Barracuda- Heart; China Grove- Doobie Brothers; Highway To Hell AC/DC; Brown Sugar- Rolling Stones; Stay With Me- Faces; Jet Airliner- Steve Miller Band; American Woman-The Guess Who; Long Cool Woman- The Hollies.
I have seen Steve Lukather on many interviews and he is so gracious and funny! Adam has outdone himself again- Amazing interview on an Amazing Band- Thank You
The Porcaro brothers, Steve Lukather and David Paich among others are enough reasons to give this band it's just due. Their songs were solid, their musicianship impeccable, their appeal was undeniable. They''ll always have my respect.
Toto is another band, like Kansas, an outstanding band, amazing compositions, incredible musicians, incredible vocals, highly underrated. As a singer myself, those are some challenging songs to perform live. Bobby Kimball, Steve Walsh? Powerhouse Tenor belters, beyond Great.
Could listen to these guys for hours! Toto were so under appreciated. Steve Lukather is a living legend. So talented, one of the best guitarists. Great interview.
"Hold The Line" is the first song that I heard from Toto. I remember when it was a major hit in 1978 and got consistent radio airplay. It was their hardest rocking song in their catalog and remains my favorite. Love the guitar riff.
For me it was the drums. When they kick in over the keys at the beginning of that tune…. Whew !!! That fill and then the amazing shuffle. What a talent Jeff was.
In 1983, my girlfriend broke up with me, and "I Won't Hold You Back" came out. Talk about the right song at the right time... Thanks for the story, Adam. You are truly today's Kasey Casem!
I thought the same thing about him after seeing some of his videos. Adam is definitely carrying on a certain tradition. Nobody else that RUclips suggests to me comes close to what he does
May 1980 Toto played Columbia Missouri and it was my first rock concert. And it was life changing. They opened with "Hydra" and the horror film sound, the blue and green lights with fog rolling across the stage..I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen. The place was packed, all general admission seating, but the people running lights were inexperienced I guess. Toto came back for their encore and David Paich came out with his trademark top hat but the venue turned on the house lights! Paich sits down behind the piano and starts playing "White Sister" as people had started to leave because...well..the house lights were up! The next morning I ran out and bought the Hydra album and wore the grooves out. I just happened to be in Detroit when Toto played The Ritz on the KIngdom of Desire tour. I begged my friend to go to the show and we did. He was so blown away we followed their tour bus to the Taylor, Michigan Hilton to meet them when they got off the bus, which we did. I've seen them probably three or four times since. I took my son, who's a big Beatles fan, to see Ringo at the St Louis Fox theater, but I have to admit, I REALLY wanted my son to see Steve Lukather play, just so he could see why I made him suffer his childhood listening to all the Toto albums!
These guys are a hoot to listen to. The stories they share - and the ones they have yet to tell - are just enmeshed in music history. And the throw away, 'I was working in Cheryl Lynn', as if that was just another day. Really loved Hydra and wore out the cassette twice. Their debut though, Hold The Line was so distinctive and everyone was a fan. Great interview.
I met both Steve Lukather & Steve Porcaro outside a show in San Diego a few years back as they walked out to their tour bus after the gig. Both were in great spirits and both signed my guitar. They walked up to the bus where I was standing and I asked Steve Lukather to sign, "Who else you have on here"? he asked me after seeing some other signatures. I proudly held up the guitar and began to fire off past rockers who had autographed it and when I was finished he said... "And you want ME to sign"? ...."Hell yes I do" I answered. I handed him the guitar and pen and he responded with "You want the rest of this Non-Alcoholic beer, I've only had one sip"...I waited and said, "No thanks Steve, your signature will suffice"....
Toto is one of the greatest bands ever, it's unfortunate that they don't seem to get the recognition they deserve. Hold the Line is such an awesome song, and one that I always liked, but never really appreciated until I saw them live earlier this year. I quickly became a huge Toto fan.
They don't get the recognition because of what happened after they won the Grammys. They went through 4 lead singers in 5 albums. (Kimball, Frederiksen, Williams, Byron) They probably would have done better if Joseph Williams would have lasted more than 2 albums! 3 years after that they lost their drummer Jeff Porcaro.
@@cougar24 Obviously that could have caused trouble for the band at the time, but as someone listening to it now, part of what makes Toto so great is the variety. Each album a little different, but the band is able to adapt to any style of music beautifully.
@@TheMICMusicInspirationChannel Yeah, winning a Grammy doesn't mean squat anymore! Really sad times for music right now. Thanks for the info, I never knew they won so many awards!
Toto was a band that had to be great simply because of so much talent in one group! All the guys were not just the best at their instruments, but their love of playing was always translated into inspired performances. They are loved all over the world and it's nice to see how positive these guys still are.
Toto was more than just a band. They were an assembly of artists who were regularly part of other bands and artists productions. As they said, "we brought ideas and music into (Toto) from many places". No matter what, "Hold the Line" is the best of Toto. I really enjoyed the interview this time, The guys and you were clearly having fun recalling memories of some outstanding music. ;-)
Toto was/is one of the best groups of musicians ever to be a band. Jeff is sorely missed. The “Rosanna Shuffle” (itself a take on the Purdy Shuffle) is like a rite of passage for drummers if they can nail it. And Lukather’s guitar playing is just insane. On so many records wailing these long, intricate solos that were usually done on the fly! Amazing. Just listen to the outro of “Running With the Night” by Lionel Ritchie. Steve just slays for like two minutes! The collective resume of Toto members really eclipsed their own records. Just unbelievable. And they are still enjoying it and seem like guys you’d love to have a beer with. Truly some of the best. Oh and speaking of songs with the piano riff like “Hold The Line” - I always think of “Shakedown Cruise” by Jay Ferguson. Also there’s some sort of line drawn through those to “Clocks” by Coldplay.
The relationship these two men have is so special and lovely to see. They have a tremendous amount of respect for one another and genuinely like working together. That's true friendship right there!
Most underrated band of all time! Never given the respect they deserve! Considering they are not in the so-called "rock and roll Hall of fame" is a badge of honor!
I still love the first album & Jeff is one of my drumming heroes. So bummed that I never got to meet him. So cool to hear Paich & Luke speaking so lovingly about him & his antics. Also....the song "Hydra" is so under rated.
