Composed entirely of seasoned studio musicians, Toto seemed to come out of nowhere. They did not get known first on the club circuit as nearly all bands do prior to being signed by a label. Their reputations in the studio were enough. For example, Paich, Hungate and Jeff Porcaro wrote songs for and performed on Boz Scaggs' album Silk Degrees.
Toto released their debut album Toto in October 1978, selling two million copies based on their top ten hit Hold the Line. The next two albums Hydra and Turn Back had little success, but Toto IV (released in 1982) featured the number one hit Africa as well as the top ten single Rosanna. Toto IV went multi-platinum and earned several Grammy Awards including 1983 Album of the Year and Record of the Year (for "Rosanna").
Their only film work to date was for the 1984 David Lynch science fiction film Dune. In addition to their own score, they also recorded the Prophecy Theme, composed by Brian Eno.
After the release of Toto IV, Mike Porcaro (brother to Jeff and Steve), joined the group on bass, replacing Hungate. In 1984, Bobby Kimball left the group after being arrested for selling cocaine and was replaced by Dennis Frederiksen aka Fergie Frederiksen, who was replaced not long after by Joseph Williams.
Steve Porcaro left the band in 1988, however, he still contributes as a sideman.
In 1990, Jean-Michel Byron replaced Williams for the new recordings on Past to Present 1977-1990, then left with Lukather becoming the group's lead singer.
On August 5, 1992, Jeff Porcaro died of a heart attack, days after completing work on Kingdom of Desire. The group considered disbanding, before adding British drummer Simon Phillips for the subsequent tour. In the years since Porcaro's death, Lukather has seemingly succeeded Paich as the band's de facto leader.
In 1999, Bobby Kimball returned to the lineup after a 15-year absence.
Greg Phillinganes joined the lineup in 2004 to fill in for David Paich during a tour, then officially joined Toto in 2005.
After a period of rumours and some allusions, on June 5th, 2008 Steve Lukather made an official announcement on his website stevelukather.net, stating: "The fact is yes I have left Toto. There is no more Toto." Lukather further stated that after 31 years of recording, producing and playing with Toto without even missing one single gig, he couldn't do it anymore: "I just can't do it anymore and at 50 years old I wanted to start over and give it one last try on my own." With Lukather being the only original member left in the band (Bobby Kimball was also an original member, but was out of the band from 1984-1998) there was no other option than to call it quits. As the main motivation for his decision, Lukather said: "When Dave 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 fell ill and had to leave that was it for me. If there isn't Paich or at least one Porcaro how can we even call it Toto?" Luke also stated: "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 anymore." The break-up of Toto after 31 years received mixed reactions from the fans, but in general the decision was understood and many agreed with Lukather's reasons to quit the band.
On April 5th, 2008, Toto played what would be their last show ever, in Seoul, Korea, as a part of their Falling In Between Live tour. This left lots of fans without a real farewell tour.
On February 26th, 2010, Steve Lukather announced on his Twitter-account that Toto are reforming for a brief tour in Europe in the summer of 2010 to honor bass player Mike Porcaro, who's suffering from ALS syndrome. Line-up will include David Paich, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, Simon Phillips, Joseph Williams and Nathan East.
Toto released their fourteenth studio album and their first in nine years titled Toto XIV on March 20 (Europe), March 23 (UK and Oceania), and March 24, 2015 (North America). To promote the newly finished project, the band started a world tour running with an extensive European headline arena tour including appearances at key festivals, along with a North American tour to follow in the summer of 2015 and Asia later that year.[43][44]
On March 15, 2015, former bassist Mike Porcaro died, due to complications from his battle with ALS, in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles.[45]
On 6 April 2015, Toto announced that they would embark on 7 August 2015 in Mashantucket, Connecticut with veteran progressive band Yes on a joint summer tour of North America due to end on 12 September 2015 in Coquitlam, British Columbia.[46][47][48] Shannon Forrest has continued to perform as the band's drummer.
On 29 September 2015, Toto announced the first leg of their 2016 Tour in support of Toto XIV consisting of European and Japanese dates. Leland Sklar, who joined them on their 2007 and 2008 tours, replaced founding member Hungate.[49] Sklar left Toto in early 2017 and was replaced by Shem von Schroeck.
