Blog Post

Longtime Doobie Brothers drummer Michael Hossack passed away last Monday at the age of 65, but as the old saying goes, he’ll live on through the wonderful music he left behind. The percussionist, who died of cancer at his home in rural Wyoming, kept time with the “Long Train Runnin’” and “Takin’ It to the Streets” hitmakers from 1971 to 1974 and from 1987 until their most recent tour last summer.

Born in Paterson, New Jersey in 1947, Hossack joined the Navy upon graduating high school. After returning stateside in 1969, Hossack moved to California with his band Mourning Reign, who disbanded shortly thereafter. Thakfully, the trip out west wasn’t all for naught – he joined the Doobie Brothers in 1971 as the band’s second drummer, and the rest was history.

As with any band that’s sold more than 40 million records over the course of its career, there’s plenty of Doobie Brothers collectibles to remember the late drummer by.  Whether you’re looking for rare albums, posters or t-shirts, there’s certainly enough Doobies to go around.

The good news is that you don’t have to spin the “Wheels of Fortune” to be able to afford many of these collectibles. For instance, the priciest Doobie Brothers vinyl is a promotional copy of 1973’s The Captain and Me, Hossack’s third of four recordings during his initial run with the band. That record is currently selling for just $50. Over on rare music vendor eil.com, a unique 3-LP set of radio interviews and music costs $35, while a Japanese 7” promo copy of 1989 hit “Need a Little Taste of Love” is only $31.

Since they weren’t mass produced on the same level as vinyl records, collectibles like posters, tickets, handbills and postcards are some of the hardest to find Doobie Brothers items. However, music memorabilia website Wolfgang’s Vault has several pieces that would look great on any Michael Hossack fan’s wall, including a poster promoting a 1971 San Francisco show with Mother Earth, a handbill advertising a 1973 headlining gig in Honolulu and a hand-printed ticket to another Honolulu concert that proves you were there. Wolgang’s Vault’s large assortment of Doobies collectibles ranges in price from $7 to $276, depending on the condition and rarity of each item.

Perhaps you’d rather wear your Doobie Brothers fandom around town? One soon-to-be-chilly seller is currently offering his vintage jacket from the Rolling Stones’ 1978 concert at the Louisiana Superdome, which also featured the Doobies and Van Halen, for $495. All three bands are listed on the back of the jacket – talk about a strong undercard. Wolfgang’s Vault’s collection of Doobie Brothers memorabilia also includes vintage t-shirts from the band’s reunion show at the 1987 Mountain Aire Festival in California and their American Soviet Walk appearance from the same year.

Of course, no collection is complete without a Doobie Brothers-branded water bottle, like this one from their 1989 gig in Mountain View, California. Have a drink in Hossack’s honor, and of course, “Listen to the Music.”