Love Steve Lukather on Georgie Porgie, arguably one of my favorite Toto songs. I also love the song 99 as well. I remember listening to this on an FM portable radio in drafting class with an earbud concealing it with my hand.
They followed their bliss. It's pure joy listening to them recount these life stories that are now a part of music history. "Hold the Line" and "99" are two of those songs you just immediately love and say, "Yeah, I like that song!"
Love all TOTO songs but Hydra is my favorite. Awesome guitar work and lyrics, "fell into an abyss of thin air, innocence caged in sanctuary...." These guys are class acts to the man.
I bought VIP tickets to a Toto show for my son and I back in 2013 and got to meet the guys and have a group pic with the band. I was standing next to Luke and said " I heard Hold The Line when I was 15 on my way to a drum lesson and was so enamored by it I can tell you that I'm a musician today because of it. It was my Beatles Ed Sullivan moment and this is my son standing next to me a 2nd generation fan. Man I know you have heard this a million times through the years but I wanted to thank you and the fellas for not compromising to idiotiotic criticism" He stepped back with a sincere smile and reached out his hand to shake and said "wow man that really means a lot and thank you for being fauthful." I knew it wasn't just a reply he had on file and that he really meant it. These fellas have endured so much over the last 50 plus years with unqualified criticism, record company boning, passing of dear brothers and sadly inner band family fallouts but still continue to write and produce incredible music all with the uneducated general public saying "Oh yeah that Africa band".
I'm so glad Toto is getting the attention & respect they deserve in music history. And Steve Lukather- he is up there with McCartney, Barry Gibb, Stevie Wonder, Nile Rodgers, etc. for his songwriting, influence, contributions to other artists & their songs. Music Legend!
Fantastic interview! I never get tired of listening to their songs, or listening to interviews with these guys. I was in a band playing keys, and was stoked that we had hired a singer that could sing Hold the Line, because I couldn't wait to play that piano riff.
Toto IV was the first album i ever bought. So Toto holds a special place in my heart. I was 8 or 9 years old back then and listened to Rosanna and Africa a million times. I really miss those big vinyl albums such great memories.
Thank you for this interview and presentation. You certainly are keeping the music alive for not only a new generation, but also for those of us who grew up with this music.
One of the best bands ever, hands down. And judging from this and other interviews, they seem like a blast to be around! I can't ever get tired of their music; they are some of the most talented artists with some of the most artfully arranged songs. "Rosanna" also happens to be my son's first favorite song from when he was about 6. Love these guys!
Toto's songs are so well written and performed, I never get sick of hearing them. Can't say that about many 'pop' bands. Also, this 'pop' band has one of the best guitarists on the planet in it. Unique and special.
This is one of the best interviews I’ve ever seen you do. I thoroughly enjoyed this. Toto has a lot of respect from me and as a musician who has played and sung these songs I have even more respect. Please keep up the good work that you do to keep the music alive.
Nice episode! I had the pleasure of recording Steve Lukather for a friend’s album and it was a blast. He’s an amazing musician and a super nice guy. I think we don’ spent more time talking about music and his stories than recording and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Class act all the way!
I bought this album immediately after hearing Hold The Line in 1978. I discovered a diversity of songwriting and talent that was glorious. The opening track "Child's Anthem" blew my young mind! Every single song was a masterpiece. "Girl Goodbye" is still a song that gives me goosebumps. I was thrilled that their management company was "The Fitz-Gerald Hartley Company" :) I felt a quirky kinship to the band. haha. I still have my LP copy to this day.
Another interview with Paich and Lukather from Toto. Love it! These guys would be so much fun to listen to even if I didn't know their music. God Bless you Professor. Pardon me if I keep telling you I don't know how you get these interviews. But I just appreciate you and the artists making these interviews available to the public. 🙏❤️💗💕💞❤️🙏
All of those Toto hits are part of the fabric of my late 20s. The boys may have gotten sick of playing some of them, but I'll never tire of listening to them.
'99' is an absolutely wonderful song. It was played a lot on laid back FM stations in L.A. back in the Fall and Winter of 1979. The album 'Hydra' is a great album that never gets enough love and attention like the 'S/T' and 'IV' do. In fact the song 'All Us Boys' from 'Hydra' is one of Toto's best songs. It would be a great song for Professor of Rock to do an episode for.
I hadn't gotten the Hydra album yet, although it had been out quite a while and one night I was watching some show that I don't remember, and the video for "All Us Boys" was played. I loved it and went out and bought the album. What a masterpiece. My favs would be "White Sister" "St. George & The Dragon" "Hydra" & "All Us Boys".
OMG! Just when I forgot about my longtime crush on Steve L..seriously since I was12! And even though music is everything to me (no time for tv ) I never like musicians but always seemed to date them and they all mysteriously looked liked Steve! I loved this band!!
If I could meet anyone in the world it would be Steve lukarher . Such an astounding history. I've seen just about every interview he's ever done and read his book. An amazing person. So humble and so talented . Just a regular dude.
Love the chemistry these guys have with each other! Great session musicians who played on so many iconic albums. Luke is such a hoot and one helluva guitar player, too. Jeff Pocaro is still so sadly missed, though. Thanks, Adam!
I hate to tell Steve & David this but 99 is My favorite Toto song. Great interview. I could listen to them tell stories about Jeff all day. Incredible musicians.
Great interview. I always loved the into and guitars in Hold The Line. Those two really give a great interview. You don't see too many true friendships last as long as theirs in the music world.
I had my own "professor of rock" and his name was Uncle Greg, four years my senior. When he put together his own rag-tag trap set in his parents' basement, he was also building his HiFi system (with homemade speaker cabinets) and his record collection. A staple was Toto's first album and we listened to it all the time. I remember watching my uncle bang out "Hold the Line" on his rudimentary drum kit. I thought, "I could do that," and I did. I could just feel the blues pulse of that beat flow through me...and I think it was the first song I ever learned on the drums. My uncle, though, didn't have a personal relationship with the guys who created it. I love your interviews with Luke and Paich! Keep up the great work, keeping the classics alive!