Toto will release their anniversary album "40 Trips Around The Sun" on February 9, 2018. Then, they'll embark on their world tour promoting their album and celebrating 40 years of music.
The original lineup (1978)
* David Paich - vocals and keyboards
* Steve Lukather - guitar and vocals
* Bobby Kimball - vocals
* Steve Porcaro - keyboards
* David Hungate - bass
* Jeff Porcaro - drums
The last lineup (2017)
* David Paich - vocals and keyboards
* Steve Lukather - guitar and vocals
* Joseph Williams - vocals
* Steve Porcaro - vocals and keyboards
The Road Goes On
Toto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For the things that I have done
Do I set my boat upon the sea
So like thunder, I am breaking free
In the landscape of the heart
It's hard to tell what's really taken me
Now I see it all through different eyes
Past the mountains under empy skies
And the road goes on and on.
I've been living through this poetry
Tangled words and worn out prose
Love is needing, love is bleeding me
Now I see it all through different eyes
This emotion can't be wrong
Past the mountains under empty skies
The road goes on
Now I see it all through different eyes
Where I'm going, where I've gone
All I know - I'm still surprised
That the road goes on and on.
The lyrics of Toto's song "The Road Goes On" showcase a sense of freedom and liberation. The opening line "Not by the way of an apology for the things that I have done" hints at a sense of remorse, but the following lines reveal that the singer is setting sail on a new journey, and their past guilt is not going to hold them back. The metaphorical implication of this is that the singer is not looking back at their past mistakes, but rather embracing the journey that lies ahead.
The next lines "So like thunder, I am breaking free in the landscape of the heart, it's hard to tell what's really taken me" furthers this idea of liberation and also highlights the emotional complexity that comes with it. The line "It's hard to tell what's really taken me" shows that the journey isn't just about physical movement, but also the emotional struggles that come with it. The singer comes to realize that "Love is needing, love is bleeding me", indicating the emotional significance and pain that comes with the journey.
The lyrics "Now I see it all through different eyes, This emotion can't be wrong, past the mountains under empty skies, and the road goes on and on" conclude the song with a hopeful note. The singer has come to a new understanding of themselves and their journey, and they are ready to embrace the unknown that lies ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
Not by the way of an apology
I'm not setting sail on this journey as an apology for my past actions.
For the things that I have done
I'm not trying to make amends for my past mistakes by setting out on this journey.
Do I set my boat upon the sea
I'm moving forward with my life, not dwelling on the past.
So like thunder, I am breaking free
I'm breaking free from my past and my own limitations with conviction and energy.
In the landscape of the heart
It's difficult to accurately assess why I'm undertaking this journey, as it's rooted deep within my own emotions.
It's hard to tell what's really taken me
It's difficult to identify exactly what has motivated me to take this journey.
Now I see it all through different eyes
I have discovered new perspectives and insights which have altered my worldview.
This emotion can't be wrong
I have strong emotional reasons for taking this journey and trust my instincts.
Past the mountains under empty skies
I'm travelling through vast, open landscapes which signify new beginnings.
And the road goes on and on.
The journey ahead may be long and difficult, but it's the path I have chosen to continue on.
I've been living through this poetry
My life has been a tangled, artistic journey full of literary influences and personal reflection.
Tangled words and worn out prose
My experiences and emotions are complex and difficult to articulate, leaving me feeling drained and exhausted.
Love is needing, love is bleeding me
Love has had a significant impact on my journey, causing joy and pain in equal measure.
Where I'm going, where I've gone
I'm not entirely sure where my journey will lead me or what I'll discover along the way.
All I know - I'm still surprised
Despite the unexpected challenges and twists that have arisen during my journey, I'm still optimistic and excited by what's yet to come.
That the road goes on and on.
The journey of life is never-ending, and I accept that there will always be new challenges and opportunities to explore.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GLEN BALLARD, STEVEN LEE LUKATHER, DAVID F FRANK PAICH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Denis S. Pratt
on Take My Hand
Beautiful rendition of a reconciling moment that my mother and I will lay to rest.