Mr. Lukather Comments...

[Andrew]

In regards to the Bobby Kimball situation, Luke asked me to post the following comment:


"SOME people think *I*/ WE Toto, said it was OK for Bobby to do all this. It could not be FARTHER from the truth. ALL the the guys are pissed off at him and we will NEVER work together again. I think what I saw and heard was an abomination of our legacy and the cheese factor is unreal.
He used our name and likeness to sell his karaoke shit version of Toto, a band and legacy that we were proud of, and the records that we made meant alot to us and worked REALLY hard on them. It is definitly NOT cool what he did and our ex-mananger sent mail after mail telling him to stop. He never even replied or said he was sorry!
Nope, that was the last nail in the coffin of Toto, with HIM anyway. NEVER again and the worst part is he will CONTINUE to do this worldwide!
All the lawyers in the world cant fight the rules in every different country as the rules are different and it would be too expensive and stressful for us to hassel it! It just sucks, that all I can say."

[weatherman90]

I didn't even know there was a new Bobby situation.

Just now looked at the video, this is very unfortunate given that this happened in the past but Luke was able to forgive him. It's a tragedy that Toto had to split up and I can understand Bobby's desire to continue touring, but I wish he could just do so without upsetting the rest of the band.

I'm a huge fan of Bobby but it breaks my heart to hear that this situation may have been the very last straw for Luke.

[brandonx76]

In regards to the Bobby Kimball situation, Luke asked me to post the following comment:


"SOME people think *I*/ WE Toto, said it was OK for Bobby to do all this. It could not be FARTHER from the truth. ALL the the guys are pissed off at him and we will NEVER work together again. I think what I saw and heard was an abomination of our legacy and the cheese factor is unreal.
He used our name and likeness to sell his karaoke shit version of Toto, a band and legacy that we were proud of, and the records that we made meant alot to us and worked REALLY hard on them. It is definitly NOT cool what he did and our ex-mananger sent mail after mail telling him to stop. He never even replied or said he was sorry!
Nope, that was the last nail in the coffin of Toto, with HIM anyway. NEVER again and the worst part is he will CONTINUE to do this worldwide!
All the lawyers in the world cant fight the rules in every different country as the rules are different and it would be too expensive and stressful for us to hassel it! It just sucks, that all I can say."

Let me preface this by stating - BY FAAAARRRR - Luke has got to be coolest mo-fo musician artist around. Not only does he have an collection of work to single-handledly justify his mark on the musical landscape, we...as mere consumers, (and mortals) so gluttanenously digest on a day to day basis - he bothers to let us know what's on his mind admidst intensly personal matters, and maintains a work/tour schedule that would rival the latest power-pop upstart. Arguably, the Toto legacy has seen alot of abuse, and critique over the years..Their most recent criticism, as a cohesive whole, came from the hard core fans, pointed in the direction of the all 'Covers' project - Through the Looking Glass. (personally, I never understood this critique - Their album of covers EASILY and ARGUABLY bests 95% of the other 'cover' projects released by modern rock/pop bands to date. (Take a listen to the Herbie Hancock Instrumental fusion cover, or Sunshine of Your Love, absolute brilliance)

I think the casual listener, and even the more astute listener, can spot a fake on the spot. Bobby's recent solo performance efforts to bad audio tracks, are clearly an opportunity cash-in on a hard earned and long-standing legacy.

When the damage is done, I would be genuinely suprised if Bobby did not, under self-admission, see opportunities for improvement.

One does have to consider that Bobby - (who I believe is nearing his mid 60's (god bless you brother)), has a short amount of time on his hands. That does, by no means, justify the ass-raping of the parent band's, music legacy because you have ill-invested in marketing and producing yourself as a proper solo-artist overseas....

Rather than drawing lines in the sand, I would hope at this stage the band could continue to find opportunities to function as a unit, perhaps as an occasional live act and a continuing recording act. TOTO should have Joseph, Bobby, and Fergie on a future album.

After reading this, I have significant doubts about any possibility of a follow-up album to Falling in Between - and that is the shame!!! I hope this stuff is mendable, but at the end of the day, it's none of our business. Thanks for your honesty, Luke and remember...don't sweat the small stuff.

- Brandon

P.S - "White Sister" came up on my iPod today - I forgot how great this song is.

[hydraturnback]

This situation is just bizarre.

Look - as I said in an earlier thread, when I saw the video of Bobby crucifying Africa in Asia I was CERTAIN that the guys had not given their blessing on this.. how could they? - he has gone out there using the TOTO name and made a mockery of it. A complete fucking shambles.

I can understand that Bobby maybe wanted to continue the success of the last few years that TOTO had - who could blame him? However (and believe me, I am no great judge on the matter).. I am not sure if Bobby really knew how bad this was going to look... has he just made a mistake? An error of Judgement? Maybe not.. I don't know the guy at all..