Toto is one of the greatest album bands what made them so great is they had awesome singles to hook you in and when you bought the album you got so many more great songs and a rich diversity of music to enjoy
I was stationed in Berlin when it came out and heard "Hold the Line" in a nightclub. I was immediately hooked. I found out who they were and bought the album. Brings back some amazing memories.
Love Hold the Line! I remember going to a local church on Saturday mornings to roller skate in their gym and, this was one of the staple songs that was played! Great band! Great memories! Thanks, Adam for another amazing video! Those guys are a riot and it seems that they really enjoyed talking about their first album with you. 👍❤️
Their first album is really exceptional! These guys are soooo talented! Boz Scaggs has a song that they stepped into the studio with that has some similar riffs.
hey Prof!! My 8 year old son just got his first pair of ZENNI glasses yesterday and they are the best. My boy recently broke his second pair of the year..... because he's, well, an 8 year old boy and my insurance would cover another pair. I told my ex about ZENNI because I'm a faithful watcher of your channel. I even gave her your code, although I don't know if she used it, and we couldn't be more pleased. thanks for spreading the word.
Wow Adam your interviews get better and better. You could do a part 2 for more songs with them anytime. They were so clean and crisp no wonder they were tight with Becker and Fagen. I liked 99, it’s too simple for their growth though.
The eponymous Toto debut album was my first all--killer LP at 15 years old. Dave, Luke, Steve, Jeff were instantly my favorite people in the world. It's a feeling that continued to grow through the initial three records with Turn Back being the best for me. They and Joe continue to be the pinnacle of perfection in the humble world of rock 'n 'roll.
I was living briefly with my aunt, uncle and cousin in California in January 1979. We went to visit some of my uncle's (?) relatives in the mountains overlooking San Ber'dino. There was snow on the ground. They had a daughter who was home from college. "Hold The Line" was her fave new song and she'd go around the house singing and dancing to it whenever it would play on the radio. A year later, "99" became *my* favorite song on the radio. I bought and still have the 45 and I still like it almost as much as "Africa" and "I Won't Hold You Back".
Another fantastic ep! Many thanks! I remember rollerskating to 'Hold the Line' back in the day. That, and 'Running with the Devil' were the rock relief to all the disco. (Sidenote: Aldo Nova's 'Fantasy' is beyond shameless as far as ripping off from Jefferson, but a great tune, nevertheless!)
@@ProfessorofRock Professor, Some people, such as me, love both rock and disco. I've never heard disco fans or disco lyrics bash rock. Sometimes they tribute it. But it seems you regret missing another chance to try to cut down disco, like how all you said about Dan Hartman's great unnamed disco work, that had big hits, was that at one point he was getting out if it.
Those songs would have also been a welcomed relief to all the Alternative back in the mid to late 1990s. **Hears AC/DC's Hells Bells playing loud and goes "ahhh this is soothing!"**
@@shiroibasketshoes I don't have a problem with good disco. I love much of the best of that era from Donna Summer to the Bee Gees, it was the really bad disco that ruined it.
The HOF/Rolling Stone Mag always hated session players and Toto’s musicians are all over everyone’s records. This and the fact that rap and soul artists have been inducted before actual rock bands is why I have no respect for them In the style of Alex’s famous acceptance speech the hall is nothing but Blah Blah Blah
Hold the line!!!! My wife and I love this song!!! Our kids have this song in their music list,along with a lot of other classic rock!!! We're so proud!!! These guys are just plane cool man! Great interview!!!
Awesome episode Professor! Toto is awesome! Always been a favorite! Such a awesome interview with Steve and David! Such great guy's! Thanks for keeping the music alive!
Was just reading some troll postings about the channel on other forums and can't help but shake my head. I was busting a gut along with these guys as their recollections came back to them. I guess I didn't have access to all the info the trolls say they already knew when they watched an episode and I don't have the time to research it all myself now. It's really nice to share some time with someone who is passionate about my favourite period in music history. Toto has some really good music which I have also passed on t my kids as well. I am continually gleaning bits and pieces of history that I didn't know and probably wouldn't without this channel. cheers, Adam and keep up the good work.
Wow… this has to be my favorite show. Luke and Paich are so effing cool and fun to listen to. I just watched Sammy’s interview Luke on R&R road trip again and then this popped up recommended. Huge thanks for this one Adam. It had to be a blast sitting in the same room with these guys.
Aw these guys are great. Too cute seeing their obvious friendship! So nice to see- so many band members end up not standing each other. Very warm and generous in their manner. Great interview. Fantastic music/ musicians!
99 is one of those forgotten great songs. If you weren't there when it came out, you missed it. Also, "Take a little rhythm" by Ali Thompson, which came out same time. I always relate those songs together in the same location because both only played at that time of my life.
I was 6 when Hold the Line hit the airwaves, and I instantly loved it. I was 9 when Toto IV came out, and I loved that, too. It took me years to connect that it was the same band. Toto was comprised of some of the best musicians a band could ever hope to have, and they contributed individually to music more than a lot of people realize. Together, they made magic. It saddens me that we will never have a chance to see the original lineup again because we lost some of their members too soon. Steve Lukather is a brilliant guitarist, but his vocals are often overlooked. One of my favorite songs by Toto is Without Your Love, and he sings his heart out on that. People always forget I'll Be Over You and Stranger In Town when they talk about popular Toto songs, but I remember them getting regular rotation on MTV. They're such a huge part of my childhood. I remember so many nights listening to Casey Kasem and hearing their hits, or just listening to them on my Walkman. It's so nice to see that they're actually really just down to Earth, funny guys.
Hold The Line blew my mind the first time I heard it. Steve Lukather became my guitar hero ever since. I’m the proud owner of The Luke Music Man 1 guitar when it had the Floyd Rose. Steve has always been very gracious each time I’ve spoken with him at smaller venues like the Baked Potato. Very funny and very kind.
Great interview! Some of my favorite session work these guys did was with RANDY NEWMAN on the TROUBLE IN PARADISE album. You should ask them about that !
