Toto – Current Line Up

Toto is an American pop band formed in1977 in Los Angeles, California. The band still has the original line up: Joseph Williams, David Paich, Steve Porcaro, and Steve Taylor. Steve Porcaro also played bass initially but quit while the band was on tour with Eddie Van Halen and Billie Jean. Now, bass player David Paich is too sick to tour with Toto.

The band had a few hit singles, including Hotel California and Wildfire, but their biggest hit was Toto’s eponymous debut album. It is not a difficult album to recognize immediately, since it has a similar structure to Porcupine Tree’s The Real Secret, which was an immediate success. Toto took their lead from bands like Emerson, Lake And Palmer and the Beatles, who were great at developing singles that went very well. The album did not receive the attention it deserved at the time, but since then has become one of the band’s most recognizable songs.

For a brief period, Toto was named after a member of Japanese band Grammys. Grammys released Toto’s eponymously titled single, “Irene”, which peaked at number twenty on the US pop chart. The song was covered by several other artists, but Toto featured on this track and became known as the band to many Americans. Shortly after this single sold poorly, Toto changed their name to Grammies and began working on another American tour.

After some time off, Toto returned to the limelight, performing on numerous radio shows and with many other musicians. Eventually, they formed anew with guitarist Jim Davies and bassist Neil Pert. Their new sound was influenced by jazz and surf music and blended elements of surfing, country, and pop. They even managed to get themselves into the Hollywood movie industry with their song, “Irene”. This track was not successful, but their fame continued when they were nominated for the Grammies for “Irene” and “I Am a Man”.

Currently, the current lineup consists of five original members, as well as the ever-popular Mark Linn-Baker. This current line up features eighteen-year-old vocalist David Cook and ten-year-old guitarist Alex Lifeson. The band has also managed to stay relevant throughout the years with hits like “Reelin’ in the Years” and “Hail to the King”. Although Toto is constantly making great rock records, many of their fan base have become tired of the overuse of their template and look towards the band for new ideas.

This current lineup is not a fresh one for Toto. This band has always been known for bringing exciting original music and staying true to their roots. However, due to the popularity of this new line up, Toto will most likely be able to find their way back to the big stage and fulfill their long-term dream of stardom. Although there is still no word on their future plans, it is safe to say that this is a good thing for all American rock bands, as any break that creates fresh material may only push them further towards stardom!