Farmers Insurance Commercial

by **brandonx76** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:46 pm

Anyone see this? I couldn't believe what I was watching. Saw it during the 'Journey-man' TV show on NBC (US)

A Farmer's insurance customer (named Rosanna), awakens in the morning to see a band playing outside her home. A bad cover, played by a bad look-a-like band in a commercial for Farmer's Insurance. I'm sure the band got paid. But come'on...They could've used the real band!

by **MarcelJordan** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:11 am

Is this what Luke is talking about, mentioned here in Melodicrock?

Im confused. David Paich did this? WTH?!

by **MarcelJordan** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:11 am

Is this what Luke is talking about, mentioned here in Melodicrock?

Im confused. David Paich did this? WTH?!

by **LtVanish** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:27 am

MarcelJordan wrote:Is this what Luke is talking about, mentioned here in Melodicrock?

Im confused. David Paich did this? WTH?!

Sounds like Luke is pissed off about this. I don't blame him one bit. The guys have been trying hard to get rediscovered in the US and now this commercial comes out.

by **brandonx76** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 5:25 am

Yeah... they're not too happy about this one. I appreciate Luke's candor (the guy is as real as it gets)...Maybe this was, at the time it was brought up, being taken too seriously. It would've been cool if the band was in it... I'd hate to see a Paich'less Toto on future albums.

by **JohnH** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:27 am

My band auditioned for this for the fake Toto part. Our agent should have told us they wanted an 80s band, then we wouldn't have wasted our time going down there. We are a Doors tribute band with a Jim lookalike so definitely not what was required. A funny coincidence, my regular weekend band is using a new sub bassist, and when I went to see his band a couple of weeks ago he told me he did this commercial. I told him I'm one of the few people that he could come up to that actually auditioned and would know what he's talking about. The commercial is only airing in the Midwest, not on the West Coast or LA markets. Ill have to get more details when he gigs with us tomorrow.

JH

by **bbweekend** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:37 pm

It's a funny commercial, and I don't see anything detrimental to Toto at all. Luke should get a sense of humor. :roll:

by **WalrusOct9** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 6:49 am

I used to DESPISE classic rock songs (or even new songs that I liked) being in commercials.

Eventually I came around to songs OCCASIONALLY being used tastefully. Like those Liberty Mutual ads that feature the wonderfully brilliant music of Hem...the songs aren't about insurance but it isn't any worse than seeing a song taken out of context in a movie, which happens all the time.

However, when the song is involved in a "plot" as cheezy as this one sounds, and not even being performed by Toto, that's a fucking disgrace and Paich should've at least consulted with the rest of the band about it. I think that was a little short sighted. It's Dave's song, but it's Luke's band, and anything he does in regards to the songs he wrote for Toto will still reflect on the rest of the band members, even if he has excused himself from being a working musician...err...touring with Toto for the last 4 years.

I could see something like this happening with a band like Journey who's past and present members have acrimonious relationships, but Dave is still technically a member of Toto...I would've expected better.

I was even there, backstage, last year when Dave came to Toto's show at the Wiltern in LA and the band hadn't really seen him since the FiB tour started. (I won a contest through Toto99.com for a pre-show meet & greet...I'm not anything special in relation to the band, don't worry :wink:

) If after watching that, this has put a huge strain on the relationship Dave has with his former bandmates, I'm going to be really bummed.

by **crazy mar tay** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 7:31 am

guys...to some its no big deal i guess ...I ve read the posts...I do not think its JUST about the money. Its about Toto looking like has-been ass clowns selling out to be made fun of on TV!!

They are serious musicians IMO the best at what they do for the music they do in the world. they are all funny good guys but what that jag-bag "bad neighbor" Paich did is beyond bad.

He knew luke-san and the guys said " FUCK NO"! to it (per lukes posts on the site) and Paich didn't care how it would make them look, what damage to the already bad image it would do or nothing n did it and is making more money than most of us see in years!

It's not about getting paid...its about not fucking over your brothers who are doing ALL the work and are the active band. Paich doesn't deserve to be on the website or be in the band at all. I always thought of him a talent for sure but a WORLD class dickhead.. and well this proves it!

This WILL make toto look bad. Noone has a clue what the guys look like they really don't and this is embarassing to them! David Paich knew this n doesn't care.. so fuck dp!

I hope Paich isn't allowed back on tour with the band he doesn't deserve to be with them. What's next Dave??? Celebrity death match?? having someone kill your band in the ring while singing I won't hold you back??

Like I said ....this guy sucks.