I remember having to memorize piano concertos for performance. After the 15th time, I'd be so tired of it. It didn't matter if I originally loved the song(s). I LOVE 99, always will. Toto's musicianship is amazing. Luke did such a beautiful job on vocals and guitar, David Paich's piano is gorgeous. Steve Porcaro's solo, David Hungate's bass , Bobby Kimball's sweet backing vocals, and Jeff Porcaro's beautiful drum fills - it's heaven. I love the rockers, too! The title track of Hydra is so cool!
I saw them 8 times, the first gig was in Lausanne/Switzerland with Jeff... Incredible memories. The "Hold The Line" riff was the same kind of shock as the intro of "Smoke On The Water". Catchy riff, powerful, with lots of energy and groove. One of the first grooves I learned to play from a music score on drums when I began many years later. That song is clearly part of the soundtrack in my life. I love these guys and had the huge privilege to meet them at a "meet and greet" in march 2018 in Geneva.
This is one of the best interviews ever! These guys have so much music history between them. You just gotta ask one question and off they go with some amazing stories. Love it!!
These fellows from Toto are such great interviews and story tellers of the music every time you feature them. Great music from Toto, great episode and a most excellent (as usual) interview by the Professor of Rock. 🍺😎🇨🇦
I always love hearing these guys relate their rock and roll lives in interviews. They make it sound so... I don't know... normal, adventurous, accidental, spontaneous, opportunistic, lucky,... have I missed anything? Yes. I've only recently rediscovered Toto and admittedly, never really got into their music when they were in their prime. I was a music snob that only listened to the prescribed bands that formed the "classic rock" banner of the time, which was the late '70s and early '80s for me. Little did I know that the band was a music powerhouse that crossed genres like they were water. They are legend and I wish the music industry could go back to favouring the artist over the business and profit aspect a bit more nowadays. I guess the business was just as exploitive then as it is now, or maybe more. Those hard days sure made for some great music and memories though!
I saw Toto in the very early1980s at the Texas Winter garden Ballroom in Dallas. The show was just great, but electricity went out for a while. One of the band members decided to entertain the audience by juggling. Who knew that he could juggle! Power came back on and the show continued. It was really cool!
They were playing 'hold the line' on my local AOR radio station in 1978. I was a 5th grader. I literally saved lunch money for a couple of weeks to go buy the album. That record made me want to be a musician. I just could not believe the sounds coming out of my stereo. I couldn't believe that music could be played so well. It was from another planet. A really good planet!
Love Toto... got every album.. seen them every time they came to Australia..Steve Lukather is a guitar king, with a great voice. David Paich has the chops.. both have solo albums out now that are excellent..very Totoish in style. They both come across as cool, humble guys. Love your interview with them. So many gems.
POLL: What is your pick for the the greatest opening of a 70s hit song?
👍Rosalinda’s Eyes!! Fantastic vibes part!😊
Give A Little Bit - Supertramp
"Go All the Way" The Raspberries
Video Killed The Radio Star- The Buggles
Dancing Queen- Abba
Red Light Spells Danger- Billy Ocean
Barracuda- Heart; China Grove- Doobie Brothers;
Highway To Hell AC/DC; Brown Sugar- Rolling Stones;
Stay With Me- Faces; Jet Airliner- Steve Miller Band;
American Woman-The Guess Who; Long Cool Woman- The Hollies.
45 year Toto fan!
Happy 65th Birthday 🎂 Steve Lukather,October 21 st!
Toto is an incredible band. They deserve more love and respect than they get, and it's criminal that they aren't in the Rock & Roll hall of fame.
They had so much influence in the music industry back then. They played on many A stars their albums. Also their own songs are great.
What's ironic is that the guys in Toto played on so many records by HOF artists.
This band is incredible!! Toto deserves more love and respect than they get!! Thanks again for shining the spot light on more great artists.
Always! Christy, thank you for watching!
They’re one of my favorite bands.
I have seen Steve Lukather on many interviews and he is so gracious and funny! Adam has outdone himself again- Amazing interview on an Amazing Band- Thank You
@@ProfessorofRock I think you may have attracted a scammer using your good name and image on Telegram.
@@craigwithey I've reported him, hopefully he'll get turfed off RUclips.
The Porcaro brothers, Steve Lukather and David Paich among others are enough reasons to give this band it's just due. Their songs were solid, their musicianship impeccable, their appeal was undeniable. They''ll always have my respect.
Toto is another band, like Kansas, an outstanding band, amazing compositions, incredible musicians, incredible vocals, highly underrated. As a singer myself, those are some challenging songs to perform live. Bobby Kimball, Steve Walsh? Powerhouse Tenor belters, beyond Great.
Could listen to these guys for hours! Toto were so under appreciated. Steve Lukather is a living legend. So talented, one of the best guitarists. Great interview.
They definitely deserve to be in The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame !
Agreed!
It doesn't deserve them. They are better than it is.
Billy Idol?
@@rdbeaz **Steppenwolf!**
They coined the phrase, *Heavy Metal,* within the rock classic song, Born to be Wild.
@@Spo-Dee-O-Dee No shite. This, we
know.
Lukather and Paich are two of the best interviews in rock. Energetic, interesting and humble, especially Paich.
These Toto interviews have given me a whole new appreciation for the musicians, the band, and the music.
"Hold The Line" is the first song that I heard from Toto. I remember when it was a major hit in 1978 and got consistent radio airplay. It was their hardest rocking song in their catalog and remains my favorite. Love the guitar riff.
It's a classic riff for sure!
It’s such an iconic guitar riff, stays with you forever.
Great song---totally forgot that was Toto, lol---and yeah, love that classic guitar riff, along with that piano.
I agree, their best song. I still love it.
For me it was the drums. When they kick in over the keys at the beginning of that tune…. Whew !!! That fill and then the amazing shuffle. What a talent Jeff was.
In 1983, my girlfriend broke up with me, and "I Won't Hold You Back" came out. Talk about the right song at the right time... Thanks for the story, Adam. You are truly today's Kasey Casem!
I thought the same thing about him after seeing some of his videos. Adam is definitely carrying on a certain tradition. Nobody else that RUclips suggests to me comes close to what he does
...I've BEEN sayin' it....Prof. shoulda been around before Shadoe Stevens! ...ha-HAA!! ...But, he's here, to EDUCATE...and, we're LEARNIN'.....
