Doobie Brothers' Pat Simmons says he's "embarrassed" for the United States

Founding Doobie Brothers member Pat Simmons has told Hot Press that he's "embarrassed" for his country, amid the political turmoil in the U.S. following Donald Trump's re-election.

The guitarist's comments arrive after Neil Young expressed concern over being refused entry into the US following his European tour, due to his critiques of Trump.

"Absolutely," Simmons said, when asked if he was worried for artists freedom to express their views. "It's it's nothing that you would ever have contemplated. You know, we've all lived our lives in a country that held up democracy. Democracy was something we all believed in and saw as a beacon of hope for ourselves and the rest of the world.

"That's pretty much just been exploded in a matter of months. We kind of all knew it was possible. But when the reality hits, it's pretty frightening, it really is.

"I've lived a long, full life. I feel most regret for future generations because they're the ones that are are gonna suffer for this folly. It's really a terrible thing it really is. It's criminal."

Simmons, who is the legendary rock band's only consistent member since their foundation in 1970, also expressed his views on the origins of the deep-rooted division that's become synonymous with American politics.

"We have a long history in America - of division among peoples here that we've all known about our whole lives," Simmons said.

"It started in the 19th century with the American Civil War, and prior to the Civil War there was a lot of dissatisfaction on both sides with commerce, and how it was being conducted. It was basically a question of slavery, and that being the cornerstone of how business was being conducted, if you can call it business.

"[The South] was an agricultural agrarian economy, and it was dependent on slavery, versus the North, which was becoming more of a manufacturing based economy. So that's been the division. As time wore on,  populations move about and it's not north and south anymore. It's right wing, left wing.

"And it just turned out that there were more right wingers than left wingers, and here we are."

"It doesn't mean that people who are conservative are bad people, but the policies that stem from that can be bad. And I think it's obvious that they're. It's gonna be a lot of suffering. So the whole country, the whole world, is suffering because of that."

The Doobie Brothers, formed in San José, California, are one of the most successful bands of the '70s. Their 1978 album Minute by Minute reached number one on the Billboard charts for five weeks and won the band a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, while the single 'What a Fool Believes' won three Grammys.

Having sold 48 million records, their next full-length Walk this Road, is set for release on June 6 and is their first with Michael McDonald for 45 years. Stay tuned for Simmons' full interview with Hot Press, in which he discusses how their new LP stands as "An album of hope" in troubling times, his love for Rory Gallagher, and his fond memories of playing in Ireland ahead of the Doobie Brothers' headliner at the 3Arena on July 21.