
