THank you kindly my friend.
Wow. Thank you dearly.
Thanks RBS.
May 1980 Toto played Columbia Missouri and it was my first rock concert. And it was life changing. They opened with "Hydra" and the horror film sound, the blue and green lights with fog rolling across the stage..I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen. The place was packed, all general admission seating, but the people running lights were inexperienced I guess. Toto came back for their encore and David Paich came out with his trademark top hat but the venue turned on the house lights! Paich sits down behind the piano and starts playing "White Sister" as people had started to leave because...well..the house lights were up! The next morning I ran out and bought the Hydra album and wore the grooves out. I just happened to be in Detroit when Toto played The Ritz on the KIngdom of Desire tour. I begged my friend to go to the show and we did. He was so blown away we followed their tour bus to the Taylor, Michigan Hilton to meet them when they got off the bus, which we did. I've seen them probably three or four times since. I took my son, who's a big Beatles fan, to see Ringo at the St Louis Fox theater, but I have to admit, I REALLY wanted my son to see Steve Lukather play, just so he could see why I made him suffer his childhood listening to all the Toto albums!
These guys are a hoot to listen to. The stories they share - and the ones they have yet to tell - are just enmeshed in music history. And the throw away, 'I was working in Cheryl Lynn', as if that was just another day. Really loved Hydra and wore out the cassette twice. Their debut though, Hold The Line was so distinctive and everyone was a fan. Great interview.
Thanks!
They are so much more entertaining than this latest season of 90 Day Fiance. I’d love to see them host an MTV show or something!
These guys should have a podcast -- Toe to Toe with Toto or something.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Truthfully folks who watch reality TV (which is all fiction) would not appreciate these guys
@@KabobHope OMG, GREAT NAME!!! 😆
First time I heard Hold The Line (and still today), I was like' "wow that sounds good!" Steve Lukather's solo is that of guitar royalty.
I met both Steve Lukather & Steve Porcaro outside a show in San Diego a few years back as they walked out to their tour bus after the gig. Both were in great spirits and both signed my guitar. They walked up to the bus where I was standing and I asked Steve Lukather to sign, "Who else you have on here"? he asked me after seeing some other signatures. I proudly held up the guitar and began to fire off past rockers who had autographed it and when I was finished he said... "And you want ME to sign"? ...."Hell yes I do" I answered. I handed him the guitar and pen and he responded with "You want the rest of this Non-Alcoholic beer, I've only had one sip"...I waited and said, "No thanks Steve, your signature will suffice"....
Lots of these rock music channels talk about the music using tabloid text they read from somewhere.....this guy gets the interview. Quality content.
Toto is one of the greatest bands ever, it's unfortunate that they don't seem to get the recognition they deserve. Hold the Line is such an awesome song, and one that I always liked, but never really appreciated until I saw them live earlier this year. I quickly became a huge Toto fan.
It is a classic song for sure.
Toto IV won 6 Grammys at a time when Grammys meant something. They got plenty of recognition.
They don't get the recognition because of what happened after they won the Grammys. They went through 4 lead singers in 5 albums. (Kimball, Frederiksen, Williams, Byron) They probably would have done better if Joseph Williams would have lasted more than 2 albums! 3 years after that they lost their drummer Jeff Porcaro.
@@cougar24 Obviously that could have caused trouble for the band at the time, but as someone listening to it now, part of what makes Toto so great is the variety. Each album a little different, but the band is able to adapt to any style of music beautifully.
@@TheMICMusicInspirationChannel Yeah, winning a Grammy doesn't mean squat anymore! Really sad times for music right now. Thanks for the info, I never knew they won so many awards!
Toto was a band that had to be great simply because of so much talent in one group! All the guys were not just the best at their instruments, but their love of playing was always translated into inspired performances. They are loved all over the world and it's nice to see how positive these guys still are.
Love Toto!!!! I always blast Hold the Line. It deserves it. A real classic song that defies time to me! Can't autotune that kind of talent.
In the Lilly household it gets shouted out loud!
Toto was more than just a band. They were an assembly of artists who were regularly part of other bands and artists productions. As they said, "we brought ideas and music into (Toto) from many places".
No matter what, "Hold the Line" is the best of Toto. I really enjoyed the interview this time, The guys and you were clearly having fun recalling memories of some outstanding music. ;-)
They have played on so many records and influenced so many other artists. How they are not in the Hall of Fame is beyond me.
Toto was/is one of the best groups of musicians ever to be a band. Jeff is sorely missed. The “Rosanna Shuffle” (itself a take on the Purdy Shuffle) is like a rite of passage for drummers if they can nail it. And Lukather’s guitar playing is just insane. On so many records wailing these long, intricate solos that were usually done on the fly! Amazing. Just listen to the outro of “Running With the Night” by Lionel Ritchie. Steve just slays for like two minutes! The collective resume of Toto members really eclipsed their own records. Just unbelievable. And they are still enjoying it and seem like guys you’d love to have a beer with. Truly some of the best.
Oh and speaking of songs with the piano riff like “Hold The Line” - I always think of “Shakedown Cruise” by Jay Ferguson. Also there’s some sort of line drawn through those to “Clocks” by Coldplay.
The relationship these two men have is so special and lovely to see. They have a tremendous amount of respect for one another and genuinely like working together. That's true friendship right there!
Great interview Prof!!! I love TOTO. I remember telling my friends that TOTO 4 was going to win a Grammy after listening to it. Just love these guys.
Amazing record.
Most underrated band of all time! Never given the respect they deserve! Considering they are not in the so-called "rock and roll Hall of fame" is a badge of honor!
I still love the first album & Jeff is one of my drumming heroes. So bummed that I never got to meet him. So cool to hear Paich & Luke speaking so lovingly about him & his antics.
Also....the song "Hydra" is so under rated.
@dvnbrat Hydra, as a whole, is an underrated album. It’s definitely one of my favourites. 😺
Love Steve Lukather on Georgie Porgie, arguably one of my favorite Toto songs. I also love the song 99 as well. I remember listening to this on an FM portable radio in drafting class with an earbud concealing it with my hand.
