March 13, 2012

Doobie Brothers drummer Michael Hossack died at his home in Dubois, Wyoming yesterday at the age of 65. He had been battling cancer for some time and succumbed to complications of the disease with his family at his side.

Hossack was a member of the Doobie Brothers between 1971 and 1973, playing on several of the band's best-known hits, including "Jesus Is Just Alright," "Listen to the Music" and "China Grove."

Hossack returned to the band when they reunited in 1987 and was a mainstay of the group through the next two decades, performing on most of the group's tours until he took a health leave in 2010.

The Doobie Brothers released a statement on Hossack in January, saying he was improving slowly. In 2010, Hossack wrote a message to his fans explaining that while "it's been hard not touring with the band," he had "incredible support" from his family, friends and the Doobie Brothers.

Link

[Edited 3/14/12 14:48pm]

Peace to his soul.

Temp sticky

RIP

oh wow

damn! what a shame. He was a great drummer R.I.P to a legend

Doobie Brothers Drummer Michael Hossack Dies at 65

March 14, 2012

Link

Michael Hossack, longtime drummer for the classic rock band the Doobie Brothers, has died of cancer at age 65 in his home in Dubois, Wyo. According to the band's manager, Bruce Cohn, his family was by his side when he passed away on Monday.

"Big Mike," as he was affectionately known to fans, is remembered fondly by band co-founder Tom Johnston. "Mike has always been a part of my musical life and the life of the Doobie Brothers," Johnston wrote in a statement. "He was an incredible musician, a studio quality drummer. The last few years, he was brave and determined to keep on playing in the face of ill health, and I will always admire him for that."

Hossack, a New Jersey native who served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, started drumming at the early age of 12 with various drum corps. He joined the Doobie Brothers in 1971 and stayed till 1973, providing percussion on many of the band's biggest hits, including "Listen to the Music," "Long Train Runnin' " and "Black Water."

He rejoined in 1987 to play in a series of benefit concerts for Vietnam vets, and continued to tour with the band until 2010, when he took a medical leave. He still managed to rejoin his bandmates that year for their first album in a decade, World Gone Crazy.

An avid hunter, fisherman and Harley rider, according to his biography posted on the band's website, Hossack is survived by a son and a daughter.

Here's the video for the single, "Nobody," from World Gone Crazy, with retro and more recent footage of the band:

He and Hartman held the percussion down for the Doobie's.

Rest In Peace இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ— Hossack.

RIP

I was just listening to Rocking Down the Highway

[Edited 3/19/12 11:06am]

R.I.P.

~ ~ Rest In Peace ~ ~