TOTO - 2011 EUROPEAN TOUR DATES
| 28 Jun 2011 | Lyon | Halle Tony Garnier | France |
| 30 Jun 2011 | Copenhagen | KB Hallen | Denmark |
| 01 Jul 2011 | Stockholm | Skansen Solliden | Sweden |
| 03 Jul 2011 | Riihimaki / Helsinki | Riihimakirock | Finland |
| 05 Jul 2011 | Borgholm | Slottsruinen Borgholm | Sweden |
| 06 Jul 2011 | Gothenburg | Tradgardsforeningen | Sweden |
| 08 Jul 2011 | Tysnesfest - Bergen | Gjerstad Hovud Arena | Norway |
| 09 Jul 2011 | Kristiansand | Ravnedalen | Norway |
| 10 Jul 2011 | Vejle | Open Air | Denmark |
| 12 Jul 2011 | Hamburg | Stadtpark Freilichtbühne | Germany |
| 14 Jul 2011 | Straubing | Jazz an der Donau | Germany |
| 15 Jul 2011 | Ulm | Klosterhof Wiblingen | Germany |
| 16 Jul 2011 | Zurich | Live at Sunset | Switzerland |
| 17 Jul 2011 | Verona | Castello Scaligero Di Villafranca | Italy |
TOTO - OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY
In 1976, drummer Jeff Porcaro and keyboardist David Paich, two seasoned Los Angeles-based session musicians, renowned for their work with Steely Dan and Boz Scaggs, decided to trim back their session work and form a band of their own. Jeff and David brought in guitarist Steve Lukather and Keyboardist Steve Porcaro. David Hungate joined as bass guitarist and Bobby Kimball, a singer from Louisiana, was brought in on lead vocals.
After 30 years of playing music together, TOTO released their 12th and most recent studio album, Falling In Between, which, subsequently, receivedrave reviews. The album was a true representation of years of musical and life experiences unmatched by most of their colleagues and contemporaries in the music world. What set Toto apart, was their steadfast adherence to their unique musical vision.
TOTO approach each project with an equal dose of seriousness and humor. Falling In Between was a tongue in cheek, self-deprecating view of their fate as a band that appears to never quite fit into your typical mold, falling in between genres of music, in between the cracks of conglomerate label mergers and takeovers, restrictive radio formats and in between the notice of many music critics who misunderstand what and who Toto are.
Who TOTO are, depends entirely on who you ask. Most are aware of TOTO's history dating back to 1978 with their eponymous debut album, which spawned the hit Hold The Line. Thanks to their fourth album, aptly titled IV, Toto enjoyed enormous worldwide success with four hit singles including Rosanna and Africa. Whereas the former reached No.2 in the American singles chart, Africa hit the top spot. The album also won the Grammy Award for "Best Album of the Year" and Rosanna won the coveted "Best Record of the Year" award in 1982. Additionally, many songs continue to be sampled by other artists inspiring additional hits such as Jay-Z's use of "Africa" and Roger Sanchez' #1 UK hit "Another Chance" which sampled " I Wont Hold You Back.
TOTO had several hits thereafter selling over 30 million records worldwide and performing in sold out arenas. Nonetheless, many stateside critics panned their success chalking it up to their good musical genes, vast body of session work, and criticized TOTO for several personnel changes over the years.
Although the spotlight in the US may have faded, what remained strong was a very loyal fan base throughout Europe and the rest of the world that has lasted for nearly three decades and crossed generations of new fans.
On August 5, 1992, only a short time before the start of the tour for the Kingdom of Desire album tragedy struck. Jeff Porcaro, while spraying a pesticide in his garden at home, suffered a severe allergic reaction to the chemicals and died from a heart attack. The band, Jeff's family, friends, fans, and the worldwide music community mourned the passing of a man, who was not only one of the greatest drummers of his generation, but was, as Lukather has consistently said, "a true soul brother" and an incredibly giving and selfless individual.
When Jeff Porcaro unexpectedly passed away, TOTO were confronted with whether or not the band should go on. With the Kingdom of Desire Tour just around the corner and their resolve shaken, TOTO decided to go ahead with the tour because they felt that Jeff would have wanted them to. In selecting a drummer to replace Jeff, the band decided that they wanted someone who would put their own signature to the TOTO sound rather than try to copy Jeff. Steve Lukather suggested Simon Phillips, whom he had remembered from the Beck / Santana Tour. Phillips bravely accepted the task of filling in for Jeff on the Kingdom of Desire Tour.