LUKE would be the best judge.

I can only comment on my take on this. And believe me, it could very well be an uneducated view (having never met the guys..) but Luke (and TOTO) have all the right in the world to be fucked-off with this.

Was Bobby dumb enough to not think of the ramifications of his actions? Surely not..

I have to agree with Brandon - LUKE has constantly shown enough integrity to come onto these boards and give his very PASSIONATE view on a number of items that have risen in the past.

You have just got to love that fucking DUDE!!!

LUKE, thanks for posting on here. You are totally transparent when it comes to things like this.
I hope that things will work out. I know there are MANY Toto fans that hope one day you guys will come back.

Regards
hydra

[WalrusOct9]

I apologize for anything I might have said in the other thread. I have the utmost respect for both of them...Luke (along with the Edge...I'm a massive U2 fan) is hands down my biggest inspiration as a guitarist and musician, and Bobby is a tremendous talent and one of the most genuine people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.


I certainly didn't mean to sound like I knew what Luke or the band's feelings were, but I did seem to get the idea that things were cool based on an interview posted on Luke's official site where he says: (link: http://www.stevelukather.net/Article.aspx?id=56)

Reggie: That leads me to my next question. What's the difference having your name on the marquee instead of a band name?

Luke: "I would hope that the Toto fans would come out and see me. I've gotten some really kind letters. They found me on the internet through the Network or the message boards where they left me some nice messages except for a couple. One guy said he'd buy the new record but he wouldn't come see me play unless Simon was playing drums. It's like come on man this isn't a personal thing against Simon. Not at ALL! He was one of the most understanding cats in the whole band, really. Bobby sent me nothing but congratulatory messages and notes. He's going to be out there doing all those songs. He's going to be doing this stuff until he drops. He's doing Russia. He's doing places I never got to go. He gets a pickup band and makes a shitload of money. If that's what he wants to do then hats off to him. It used to piss me off in the old days. The band's not together anymore. If that's how he needs to make a living then I'm sure he was going to do that anyway."

I'm just a little confused by all this, I guess. Yes, it's unquestionably lame, but isn't any different than how I see some other artists promoted. Dennis DeYoung "performs the hits of Styx" is one...it's what happens when the band is bigger than any of it's individual members, I suppose. I don't blame Luke for seeing that video and responding in that way, although I do believe the TV performance with it's canned backing track was a product of TV studio demands and isn't what is being presented on the concert stage. (I don't think even Jesus could sell out a venue doing something that lame) But it did seem, a few months ago, that Luke seemed to just accept that Bobby going out singing Toto tunes was an inevitability, and was accepting of it since the band was over.


It's really none of our business, and I love that Luke has the balls to consistently come out and speak his mind, even if it comes off as a bit of a knee-jerk reaction at times (Love his emails to the Lefsetz letter...they're always spot on), but hey, the internet was built for such reactions, right? But now that it's out there, I can't help but be a little confused about it. *shrug*

[hydraturnback]

Reggie: That leads me to my next question. What's the difference having your name on the marquee instead of a band name?

Luke: "I would hope that the Toto fans would come out and see me. I've gotten some really kind letters. They found me on the internet through the Network or the message boards where they left me some nice messages except for a couple. One guy said he'd buy the new record but he wouldn't come see me play unless Simon was playing drums. It's like come on man this isn't a personal thing against Simon. Not at ALL! He was one of the most understanding cats in the whole band, really. Bobby sent me nothing but congratulatory messages and notes. He's going to be out there doing all those songs. He's going to be doing this stuff until he drops. He's doing Russia. He's doing places I never got to go. He gets a pickup band and makes a shitload of money. If that's what he wants to do then hats off to him. It used to piss me off in the old days. The band's not together anymore. If that's how he needs to make a living then I'm sure he was going to do that anyway."

Hi Walrus,
I think in reading what LUKE said in the above that it is one thing that Bobby goes out with a band and does the hits with some kind of integrity, but another thing going on a dodgy TV show and totally trashing the image of TOTO in 3 easy steps:
1. Totally shit "casio" backing track
2. Two unrelated, insignificant sidekicks (guitarist from Tower of Power?)
3. Low professionalism and high cheese factor.

I think that he is always going to be under the microscope even if he does go out under the banner of "Bobby Kimball singing the Greatest Hits of Toto" - but at least TRY go out with the same intensity that had come before with the band.

Agreed - TV is always hard (and it looked like early morning TV too) but the whole thing just stunk - and the more I look at the video, the more I think that Bobby has just simply cashed in.

Maybe Luke DID end a chapter on the TOTO legacy.

