Doobie Brothers Music Group

Talk about contrasts: One of the hottest congressional contests in Southern California next year could pit a ponytailed guitar god against a balding tax lawyer. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, the colorful former lead guitarist of 1970s arena rockers the Doobie Brothers, has retained a campaign consultant and is contemplating a GOP challenge next year for the House seat held by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), a Harvard-educated tax attorney.

Despite the title of their new album, "Sibling Rivalry," there have never been any brothers--or anyone named Doobie--in the Doobie Brothers. The personnel changes have been so frequent since the rock trio, now a quintet, was founded in 1969, you'd need a score card to keep track of them all. The Doobie Brothers, who were at the height of their popularity in the 1970s with such No. 1 hits as "Black Water" and "What a Fool Believes," have a new CD out and a four-CD retrospective set.

Despite the title of their new album, "Sibling Rivalry," there have never been any brothers--or anyone named Doobie--in the Doobie Brothers. The personnel changes have been so frequent since the rock trio, now a quintet, was founded in 1969, you'd need a score card to keep track of them all. The Doobie Brothers, who were at the height of their popularity in the 1970s with such No. 1 hits as "Black Water" and "What a Fool Believes," have a new CD out and a four-CD retrospective set.

Talk about contrasts: One of the hottest congressional contests in Southern California next year could pit a ponytailed guitar god against a balding tax lawyer. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, the colorful former lead guitarist of 1970s arena rockers the Doobie Brothers, has retained a campaign consultant and is contemplating a GOP challenge next year for the House seat held by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), a Harvard-educated tax attorney.

When the Doobie Brothers called it quits 10 years ago, singer Michael McDonald hoped there would be excuses to hold reunion concerts. "It's always fun to play with the guys and to play the band's songs," he said. "That will always be part of my identity, one of the best bands I ever played with, and more than that, one of the greatest groups of people I ever worked with." But the excuse for the band's two upcoming reunion shows is not anything McDonald would have wished for.

When the Doobie Brothers called it quits 10 years ago, singer Michael McDonald hoped there would be excuses to hold reunion concerts. "It's always fun to play with the guys and to play the band's songs," he said. "That will always be part of my identity, one of the best bands I ever played with, and more than that, one of the greatest groups of people I ever worked with." But the excuse for the band's two upcoming reunion shows is not anything McDonald would have wished for.