They followed their bliss. It's pure joy listening to them recount these life stories that are now a part of music history. "Hold the Line" and "99" are two of those songs you just immediately love and say, "Yeah, I like that song!"
Exactly right Joe!
99 is my favorite song that Toto did. So smooth and hypnotizing. Just puts me in a state of bliss every time.
Love all TOTO songs but Hydra is my favorite. Awesome guitar work and lyrics, "fell into an abyss of thin air, innocence caged in sanctuary...." These guys are class acts to the man.
They tell great stories between song when you see them live. The band holds up well even after all of these years.
I bought VIP tickets to a Toto show for my son and I back in 2013 and got to meet the guys and have a group pic with the band. I was standing next to Luke and said " I heard Hold The Line when I was 15 on my way to a drum lesson and was so enamored by it I can tell you that I'm a musician today because of it. It was my Beatles Ed Sullivan moment and this is my son standing next to me a 2nd generation fan. Man I know you have heard this a million times through the years but I wanted to thank you and the fellas for not compromising to idiotiotic criticism" He stepped back with a sincere smile and reached out his hand to shake and said "wow man that really means a lot and thank you for being fauthful." I knew it wasn't just a reply he had on file and that he really meant it. These fellas have endured so much over the last 50 plus years with unqualified criticism, record company boning, passing of dear brothers and sadly inner band family fallouts but still continue to write and produce incredible music all with the uneducated general public saying "Oh yeah that Africa band".
Hold The Line is my favorite Toto song. Such an incredible and timeless sound.
No kidding. My favorite is 99 but Hold the Line is a total classic.
I'm so glad Toto is getting the attention & respect they deserve in music history. And Steve Lukather- he is up there with McCartney, Barry Gibb, Stevie Wonder, Nile Rodgers, etc. for his songwriting, influence, contributions to other artists & their songs. Music Legend!
He’s the best!!!
Fantastic interview! I never get tired of listening to their songs, or listening to interviews with these guys. I was in a band playing keys, and was stoked that we had hired a singer that could sing Hold the Line, because I couldn't wait to play that piano riff.
Toto IV was the first album i ever bought. So Toto holds a special place in my heart. I was 8 or 9 years old back then and listened to Rosanna and Africa a million times. I really miss those big vinyl albums such great memories.
Thank you for this interview and presentation. You certainly are keeping the music alive for not only a new generation, but also for those of us who grew up with this music.
Steve Lukather is always a great interview.
One of the best bands ever, hands down. And judging from this and other interviews, they seem like a blast to be around! I can't ever get tired of their music; they are some of the most talented artists with some of the most artfully arranged songs. "Rosanna" also happens to be my son's first favorite song from when he was about 6. Love these guys!
Toto's songs are so well written and performed, I never get sick of hearing them. Can't say that about many 'pop' bands. Also, this 'pop' band has one of the best guitarists on the planet in it. Unique and special.
What a great speaking voice! I never expect a great musician to also be great at speaking, but I could listen to him all day.
This is one of the best interviews I’ve ever seen you do. I thoroughly enjoyed this. Toto has a lot of respect from me and as a musician who has played and sung these songs I have even more respect. Please keep up the good work that you do to keep the music alive.
Nice episode! I had the pleasure of recording Steve Lukather for a friend’s album and it was a blast. He’s an amazing musician and a super nice guy. I think we don’ spent more time talking about music and his stories than recording and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Class act all the way!
I bought this album immediately after hearing Hold The Line in 1978. I discovered a diversity of songwriting and talent that was glorious. The opening track "Child's Anthem" blew my young mind! Every single song was a masterpiece. "Girl Goodbye" is still a song that gives me goosebumps. I was thrilled that their management company was "The Fitz-Gerald Hartley Company" :) I felt a quirky kinship to the band. haha. I still have my LP copy to this day.
Hopefully there's more of this interview - could listen to these stories all day long!
There is a lot more!
@@ProfessorofRock Of course there is... you're the best.
Another interview with Paich and Lukather from Toto. Love it! These guys would be so much fun to listen to even if I didn't know their music. God Bless you Professor. Pardon me if I keep telling you I don't know how you get these interviews. But I just appreciate you and the artists making these interviews available to the public. 🙏❤️💗💕💞❤️🙏
All of those Toto hits are part of the fabric of my late 20s. The boys may have gotten sick of playing some of them, but I'll never tire of listening to them.
'99' is an absolutely wonderful song. It was played a lot on laid back FM stations in L.A. back in the Fall and Winter of 1979. The album 'Hydra' is a great album that never gets enough love and attention like the 'S/T' and 'IV' do. In fact the song 'All Us Boys' from 'Hydra' is one of Toto's best songs. It would be a great song for Professor of Rock to do an episode for.
I hadn't gotten the Hydra album yet, although it had been out quite a while and one night I was watching some show that I don't remember, and the video for "All Us Boys" was played. I loved it and went out and bought the album. What a masterpiece. My favs would be "White Sister" "St. George & The Dragon" "Hydra" & "All Us Boys".
99 is my all time favorite Toto song. That whole Hydra record deserves a breakdown from Adam!
OMG! Just when I forgot about my longtime crush on Steve L..seriously since I was12! And even though music is everything to me (no time for tv ) I never like musicians but always seemed to date them and they all mysteriously looked liked Steve! I loved this band!!
Great Riff in Hold The Line .. Love isn't always on time !
One of the catchiest!
If I could meet anyone in the world it would be Steve lukarher .
Such an astounding history.
I've seen just about every interview he's ever done and read his book.
An amazing person.
So humble and so talented .
Just a regular dude.
Love the chemistry these guys have with each other! Great session musicians who played on so many iconic albums. Luke is such a hoot and one helluva guitar player, too. Jeff Pocaro is still so sadly missed, though. Thanks, Adam!
Couldn't agree more!
I loved how they kept tipping their hat to Jeff, he must had been one helluva guy
@@MyName-pl7zn He was, indeed. One of the best drummers of the rock era.
@@robster7316 are there any books about these wild times with him?
@@MyName-pl7zn ruclips.net/video/9IYbnG2DRS0/видео.html
These guys are incredible! They played on everything produced in the 70s and 80s. Amazing.