Long live Luke and the real toto.....It's not ALL money guys. If it were they would've done it and gotten paid for it. Lukather n the guys knew what this would do to them. Respect, pride , hard work are all all being trashed just to make a few bucks for the guy who doesn't do anything anymore with the band except collect checks while hanging his "friends" out to dry.

sad.

c.m.

by **WalrusOct9** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 9:56 am

Paich hasn't really been with the band outside the studio since March of 2005 (I may have actually seen Dave's last performance with Toto, at The Vault in Long Beach that month). The band will continue as normal without him as far as being a live entity, but I can't see them making a new studio album without Dave. It's Luke's band, but Dave is still the main musical force from a compositional standpoint, and I really don't see them making another Toto album without him...otherwise, what would be the difference between that and a Luke solo album, really? Greg is an amazing talent, but it's Dave's writing style that really defines the Toto sound, and I'd rather not see them try to make another album without him.

by **weatherman90** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 12:01 pm

I hope they can work it out. They've been through tougher things, though.

Even Bobby and Fergie went out and did this kind of stuff, but the band forgave them.

by **WalrusOct9** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:22 pm

Bobby and Fergie never insulted Luke on this level. From what I understand, it was more of an annoyance.

To paraphrase Luke, Bobby and Fergie (seperately) were going out as 'Toto' or 'The Voice of Toto' so when the REAL Toto would try to book shows in those markets, the promoters would say "you guys were just here 3 months ago," when in reality it was one of their former singers.

It took a lot of years for those fences to be mended...but at this juncture the band doesn't really have that kind of time, IMO.

I think FiB might be their last album anyways, though. I mean, Bobby is 60, and it's taking them 4-7 years to get around to making an album, meaning he'd be pushing 65 by the next concievable time Toto would record...and I just don't see it happening. I hope the members continue to work together in some capacity, but I think they're going to do one more big tour (the 30th anniversary tour) and that's it. If the 30th anniv. tour started next year and ended in 2009, that would realistically see 2011 being the next Toto album, and I just don't see it happening. I hope I'm wrong though.

by **weatherman90** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 3:02 pm

I hope you're wrong too, but Bobby's age is always a factor. I love Bobby - I mean he can't hit the high notes like Fergie, but does he ever try. You can tell he puts a lot of work into his voice and it still sounds great on a lot of songs. After the 30th Anniv. Tour, my guess is that he will retire. At that point, I think the band will continue, though, since Luke, Greg, Simon, Mike, and even Spinner are all fairly young yet. They will probably move on with a past vocalist like Fergie or Joe. Fergie still sounds really good, but he's almost as old as Bobby. Joe, on the other hand, is only 46 - if his voice is in shape still (I haven't heard it lately), he would be the likely replacement. If they can't get either Fergie or Joe, who knows.

This is all just my random speculation, of course. Its not like I've talked to Luke and asked him his future plans

.

Who knows, maybe Steve Perry will join Toto in 2010. :lol:

by **JohnH** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 7:46 pm

Here's the commercial.

http://s183.photobucket.com/albums/x298 ... 6c21e4.flv

I spoke our bass player last night about this. (He's playing keyboards in the commercial, if you blink you'll miss him) He told me the original soundtrack was a band in the studio who did the Toto cut note for note. But then they were told by the directors that they wanted it to sound lame, like a loser band from the 80s that was washed up and couldn't cut it anymore. I can see why Luke is pissed. Toto are out there kicking ass, having produced what is arguably their greatest album in recent memory and a major force onstage in 2007. They were the best band I saw in 2006. This really does make them look like they suck. Stupid. David can't possibly need the money.

John

by **LtVanish** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 12:45 am

OMG that is a terrible commercial, I don't find it funny at all.

by **WalrusOct9** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 1:16 am

Wow. That WAS awful.

I don't blame Luke one bit.

Anyone think the (fake) bass player looks kinda like Nikki Sixx?

by **brandonx76** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 3:34 am

WalrusOct9 wrote:Wow. That WAS awful.

I don't blame Luke one bit.

Anyone think the (fake) bass player looks kinda like Nikki Sixx?

I was thinking Steve Vai.

by **JohnH** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 7:26 am

Oh and I want to add, now that I think about, it I thank god I'm in the wrong band and was not a part of this commercial. I would not want to be a part of making fun of some of my favorite musicians and music.

John

by **weatherman90** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 10:21 am

WalrusOct9 wrote:Wow. That WAS awful.

I don't blame Luke one bit.

Anyone think the (fake) bass player looks kinda like Nikki Sixx?

Anyone think the vocalist looks like Eddie Money?

by **LtVanish** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 12:52 pm

weatherman90 wrote:
WalrusOct9 wrote:Wow. That WAS awful.

I don't blame Luke one bit.

Anyone think the (fake) bass player looks kinda like Nikki Sixx?

Anyone think the vocalist looks like Eddie Money?

LoL, not even Eddie has a hairdo like that.

by **Moon Beam** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 1:19 am

I was wondering if I'd seen the commercial after reading about it
on the main page, nope I hadn't......I would be upset about it as well.
Thanks for posting a link so I could see for myself JohnH.

by **=bg=** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 4:13 am

I saw the last frame of this on TV..didn't know what it was. But looking at the singer, I immediatelythought of a has-been 80's hair-rock group.

