Tough medicine from the Doctor...

Dr. John fires longtime managers, members of his Lower 911 band

(Times-Picayune) In the wake of one of the most successful years of his decades-long career, Mac “Dr. John” Rebennack has cleaned house both onstage and backstage. In recent weeks, Rebennack has fired his longtime managers, his booking agent, and the veteran members of his band, the Lower 911.  The Lower 911 backed Rebennack for the last time at the House of Blues on Dec. 28-29. The musicians -– bassist David Barard, guitarist John Fohl and drummer Raymond Weber -– had heard rumblings that a change was coming. Rebennack told them face to face prior to the first of the two House of Blues gigs.  Barard had backed Rebennack since the 1970s. Fohl has been with him for 11 years. Weber became the Lower 911’s fulltime drummer about a year ago. He replaced the late Herman Ernest, Rebennack’s drummer and confidant of more than 30 years, who died of cancer in March 2011.  "I have no beefs with none of the guys," Rebennack said Thursday night. "They worked hard. Anybody that's a hard worker, that's big props to them.(Read more.)