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highplainsdem

(56,169 posts)
Mon May 26, 2025, 07:15 PM Monday

Doobie Brothers' Michael McDonald: "We are staring down a dark channel that could lead to totalitarianism."

He's speaking out strongly against Trump, in an interview with Classic Rock magazine (and btw, I don't like the reference to "yacht rock" in their headline saying that "Even yacht rock icon" McDonald is speaking out).

https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/michael-mcdonald-singer-criticises-donald-trump

The title track of the Doobie Brothers’ brand new studio album, Walk This Road, is a thinly condemnation of the Donald Trump-led administration. In a brand new interview in the current issue of Classic Rock, McDonald – who co-wrote the song with Doobies producer John Shanks – reveals that the track was inspired by his worries that the nation could be heading towards “totalitarianism” at the hands of Trump and associates.

“I think it’s important that all of us stand up and say our piece,” McDonald says of the track, which features an appearance from legendary US singer Mavis Staples. “Here in the US these are perilous times, I’m afraid. We are staring down a dark channel that could lead to totalitarianism.

“We’ve got a guy who doesn’t want to be President Of The Unites States as much as he wants to be one of the points of light – the whole axis of everything. He wants the world.

“We have to be very careful of that, and we should speak out against it while we still can. I have no doubt that should they get their own way, this administration would shut down the press completely.”


They've been working on this album, which will be released next month, for quite a while: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walk_This_Road_(album)

I posted the title track when it was released back in January: https://www.democraticunderground.com/1034137645

I was happy to see new music from them and like the song, which Rolling Stone (according to Wikipedia) said "embodies a sense of hope and togetherness, in terms of searching for the right path forward." I'll post it below.

A message of togetherness is a way of opposing Trump. But McDonald's comments in this new interview are much more critical, and I wanted DUers to know about them.


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Doobie Brothers' Michael McDonald: "We are staring down a dark channel that could lead to totalitarianism." (Original Post) highplainsdem Monday OP
Yeah, If We Don't Stop It! Cha Monday #1
Kick SheltieLover Monday #2
"A sense of hope and togetherness, in terms of searching for the right path forward" young_at_heart Monday #3
Thank you! That's got a nice groove. tanyev Monday #4
The song "What a Fool Believes" is a favorite of mine. John1956PA Monday #5
I dig BeerBarrelPolka Monday #6
It's very timely as well MustLoveBeagles Monday #12
Mine too. nolabear Monday #16
What a Fool Believes is the name of McDonalds autobiography BOSSHOG Monday #18
Rock is maybe the only genre fighting back newdeal2 Monday #7
Absolutely rock on! calimary Monday #14
Warren G & Nate Dogg & Michael McDonald - Regulate & I Keep Forgettin (BIGR Extended Mix) Celerity Monday #8
"Walk This Road, is a thinly condemnation of the Donald Trump-led administration." LudwigPastorius Monday #9
That's actually likely to be a human error, rather than chatbot. It isn't that unusual to leave words highplainsdem Monday #10
I recently listened to "Taking it to the Streets" LOUD while getting ready to go to a protest. CaptainTruth Monday #11
Glad he's speaking out MustLoveBeagles Monday #13
I didn't know they had new music! And he's a favorite of mine. nolabear Monday #15
The CD is out 6 June BOSSHOG Monday #17
more, more, more.........running down this road with me pbmus Monday #19
Billionaires need their yachts rocked Blue Owl Monday #20

young_at_heart

(3,938 posts)
3. "A sense of hope and togetherness, in terms of searching for the right path forward"
Mon May 26, 2025, 07:33 PM
Monday

Hope is what is holding me together these days. I think because I'm in the older generation I seem to be extra sensitive to what I see happening on a daily basis. I'm ready to start taking pills to calm myself down. I know there's been so many unbelievable situations as the years have gone by (Vietnam for one), but somehow I managed to handle them, but not this time.

calimary

(86,444 posts)
14. Absolutely rock on!
Mon May 26, 2025, 09:28 PM
Monday

We need it now more than EVER!

The timid may be silenced but rock will keep on roarin’.

Celerity

(50,004 posts)
8. Warren G & Nate Dogg & Michael McDonald - Regulate & I Keep Forgettin (BIGR Extended Mix)
Mon May 26, 2025, 08:11 PM
Monday

From "Regulate... G Funk Era" & "Above The Rim" Soundtrack 1994
R.I.P. Nate Dogg 19.08.1969 --- 15.03.2011
Sample From Michael McDonald - I Keep Forgettin 1982

LudwigPastorius

(12,513 posts)
9. "Walk This Road, is a thinly condemnation of the Donald Trump-led administration."
Mon May 26, 2025, 08:30 PM
Monday

"...is a thinly condemnation..."

Stop using ChatGPT to write your articles, Rolling Stone. Hire humans!

highplainsdem

(56,169 posts)
10. That's actually likely to be a human error, rather than chatbot. It isn't that unusual to leave words
Mon May 26, 2025, 09:09 PM
Monday

out when you're writing, especially if you're typing fast, and you might not notice rereading quickly, either. I hadn't noticed the omission of "veiled" myself, the first time I skimmed the article.

But you need a real human editor to catch that kind of thing.

CaptainTruth

(7,663 posts)
11. I recently listened to "Taking it to the Streets" LOUD while getting ready to go to a protest.
Mon May 26, 2025, 09:22 PM
Monday

It's a great song to get me fired up & in the mood for a protest.

nolabear

(43,712 posts)
15. I didn't know they had new music! And he's a favorite of mine.
Mon May 26, 2025, 09:37 PM
Monday

That voice…😍 I know he’s got health issues now but I’ll love anything he does.

BOSSHOG

(42,494 posts)
17. The CD is out 6 June
Mon May 26, 2025, 09:42 PM
Monday

Recently I had The Doobies in my basement CD and Michael McDonald in my garage CD. I could listen to McDonald all day.

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