Tom Johnston, the lead singer and guitarist for The Doobie Brothers, has shared that he will not join the band on the forthcoming leg of their 50th-anniversary tour. The musician cited that he will undergo surgery to target severe back pain, making the upcoming run with his brothers impossible. 

With Johnston unable to join in the summertime jaunt, his bandmates, Pat Simmons, Michael McDonald and John McFee, will continue the band’s legacy on stage when the tour commences this Thursday, May 25, at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla. During the upcoming tour, the unit of musicians will run through their greatest hits in celebration of their golden jubilee. 

“I hope for a speedy recovery and can’t wait to get back on the road and continue doing what I love. I would like to thank Pat, Michael, John, and the entire Doobie Brothers band for covering for me while I recover from back surgery…I’m sure they will bring it every night as they always do,” offered Johnston via press release. 

The Doobie Brothers are currently scheduled to participate in an extensive North American run, with shows booked from coast to coast, leading up to a slew of Canadian appearances, which pick up on Oct. 13 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and extend till Oct. 28, when the band will play in Abottsford, British Columbia. 

View The Doobie Brother’s touring schedule here. Scroll down to view the band’s official statement via Instagram.