However I am amazed that Bobby took it to mean he could do whatever he wanted with the name and bring home the cash the way he has...

regards
hydra

[Irwin M Fletcher]

In regards to the Bobby Kimball situation, Luke asked me to post the following comment:


"SOME people think *I*/ WE Toto, said it was OK for Bobby to do all this. It could not be FARTHER from the truth. ALL the the guys are pissed off at him and we will NEVER work together again. I think what I saw and heard was an abomination of our legacy and the cheese factor is unreal.
He used our name and likeness to sell his karaoke shit version of Toto, a band and legacy that we were proud of, and the records that we made meant alot to us and worked REALLY hard on them. It is definitly NOT cool what he did and our ex-mananger sent mail after mail telling him to stop. He never even replied or said he was sorry!
Nope, that was the last nail in the coffin of Toto, with HIM anyway. NEVER again and the worst part is he will CONTINUE to do this worldwide!
All the lawyers in the world cant fight the rules in every different country as the rules are different and it would be too expensive and stressful for us to hassel it! It just sucks, that all I can say."

i dont understand what luke's problem is? he obviously doesn't want to play toto songs anymore so whats wrong with bobby kimball going out and playing them?

[Andrew]

In regards to the Bobby Kimball situation, Luke asked me to post the following comment:


"SOME people think *I*/ WE Toto, said it was OK for Bobby to do all this. It could not be FARTHER from the truth. ALL the the guys are pissed off at him and we will NEVER work together again. I think what I saw and heard was an abomination of our legacy and the cheese factor is unreal.
He used our name and likeness to sell his karaoke shit version of Toto, a band and legacy that we were proud of, and the records that we made meant alot to us and worked REALLY hard on them. It is definitly NOT cool what he did and our ex-mananger sent mail after mail telling him to stop. He never even replied or said he was sorry!
Nope, that was the last nail in the coffin of Toto, with HIM anyway. NEVER again and the worst part is he will CONTINUE to do this worldwide!
All the lawyers in the world cant fight the rules in every different country as the rules are different and it would be too expensive and stressful for us to hassel it! It just sucks, that all I can say."

i dont understand what luke's problem is? he obviously doesn't want to play toto songs anymore so whats wrong with bobby kimball going out and playing them?

One man is not Toto. That's the point. And when the founding member says the band is over...then it's over.

[JohnH]

I never thought I was watching Toto so I'm confused too. Luke says it's ok for Bobby to go to any place anywhere...and that means tv too. Just looked to me like a crummy Bobby appearance. Can't he do what he wants now? And I can't remember did they actually say this was toto on that clip? I guess there's more to this than I know, way beyond this horrible tv show.



John

[Ehwmatt]

Shitty situation. The video was indeed an abomination and I do think, as someone else above alluded to, that Luke was cool with Bobby going out with a GOOD band and playing the songs. I don't think he anticipated that kind of performance going down.

I think Luke is a guy very sensitive and protective about the music he makes, the legacy it creates, and the level of consummate professionalism in each fuckin note he plays and sings, and that's what makes him great. I also think that he will speak with whatever kind of emotion(s) are on his mind at the moment he feels them.

With that said, I don't think he necessarily means "This is it," as I think he said the same thing about Paich doing a Rosanna commercial and has since softened that a great deal (Andrew?). I hope not anyway. He's clearly pissed at Bobby and understandably so, but hopefully not forever.

Seriously though Bobby, what were you thinking?

[DracIsBack]

i dont understand what luke's problem is? he obviously doesn't want to play toto songs anymore so whats wrong with bobby kimball going out and playing them?

He's been billing himself as Toto in some cases. That's different than "Bobby Kimball sings Toto hits" or "Bobby Kimball, former lead singer of Toto".

Dennis DeYoung bills himself as "former lead singer of Styx" but does not call himself Styx. Peter Cetera sings solo hits and Chicago hits, but bills himself as Peter Cetera.

Bobby referring to himself as Toto is different.

[WalrusOct9]

When did Bobby refer to himself as 'Toto'?

And yeah...Bobby going out with a good band is different than going out with a crappy band, but we actually have no idea who the band is from that awful TV appearance. I'm sure Luke and anyone else who's done it can reaffirm that TV appearances are not optimal for anything good musically...half the time it's lip-synched, because the studios either aren't made for recording live bands or they're just too damn lazy. (or they don't want to risk a bad performance) I'd be curious to see/hear the 'real' band he's touring with tho.

[St.George]

(This video is extracted from another topic)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCsCO8A2Yrc

This is the most hideous piece of shit ever...

After watching this and after what preceeded to the initial TOTO reunion with Bobby (before the XX album), I can say that Bobby stinks, mainly because he's showing NO respect at all for the TOTO fans and for the TOTO legacy, as long as the cash comes in.

