There are few bands that can boast the critical acclaim of Toto, who with an almost 50-year career have won fans of all ages and still fill arenas around the world.
Their longevity is as impressive as their output, which includes fourteen studio albums, eight live albums, and the movie soundtrack to David Lynch's 1984 Dune film. Though many of the original members of the supergroup are no longer in the band, the music lives on under the indefatigable lead guitarist Steve Lukather.
On Friday 7 February the band plays Forest National, bringing their timeless hits to the sold-out venue. Ahead of the show, Lukather spoke to The Brussels Times about a lifetime of rock and roll and the thrill of being on tour.
He calls from the 60th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, midway through a tour with the supergroup Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. Lukather (67) pays tribute to his bandmates and founders of the group. "I'm keeping the music alive. It's Jeff Porcaro and David Paich’s band. Always has been, always will be. I'm holding the torch." The pair recruited Lukather in 1977 and the virtuoso guitarist is now the driving force and only original member to play live.
For most of the world, Toto is "the Africa band" – a song that has gained them almost universal fame. "We're a lot more than just Africa," Lukather insists. But he's honest about what the song did for them, and continues to do. "We have this new other speaker audience from 15 to 35 that just got to us through Africa. There’s this whole new interest in us and a whole new audience, which is causing us a great deal of success in streaming world and in live ticket sales."
He explains his astonishment when he found that the band recently sold 20,000 tickets for a stadium show in Holland in just the first four days and with five months until the show itself. The numbers are staggering, he says. "Our streaming is three million a day, 86 million last month which rises to four to six billion if you count Youtube. I don't want to question it too much, but I'm very grateful."
Boundless energy and the electric touch. Lukather on stage.
Toto has had a remarkable run but Lukather isn't planning to pack it in any time soon. "I tried retirement. It sucks!" he tells me. And besides, there's a growing international appetite for the band's music: "Our stock keeps going up. You don't jump off of a winning team. And anyway, I get bored if I’m not playing."
He's one of the most talented guitarists in history but there's still a point when the years catch up with you. I ask if he feels as capable as ever. "I'm probably better now because I'm not trying so hard. It's a young man's game to try to be the fastest gun in the West."
But if life has taught Lukather to be more relaxed, this old dog can still growl and there's a lot about the modern music business that gets him gnashing his teeth: "YouTube doesn't pay a dime. You know dog s**t money. They shouldn't be allowed to do that." The band managed to sell more than 50 million records; one wonders how much higher would this be if it weren't for streaming.
Fortunately, it's still possible to see the music live, and it's a show Lukather is eager to share. "I got some of the best musicians along with me. We're bringing the best version and the best musicianship and singing live. You should see live musicians really jam and interplay. It's not the same every night."
