Lukather! Toto! Oh NO!

[horsehead]

Steve Lukather has quit Toto. Gott a say I'm pretty gutted. Liked toto a lot & steve is a hell of a guitarist. No more holding the line

[Philly Q]

Does that mean the band has split?  You can't really have Toto without Lukather can you?

[Will]

Its a sad story, its worth just posting this, don't know the original source, but I have lifted it from a JakeELee.com poster

Guitarist Steve Lukather has announced the demise of Los Angeles AOR legends Toto.

In a statement posted on his personal website here, Lukather said: “The fact is, yes, I have left Toto. There is no more Toto. I told the guys before the last leg of our tour.

“We had some differences in how business was being done. The other fact is that I have been the only guy who was at the first rehearsal until the last gig a month or so ago.

“When Jeff [Porcaro, drums] died part of us all died with him. We pursued it and had some great times. Simon [Phillips] was a champ replacing Jeff at a most difficult time.

“Bobby [Kimball, vocals] was out of the band for 16 years and then came back and you know the other singer stories. Other than Bobby, Joe [Williams, vocals] was the only guy that really fit with us 'cause he was a high-school buddy as well. No offence to Bobby at all.

“When Dave Paich [keyboards] retired that was REAL hard for me 'cause we started the band together. Hell, it’s 35 years if you count high school where the core all met. When Mike [Porcaro, bass] fell ill and had to leave that was it for me. If there isn’t a Paich or at least one Porcaro, how can we even call it Toto?

"We had a great run and I owe an awful lot to the experience and the success we had. We hung in there hard despite being the most hated band in the world by most so-called 'rock critics'.

“Honestly, I have just had enough. This is NOT a break. It is over. I really can't go out and play Hold The Line with a straight face any more. I was 19 when we cut the record. I am 50 now."

[mikeluke]

Someone should tell him to hold the line....

[Elliot]

I'm glad - even good things must come to end to be truly appreciated.

[Davey]

in my eyes, he did the decent thing .. some others would ride the wave of success to death and back, leeching off of the names of former members and their success as a group.

[MrBump]

I first heard his playing on Michael Jacksons Thriller - check out the credits and you see some pretty amazing guitar players - many "top LA session guitarists".

Oh, and some bloke called Eddie...

Can't remember of Larry Carlton played on Thriller... I think that he played on "She's Out Of My Life" from Off The Wall, which was brilliant.

Mark.

[Philly Q]

I first heard his playing on Michael Jacksons Thriller

I must admit I have the 7" single of Hold The Line from 1978...  :oops:

How did I get so old?  It just crept up on me...

[dave_mc]

lukather played the hold the line solo at 19?

 :o

i wasn't sure i could rate him any more highly, i guess now i can.

anyway, toto were awesome, it's a shame they split.  :(

[JJretroTONEGOD]

It's a good thing they have slpit up, the original drummer was awesome. I love Toto IV, it's one of my favourites.

[indysmith]

Steve Stevens on "Dirt Diana" by MJ 8)

I've never heard Toto... why do I feel like a heathen?

[_tom_]

Steve Stevens on "Dirt Diana" by MJ 8)

I've never heard Toto... why do I feel like a heathen?

You're not missing anything. They're cheesy as $%&# :lol:

[indysmith]

oh good :)

[dave_mc]

gtfo  

[il˙ti]

I'm glad in a way. I can't stand Toto, but Steve is a great player. Maybe he'll have time to tour on his own now.