Flash forward to 1999, TOTO set new standards in tour production with their Mindfields tour. Toto built a strong touring presence year after year in just about every corner of the world. The band demonstrated a sincere love and respect for multiple styles and genres of music that enabled them to deftly cross over and play just about anything.
This led to TOTO being twice invited as headliners of the extremely popular Night of The Proms concert series in Europe, which combines popular with classical music. Visited by more than 600,000 people in 2003, the experience of the shows inspired TOTO to stretch out even further and play a series of shows with various symphonic orchestras. This is what makes them different and fascinating, and why TOTO has outlasted many of their fellow artists.
Despite many set-backs and obstacles TOTO persevered, and welcomed many other musicians to participate, collaborate, and fill in when it was needed or wanted over the years.
In the year 2000, the nucleus of TOTO reunified with the return of original lead singer, Bobby Kimball back into the fold with Steve Lukather (guitar, vocals), David Paich (keyboards, vocals), bassist Mike Porcaro (bass) and Simon Phillips (drums). Never shying away from a great addition to the team in favor of ego, Toto welcomed former Michael Jackson keyboardist and vocalist, Greg Phillinganes, into the fold.
Six years later, when TOTO released their last studio album, Falling In Between in 2006, Steve Lukather said, "From its inception, the album has been a labor of love and a team effort. Falling In Between is fresh, heavier, at times more progressive. It features some great songs and melodies that embody the classic Toto imprint."
Fans found more than a few surprises on the record such as former member Steve Porcaro, former singer Joseph Williams' cameo on a duet with Steve Lukather and special guests including Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), the Chicago horn section, Jason Scheff, L. Shenkar (Peter Gabriel), legendary percussionist Lenny Castro, saxophonist Tom Scott, and Roy Hargrove.
TOTO brought their personal best into this project and invited many friends to participate. The result was a record that was a team effort and a joy to make. "If this is the last record we make (and I hope it won't be)," remarked Lukather, "at least we can walk away knowing we threw down the best we had."
To commemorate the tour, TOTO released the double live album Falling In Between Live, which represented their fourth live album, following 1993's Absolutely Live, 1999's Livefields and 2003's Live In Amsterdam. A companion DVD of the concert, filmed in Paris in March 2007, was eventually released in 2008.
Later that same year, on June 5th, after 32 years playing together, Toto officially disbanded. At that time, with Lukather being the only original member left (Bobby Kimball was also an original member, but was out of the band from 1984–1998 and with David Paich retiring from touring back in 2005), Lukather felt it was time to call it quits.
TOTO sold over 30 million records, and toured the world ten times. The band and its individual members have recorded with and wrote for artists including Michael Jackson, Steely Dan, Santana, Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Quincy Jones, Paul McCartney, Joe Satriani, Lionel Richie, Don Henley, Alice Cooper and many more.
In October 2009, the individual founding musicians of TOTO were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. Steve Lukather, David Paich, Steve Porcaro and David Hungate were present, with Mike Porcaro's and Jeff Porcaro's family members accepting their awards in absentia.
On February 26, 2010, TOTO reunited for a brief tour of Europe in the summer to benefit Mike Porcaro, who has ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). The lineup featured David Paich, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, Simon Phillips, Joseph Williams and special guest Nathan East.
"With Mike not being well," said Lukather, "and some of us missing each other, the real high school friends decided to get back together for the right reason." Continues Lukather, "People wanted to hear the hits played the way they were recorded. We thought it would be fun to perform a few gigs once in a while, and the fans would love it as well."
Lukather also said that they went on with Joseph Williams because they wanted to try something different and that he didn't have any bad feelings towards Bobby Kimball. TOTO will continue with the current line-up.
On Tuesday June 21st, Toto start their European tour at Forest National in Brussels, Belgium.
On Sunday July 17th, TOTO's concert at Castello Scaligero Di Villafranca in Verona, Italy, will be filmed for an upcoming DVD and bonus CD, be released in October 2011.
Visit the official TOTO website for further information:
www.Toto99.com
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