I can see why Lukather is upset. People will think that's Toto. The one guy on the left, tho, looked like Steve Vai to me...

by **bbweekend** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 7:47 pm

Get a sense of humor Steve. It's so bad it's funny. That's the idea here. :lol:

by **Rockinreggie** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 10:05 pm

bbweekend wrote:Get a sense of humor Steve. It's so bad it's funny. That's the idea here.

No, it's not about a sense of humor. Bands like Toto have a tough enough time selling tickets & product in the U.S. Anything negative doesn't help one bit. America is so ignorant about music these days that it's not funny. One stupid Beavis & Butthead skit almost by itself put an end to another talented American band Winger. Luke told me at the NAMM Show several years ago "F" American Radio, "F" American promoters! We can go to Europe & make a shitload of money. And they did just that & will continue to do just that. You probably aren't very knowledgable about the music business & think it's "just a joke". But you couldn't be more wrong. There is a posibility Toto won't Tour the U.S. ever again partly because of things like this.

by **WalrusOct9** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:30 am

It's harder to have a sense of humor when said humor is at the expense of your music, and thus, your livelihood.

by **weatherman90** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:37 am

Rockinreggie wrote:
bbweekend wrote:Get a sense of humor Steve. It's so bad it's funny. That's the idea here.
No, it's not about a sense of humor. Bands like Toto have a tough enough time selling tickets & product in the U.S. Anything negative doesn't help one bit. America is so ignorant about music these days that it's not funny. One stupid Beavis & Butthead skit almost by itself put an end to another talented American band Winger. Luke told me at the NAMM Show several years ago "F" American Radio, "F" American promoters! We can go to Europe & make a shitload of money. And they did just that & will continue to do just that. You probably aren't very knowledgable about the music business & think it's "just a joke". But you couldn't be more wrong. There is a posibility Toto won't Tour the U.S. ever again partly because of things like this.

Very well said. I do hope they can move on, though.

by **bbweekend** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:42 pm

Rockinreggie wrote:
bbweekend wrote: You probably aren't very knowledgable about the music business & think it's "just a joke". But you couldn't be more wrong. There is a posibility Toto won't Tour the U.S. ever again partly because of things like this.

That's where you're wrong friend. I've been in this 'business' since 1972. I've probably forgotten more industry people I've met than you'll ever dream of. Toto's problem isn't a stupid commercial. It's primarily because of factors out of their control. Media, promotion, "hip hop," etc. Oh, and one problem that's within their control: infighting.

by **Rockinreggie** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:18 pm

bbweekend wrote:
Rockinreggie wrote:
bbweekend wrote: You probably aren't very knowledgable about the music business & think it's "just a joke". But you couldn't be more wrong. There is a posibility Toto won't Tour the U.S. ever again partly because of things like this.
That's where you're wrong friend. I've been in this 'business' since 1972. I've probably forgotten more industry people I've met than you'll ever dream of. Toto's problem isn't a stupid commercial. It's primarily because of factors out of their control. Media, promotion, "hip hop," etc. Oh, and one problem that's within their control: infighting.

No you couldn't be more wrong. I'm sure I know more relevant musos than you'll ever know. But that doesn't really mean anything. You may be in the music biz but that doesn't mean you know what you're talking about. Why don't you read what I wrote again & this time it may make sense to you. I didn't say it was the reason, I said partly. When mainstream Americas' only exposure to Toto is that stupid commercial then it will make a difference. The factors you listed are a big part of the reason but not the only reasons.

by **bbweekend** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 7:30 pm

All I'm gonna say is I'm tired of the 'industry' and its practices. I've met a lot of good people along the way. As for the commercial, well, I suppose I saw it different than you, and it had the intended effect on me, which made me laugh. It didn't change my appreciation for such a fantastic band, but that's me. I can see your concern too. I just can't see how it would affect the future of the band any worse than their American fan base being deprived of seeing them in their own country. It took 30 years for them to play my city this year, and I finally got to see them live, after I'd given up on it. Keep rockin!

by **Rockinreggie** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 8:10 pm

bbweekend wrote:All I'm gonna say is I'm tired of the 'industry' and its practices. I've met a lot of good people along the way. As for the commercial, well, I suppose I saw it different than you, and it had the intended effect on me, which made me laugh. It didn't change my appreciation for such a fantastic band, but that's me. I can see your concern too. I just can't see how it would affect the future of the band any worse than their American fan base being deprived of seeing them in their own country. It took 30 years for them to play my city this year, and I finally got to see them live, after I'd given up on it. Keep rockin!

Thanks ! I figured you'd come back & try to rip me a new one. I really do have many friends in the business. Most of them are artists. So they are pretty much all fed up with the "music industry". The way I would see it affecting a band that's been around for thirty years is it's probably the ONLY exposure most of America gets concerning Toto. The picture I saw on the commercial is "washed up '80's band". In reality if you watch the Toto Live in Amsterdam DVD you see a brilliant group of musicians. It doesn't make a difference how old they are. I am probably a little "touchy" on the subject as I have written for www.stevelukather.net for 5 years & consider Steve a friend.

MR

Farmers Insurance Commercial

Farmers Insurance Commercial

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