There is no more Toto!
Jun 10th, 2008 by schiing in Music, Music and entertainment
Steve Lukather on his website a couple of days ago: "The fact is yes I have left Toto. There is no more Toto. I told the guys before the last leg of our tour."
I used to be a big Toto fan, so I’m kinda sad to see them go, but I totally understand him. David Paich was out of the band, the Porcaro brothers were out - it wasn’t really Toto anymore anyway, even though Bobby Kimball was back on vocals. It must be a great relief for mr. Lukather to finally call it quits.
Toto lost me around 1991-92, after the release of "Kingdom of Desire." Jeff Porcaro died, that was a major blow, of course. And after Joseph Williams had to leave the band in the late 1980s, followed by the disastrous Jean-Michel Byron experiment, they were left with Steve Lukather as their lead singer - and, although a decent ballad singer, his voice isn’t very strong. And I absolutely hated "Kingdom of Desire." They never really recovered after that. Not for me, anyway.
My favorite Toto period was probably the Joseph Williams "era", "Fahrenheit" (1986) and "The Seventh One" (1988). I loved those albums when I was a teenager.
By the way, I enjoyed Lukather’s honesty in his recent announcement: "I really cant go out and play Hold the Line with a straight face anymore. I was 19 when we cut the record. I am 50 now."
The fans apparently didn’t like it very much (he had to retract the statement after a couple of days) but seriously, who can blame him? I’m pretty sure he’s not the only musician who feels that way about his old stuff. I mean, artists should be allowed to grow sick of their own material. Even if their fans still love it. Even if it has turned them into wealthy men. Especially after 30 years. I guess the problem is that most of the Toto fans really loved those early albums. So the band wasn’t really in tune with their fans anymore - another good reason to split up, I guess.
Besides, what separates Steve Lukather’s recent solo album, "Ever Changing Times" (2008) from anything Toto did the last 15 years. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. So, nothing lost then, really? I don’t think so, not at this stage. But so long, Toto, and thanks for all the fish.
First of all , anyone who prefers Farenheit & The Seventh One to the rest of Toto’s or Steve Lukathers solo work is obviously more interested in the pop side then the actual musical quality of the remaining albums. If there were a couple of weaker releases I believe it would have to be Farenheit and The Seventh One. Thats not to take anything away from Joseph Williams or Fergie Frederickson. As for the new solo release “Ever Changing Times” I have a hard time taking it out of my CD player. His voice sounds as good as ever( although I prefer Bobby Kimballs). And the guitar work is fantastic like all of his stuff I believe a band needs to be true to themselves above anything including playing worn out old hits just because ancient fans don’t bother to listen to the new material! So I doubt if Mr. Lukather will lose any sleep over a narrow minded ex-fan who apparently does most of his listening via the radio!
I certainly wouldn’t want mr. Lukather to lose any sleep over me. And thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Why do I prefer “Fahrenheit” and “The Seventh One”? Partly because that was the time I discovered Toto - I played those records to pieces; partly because I love Joseph Williams’ voice; partly because I’m a keyboard player and there’s a lot of keyboards on those albums. I don’t know, there are probably other reasons as well.
Listen, I’m not a Toto hater by any means. Kingdom of Desire was a bit of a shock for me in 1992 (it was quite a departure from their 1980s sound), but I’ve listened a lot to Tambu, Mindfields and Falling in Between and even Kingdom of Desire over the years, and I always attended their concerts whenever they were in town. My affection for them simply faded over the years - they didn’t excite me the way they used to. I can’t tell you exactly why that happened, but it did.
As for the final paragraph, I may appear somewhat ambiguous, but it’s not necessarily intended as a negative statement - I’m simply arguing that his latest solo album is very similar to recent Toto albums. I haven’t really decided whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing yet. Ask me again in a few months.
Go fuck yourself, asshole! Toto forever! Wooooooooooo!!!!!!
First of all , anyone who prefers slogans to reasonable arguments is obviously more interested in being provocative then discussing the actual quality of the blog post. If there were a couple of weaker comments on my blog I believe it would have to be yours. Thats not to take anything away from Scott. As for my own post I have a hard time getting it out of my head. My words sound as good as ever(although I prefer Bobby Kimballs). And the content is fantastic like all of my stuff I believe a writer needs to be true to himself above anything including being critical just because ancient commenters don’t bother to read to the new posts! So I doubt if I will lose any sleep over a narrow minded blogger who apparently does most of his reading via the cornflake packages!
I think they should do a peitition online to get Toto a new guitarist so they can move on!
Journey-style! Do you really think so? Without mr. Toto himself?