Total articles: 322
The first wave of acts for this year’s North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam have been announced. The most remarkable names are Toto, Lauryn Hill, Diana Krall, Jamie Cullum, Joe Jackson and the legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach.
Toto is headlining on Saturday July 13th.
TOTO's 2018 live show is on display for all fans via '40 Tours Around The Sun', the Anniversary DVD, Blu-Ray and 2CD release.
Out January 30 in Japan on all formats, including Ltd Ed DVD/2CD or Blu-Ray/2CD Combos. The same will be released worldwide in February.
With his life story now in hardcover, Steve Lukather reflects on what it takes to be a successful guitarist. (Jude Gold· Guitar Player, November 14, 2018)
On November 12th 2018 Sir Ringo Starr announced tour plans for 2019 with his All Starr Band, featuring Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Gregg Rolie, Warren Ham, Gregg Bissonette and the return of All Starr alum Hamish Stuart (of Average White Band fame).
This is considered the 13th edition of the Ringo Starr All Starr Band. The 12th edition set a record for longevity by far by being together from 2012-2017. Steve Lukather (g,v Toto) and Gregg Rolie (k,v Santana, Journey) were members of that record-setting edition and came back to attempt to set more records of their own. They are chasing Richard Page (Mr. Mister) as the longest consecutively tenured "All Starr". Gregg Bissonette as a band member has been Ringo's next door neighbor on the drum kit for a decade. Warren Ham, Luke's Toto bandmate and multi-instrumentalist, has been along for the ride since 2014.
"Music City" is the perfect name for Nashville, Tennessee. Everything on this trip added up. The historic Ryman, the Musicians Hall of Fame, a sold-out show, another stellar Toto performance, an audience that gets it and the musicians that came out to see Toto. (By Reggie Boyle)
The North American portion of the Toto "40 Trips around the Sun" Tour was just beginning to roll. 40 Trips meant just that. This is the 40th anniversary for Toto. I caught the third show of the Tour in the Rose City, Portland Oregon. The sold out Revolution Hall just barely survived the Toto thunder. The nearly 100 year old venue was rocking from start to finish. This was my first look at Toto with Dominique "Xavier" Taplin (Prince) taking over on keyboards for David Paich.
Toto has announced that David Paich will not be performing on the band’s planned North American tour. The recent European appearances took a toll on his personal well-being, and it is in his best interests to forego the impact the rigorous wear and tear being on the road brings until he is feeling 100 percent. He plans on focusing on his health, and looks forward to returning to the road when ready to do so.
Lenny Castro is a percussionist extraordinaire. He is a four decade pal of Steve Lukather since Luke's late teens. Lenny has never recorded a solo project but that isn't true anymore. "Hands of Silk and Stone" is a perfect description of Lenny and the title of his new solo release. Once again Lenny warmly invited me to his Southern California home and we basked in the sunlight under the clear blue skies to talk about his release and among other things Toto.
Steve Lukather: "Please don't be mad but my book has been pushed back till September due to unforeseen issues. Yet a very few have leaked out."
Spinal Tap Bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) recently released a great CD "Smalls Change". CJ Vanston was Harry's musical partner on this release and Steve Lukather played on it along with a few other Luke music partners. Since CJ is tight with Luke and the Toto cats and was a huge part of the highly successful Toto release "XIV" I thought this would be a great chance to sit and chat with CJ about this fun project and a few other things.
Due to unforeseen roadblocks and us having to wait for some photo clearances, Luke's book will be released about first of June.
I recently saw guitar player Albert Lee (Eric Clapton) play an intimate gig in Thousand Oaks, Ca. Playing drums with him was Gary Ferguson. Gary is what you call a true master of his craft. As soon as I saw him with Albert, I had a flashback of seeing him on the Steve Lukather/Larry Carlton tour. I knew right then and there I had to interview him, as he smoothly backed Albert, memories of his time with Gary Moore & Glenn Hughes also came to mind. Gary kindly worked some time into his schedule and he invited me to his Southern California residence for a laid back, one on one interview.
Recently we completed the Steve Lukather Tour Archive, showing all the Lukather concerts and gigs we could possibly find, from the first tour with Boz Scaggs (1977-1978) till now. Around 2300 live performances!!!
After 6 mindblowing shows at 3 nights this weekend, Nerve Bundle is ready for 9 shows at 5 nights in Nagoya, Osaka and Tokyo, from December 18 till December 22. Of course our special agent Reggie Boyle was at the Baked Potato to share the vibes with us.
Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band and new tour dates through Europe and Israel for 2018. In June, the All Starrs embark on a 21 date tour that will kick off in Paris France and includes shows in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Monaco, Netherlands and Israel, concluding in Italy. The last time the All Starrs toured Europe was 2011.
Toto plans to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its debut album Toto (1978) in style next year -- starting with a new best-of compilation, 40 Trips Around The Sun, that features three previously unreleased songs, including the brand new track, "Alone," which is premiering exclusively below. Check out "Alone" and more album info after the break.
With Nerve Bundle playing shows upcoming soon at the World Famous Baked Potato in Los Angeles and at Billboard Live in Japan right before Christmas, I thought it would be cool to talk to some of the guys before the gigs. Nerve Bundle is led by Steve Lukather (g), Jeff Babko (k), Jorgen Carlsson (b) and Toss Panos (d).
The first two weeks of Ringo's All Starr Band current US tour are a Las Vegas PLanet Hollywood event, started October 13th and lasting till October 28th. Our special reporter Reggie Boyle was there, of course, for the first impressions...
Here we go again. The combination of the magical Greek Theater (8/29/17), Los Angeles, hometown, TONS of hits, fellow musicians, friends, family in the crowd and the added bonus of Angelenos Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo on a co headlining bill.
Lukather: "Toto has been running uphill with butter on our bare feet for 40 years. To finally get a little respect in the USA this late in the game is truly amazing and no one is more grateful than we are and its because of the fans."
