Luke Bryan Inducts The Doobie Brothers Into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
After being delayed for months due to the coronavirus, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame held its annual induction ceremony earlier tonight. The Doobie Brothers was part of the induction class, and Luke Bryan presented them. For the first time, the event was held virtually, with pretaped speeches from presenters and inductees, and no performances. As in past ceremonies, there was a film documenting the career of each inductee; Brad Paisley was part of the Doobie Brothers’ film. Other inductees included Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, T. Rex, the Notorious B.I.G. and Whitney Houston.
“I’ve loved the Doobie Brothers since the first time I heard them as a kid,” Bryan said. “I’ve had the privilege of playing with them onstage, and I can honestly say that they are great guys as well as great musicians.”
Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons accepted on behalf of the band.
During his speech, Johnston said, “Wow it’s been a long time coming, but we are so grateful and excited to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A lot of our musical influences are enshrined in the hall, so we couldn’t ask for better company. … It seems unreal, but it’s been quite a trip and we aren’t done yet.”
McDonald followed Johnston and said, “I’d like to thank the fans for their continuous support over the years. … Being a Doobie Brother represents some of the best years of my life, so being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tonight with these guys makes it all the more special for me.”
Simmons closed out the Doobies’ acceptance speeches by thanking all of the fans “…who got us here and stuck with us for over 50 years. We owe you so much.” He added, “My deepest thanks to the Doobie Brothers family, and all of the members over the years who have been part of this journey. It’s always been about our love of music, and because of the band’s success, we now celebrate this induction.”
GALLERY: Stills from the 2020 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Special