Their debut album is magnificent. I have listened to it so many times and never get tired of it.
same here have on cassette later records not so crazy about but ok have to dig out see if still plays
So many great songs on there.
And Hydra, too!
I hate to tell Steve & David this but 99 is My favorite Toto song. Great interview. I could listen to them tell stories about Jeff all day. Incredible musicians.
Great interview. I always loved the into and guitars in Hold The Line. Those two really give a great interview. You don't see too many true friendships last as long as theirs in the music world.
Paich is so sweet, naturally friendly. He brings out the best in others and lets his bandmates shine. Lukather and Paich are quite the musical pair.
I had my own "professor of rock" and his name was Uncle Greg, four years my senior. When he put together his own rag-tag trap set in his parents' basement, he was also building his HiFi system (with homemade speaker cabinets) and his record collection. A staple was Toto's first album and we listened to it all the time. I remember watching my uncle bang out "Hold the Line" on his rudimentary drum kit. I thought, "I could do that," and I did. I could just feel the blues pulse of that beat flow through me...and I think it was the first song I ever learned on the drums. My uncle, though, didn't have a personal relationship with the guys who created it. I love your interviews with Luke and Paich! Keep up the great work, keeping the classics alive!
Toto is one of the greatest album bands what made them so great is they had awesome singles to hook you in and when you bought the album you got so many more great songs and a rich diversity of music to enjoy
I was stationed in Berlin when it came out and heard "Hold the Line" in a nightclub. I was immediately hooked. I found out who they were and bought the album. Brings back some amazing memories.
When I listen to Toto so do my neighbors.
It's so great that you think of your neighbours. Good looking out for them.
Got dat right you did
As it should be! 😉
So do I. 😉
This should be played at high volume.... preferably in a residential area....
Love Hold the Line! I remember going to a local church on Saturday mornings to roller skate in their gym and, this was one of the staple songs that was played! Great band! Great memories! Thanks, Adam for another amazing video! Those guys are a riot and it seems that they really enjoyed talking about their first album with you. 👍❤️
Their first album is really exceptional! These guys are soooo talented!
Boz Scaggs has a song that they stepped into the studio with that has some similar riffs.
...Boz needs LOVE, Man! ...a VERY unsung talent, that Dude is me LIFE!
@@RBS_ Yea, Boz, great music definitely!
They worked on all of his stuff too!
I'm trying to get an interview with him!
@@ProfessorofRock ....pleeeeeeeeeease.....Boz is, ***THE ONE*** ......
hey Prof!! My 8 year old son just got his first pair of ZENNI glasses yesterday and they are the best. My boy recently broke his second pair of the year..... because he's, well, an 8 year old boy and my insurance would cover another pair. I told my ex about ZENNI because I'm a faithful watcher of your channel. I even gave her your code, although I don't know if she used it, and we couldn't be more pleased. thanks for spreading the word.
Listen to hold the line 8,000 times in a row couldn't get enough of that song
Wow Adam your interviews get better and better. You could do a part 2 for more songs with them anytime. They were so clean and crisp no wonder they were tight with Becker and Fagen. I liked 99, it’s too simple for their growth though.
But that piano, plus the keyboard solo! 🤯😍
The eponymous Toto debut album was my first all--killer LP at 15 years old. Dave, Luke, Steve, Jeff were instantly my favorite people in the world. It's a feeling that continued to grow through the initial three records with Turn Back being the best for me. They and Joe continue to be the pinnacle of perfection in the humble world of rock 'n 'roll.
I was living briefly with my aunt, uncle and cousin in California in January 1979. We went to visit some of my uncle's (?) relatives in the mountains overlooking San Ber'dino. There was snow on the ground. They had a daughter who was home from college. "Hold The Line" was her fave new song and she'd go around the house singing and dancing to it whenever it would play on the radio. A year later, "99" became *my* favorite song on the radio. I bought and still have the 45 and I still like it almost as much as "Africa" and "I Won't Hold You Back".
Another fantastic ep! Many thanks!
I remember rollerskating to 'Hold the Line' back in the day. That, and 'Running with the Devil' were the rock relief to all the disco.
(Sidenote: Aldo Nova's 'Fantasy' is beyond shameless as far as ripping off from Jefferson, but a great tune, nevertheless!)
I should've mentioned that!
Running With the Devil is a great dance song!
@@ProfessorofRock Professor, Some people, such as me, love both rock and disco. I've never heard disco fans or disco lyrics bash rock. Sometimes they tribute it. But it seems you regret missing another chance to try to cut down disco, like how all you said about Dan Hartman's great unnamed disco work, that had big hits, was that at one point he was getting out if it.
Those songs would have also been a welcomed relief to all the Alternative back in the mid to late 1990s. **Hears AC/DC's Hells Bells playing loud and goes "ahhh this is soothing!"**
@@shiroibasketshoes I don't have a problem with good disco. I love much of the best of that era from Donna Summer to the Bee Gees, it was the really bad disco that ruined it.
What a joy listening to Lukather and Paich Such cool guys I had a huge smile the whole time they talked about the apartment and van
It’s hard to believe TOTO isn’t in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame yet. They’re a one of the best bans ever.SMH
The HOF/Rolling Stone Mag always hated session players and Toto’s musicians are all over everyone’s records. This and the fact that rap and soul artists have been inducted before actual rock bands is why I have no respect for them
In the style of Alex’s famous acceptance speech the hall is nothing but Blah Blah Blah
Right? I feel the same.
That's right. Frustrating.
It’s why the RRHOF is a dump, IMO. The heart of rock and roll can’t be in Cleveland if awesome bands like Toto aren’t in there. SMH.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Well it is located in Cleveland.lol
Hold the line!!!! My wife and I love this song!!! Our kids have this song in their music list,along with a lot of other classic rock!!! We're so proud!!! These guys are just plane cool man! Great interview!!!
Loved Hold the Line the very 1st time I heard it at age 17. Toto is lovely 😍.
Awesome episode Professor! Toto is awesome! Always been a favorite! Such a awesome interview with Steve and David! Such great guy's! Thanks for keeping the music alive!
Was just reading some troll postings about the channel on other forums and can't help but shake my head. I was busting a gut along with these guys as their recollections came back to them. I guess I didn't have access to all the info the trolls say they already knew when they watched an episode and I don't have the time to research it all myself now. It's really nice to share some time with someone who is passionate about my favourite period in music history. Toto has some really good music which I have also passed on t my kids as well. I am continually gleaning bits and pieces of history that I didn't know and probably wouldn't without this channel.
cheers, Adam and keep up the good work.
Wow… this has to be my favorite show. Luke and Paich are so effing cool and fun to listen to. I just watched Sammy’s interview Luke on R&R road trip again and then this popped up recommended. Huge thanks for this one Adam. It had to be a blast sitting in the same room with these guys.
I'd be beside myself. Hard to be calm!
Aw these guys are great. Too cute seeing their obvious friendship! So nice to see- so many band members end up not standing each other. Very warm and generous in their manner. Great interview. Fantastic music/ musicians!
99 is one of those forgotten great songs. If you weren't there when it came out, you missed it. Also, "Take a little rhythm" by Ali Thompson, which came out same time. I always relate those songs together in the same location because both only played at that time of my life.
I was 6 when Hold the Line hit the airwaves, and I instantly loved it. I was 9 when Toto IV came out, and I loved that, too. It took me years to connect that it was the same band. Toto was comprised of some of the best musicians a band could ever hope to have, and they contributed individually to music more than a lot of people realize. Together, they made magic. It saddens me that we will never have a chance to see the original lineup again because we lost some of their members too soon. Steve Lukather is a brilliant guitarist, but his vocals are often overlooked. One of my favorite songs by Toto is Without Your Love, and he sings his heart out on that. People always forget I'll Be Over You and Stranger In Town when they talk about popular Toto songs, but I remember them getting regular rotation on MTV. They're such a huge part of my childhood. I remember so many nights listening to Casey Kasem and hearing their hits, or just listening to them on my Walkman. It's so nice to see that they're actually really just down to Earth, funny guys.
Thanks for this Professor!
Three of favorites!
Hold The Line
Georgy Porgy and 99.
Georgy Porgy is so smooth! Makes me wanna glide in the air.
Hold The Line blew my mind the first time I heard it. Steve Lukather became my guitar hero ever since. I’m the proud owner of The Luke Music Man 1 guitar when it had the Floyd Rose. Steve has always been very gracious each time I’ve spoken with him at smaller venues like the Baked Potato. Very funny and very kind.
They seem like the coolest kids in the room. They have a love for life, you can feel it.
Great interview! Some of my favorite session work these guys did was with RANDY NEWMAN on the TROUBLE IN PARADISE album. You should ask them about that !
Love that song. Released a bit before my time, but still could hear it here and there in the 80’s.
I remember having to memorize piano concertos for performance. After the 15th time, I'd be so tired of it. It didn't matter if I originally loved the song(s).
I LOVE 99, always will. Toto's musicianship is amazing. Luke did such a beautiful job on vocals and guitar, David Paich's piano is gorgeous. Steve Porcaro's solo, David Hungate's bass , Bobby Kimball's sweet backing vocals, and Jeff Porcaro's beautiful drum fills - it's heaven.
I love the rockers, too! The title track of Hydra is so cool!
Love, love, love Toto! My all time favorite band. 11 or 12 years old when I first knew their music.
I saw them 8 times, the first gig was in Lausanne/Switzerland with Jeff... Incredible memories. The "Hold The Line" riff was the same kind of shock as the intro of "Smoke On The Water". Catchy riff, powerful, with lots of energy and groove. One of the first grooves I learned to play from a music score on drums when I began many years later. That song is clearly part of the soundtrack in my life. I love these guys and had the huge privilege to meet them at a "meet and greet" in march 2018 in Geneva.
I grew up on 'Yacht Rock', Toto, Eagles, Steely Dan. Fantastic stuff.Or course, the countless covers of Toto's songs are amazing in their own right.
This is one of the best interviews ever! These guys have so much music history between them. You just gotta ask one question and off they go with some amazing stories. Love it!!
Hold The Line was the first song that I can remember as a kid that made me love the sound of a power chord riff. Still love it to this day
These fellows from Toto are such great interviews and story tellers of the music every time you feature them. Great music from Toto, great episode and a most excellent (as usual) interview by the Professor of Rock. 🍺😎🇨🇦
I always love hearing these guys relate their rock and roll lives in interviews. They make it sound so... I don't know... normal, adventurous, accidental, spontaneous, opportunistic, lucky,... have I missed anything? Yes.
I've only recently rediscovered Toto and admittedly, never really got into their music when they were in their prime. I was a music snob that only listened to the prescribed bands that formed the "classic rock" banner of the time, which was the late '70s and early '80s for me. Little did I know that the band was a music powerhouse that crossed genres like they were water.
They are legend and I wish the music industry could go back to favouring the artist over the business and profit aspect a bit more nowadays. I guess the business was just as exploitive then as it is now, or maybe more. Those hard days sure made for some great music and memories though!
this interview's a riot. they were like giddy school boys. they really enjoy each other's company.
Always interesting to hear the greats talk about the details of their songs' evolutions.
Awesome story about them. They were great in concert back in the late 70's.
I saw Toto in the very early1980s at the Texas Winter garden Ballroom in Dallas. The show was just great, but electricity went out for a while. One of the band members decided to entertain the audience by juggling. Who knew that he could juggle! Power came back on and the show continued. It was really cool!
They were playing 'hold the line' on my local AOR radio station in 1978. I was a 5th grader. I literally saved lunch money for a couple of weeks to go buy the album. That record made me want to be a musician. I just could not believe the sounds coming out of my stereo. I couldn't believe that music could be played so well. It was from another planet. A really good planet!
One of the all time great bands who I still listen to probably weekly. TRUE musicians. TOTO is the real deal.
Love Toto... got every album.. seen them every time they came to Australia..Steve Lukather is a guitar king, with a great voice. David Paich has the chops.. both have solo albums out now that are excellent..very Totoish in style. They both come across as cool, humble guys. Love your interview with them. So many gems.
Those guys played with EVERYONE. Great interview.
What a fun pair of guys and awesome interview. I've always loved Toto now I have more mad respect.
I love love love love love how close they still are after all this time together.
Lol.