So, he doesn't respect us, the fans, then I don't respect him, either: Bobby, YOU SUCK!!!

[Andrew]

Luke would like me to add one more comment folks....


"I/We dont care if Kimball sings the songs.. ANYONE can at anytime, its the PROMO using LIA footage and our likeness and ME singing in the commercial and that LAME TV show.. and the name TOTO HUGE and a teeny bobby kimball that is VERY misleading and WRONG! These adverts were in countries that dont speak or read english and I saw some of the reviews that were mysteriously taken off the Totonetwork saying that people wanted their money back and he got terrible reviews on his vocals and the band he used. People THOUGHT they were gonna see the REAL Toto. THIS is my problem, NOT him singing the songs. One would THINK he would move onto some fresh new music.
We looked into this. He was selling TOTO T -shirts, NOT Bobby Kimball T shirts. When you ordered a ticket you had to push the name TOTO in to get one !! This is NOT the same as going out as Bobby Kimball and singing some of the songs. He was singing sings he never sang or records he was NOT on!! Remember that Kimball only sang ONE hit ny himself. That was Hold the Line. It was Me and Kimball or Paich and Kimball or just Me or just Joseph. Hardly "the voice of toto"!
The fact that he did not respond to the many e mails sent to him by management asking him to stop it says alot. He is an internet junkie and has surely seen all the mail and or blogs. He has been out for a month doing this and surely has got on line !

Hope that clears up everything and many thanks for the kind words. I realize not everyone will see it the way me and the old band does and still love Kimball and thats fine. I am just posting on behalf of the band and how we feel.
Happy Holidays
Luke"

[The_Noble_Cause]

Nope, that was the last nail in the coffin of Toto, with HIM anyway.

Entering stage right, Mister Jeff Scott Soto!
I always got the on-stage vibe Luke didn't care for Bobby too much.

[The_Noble_Cause]

(This video is extracted from another topic)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCsCO8A2Yrc

This is the most hideous piece of shit ever...

Sounds pretty good to me.
Of the dueling guitar rivalry, I wonder who is the more bibulous paranoid egomaniac, Neal Schon or Steve Lukather?
I used to think Neal hands down, but Luke seems to overreact to almost everything.
Bobby's gotta eat, I really don't see the problem here.

I do agree, however, selling Toto shirts is over the line.

[DracIsBack]

Sounds pretty good to me.
Of the dueling guitar rivalry, I wonder who is the more bibulous paranoid egomaniac, Neal Schon or Steve Lukather?
I used to think Neal hands down, but Luke seems to overreact to almost everything.
Bobby's gotta eat, I really don't see the problem here..

Luke wears his "heart on his sleeve", by his own admission and says what's on his mind ... good or bad. He also changes his mind. Not sure that's an ego as much as outspoken.

I don't think he's ever been against Bobby going out and doing Toto tunes. It's the "billing yourself as Toto" that's the problem. It's a sensitive one with them because they've lost gigs and promo opportunities and also suffered a damaged reputation in some spots (remember this band prides themselves on musicianship) due to Bobby and Fergie going out and marketing themselves as "Toto" without permission.

not "Former singer of Toto"! They actually billed themselves as "Toto".

If Steve Perry decided to tour as "Journey" without Neil, Ross etc, it would be the same thing.

[weatherman90]

Thanks for the additional insight, Luke. You should join us in the forums sometime.

I don't have much else to say but I hope that Bobby/promoters/others stop using the Toto name so prominently on future tours. I think that he would do just fine touring as "Bobby Kimball, former lead singer of Toto". Why can't he just sing "Hold the Line" in the promo videos? Who knows. Maybe it's just the promoters' fault - I don't have enough information to be the judge.

[The_Noble_Cause]

It's the "billing yourself as Toto" that's the problem.

As someone else asked already in this thread, is there proof of this?
Of course, that is wrong. I'd be curious to see/read it.
The morning show performance gave "Toto's Greatest Hits" and "Bobby Kimball" equal billing, with Kimball's name actually in the larger font.

[Andrew]

(This video is extracted from another topic)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCsCO8A2Yrc

This is the most hideous piece of shit ever...

Sounds pretty good to me.

Seriously?

[The_Noble_Cause]

Seriously?

Bobby can still hit the highs, and with all respect to Luke, his low gravelly vocals, along with Paich's, aren't irreplaceable.
Musically, of course, this band is inferior to TOTO.
So too was Perry's FTLOSM band compared to Journey.
While that may be a foregone certainty, that's not to say a solo act automatically has to be some sacreligious blight on the original band's legacy.
What exactly am I missing here?

[Andrew]

The one simple point - in some instances calling it TOTO. That's it...

[The_Noble_Cause]

The one simple point - in some instances calling it TOTO. That's it...

Well, of course, that is bullshit, but like others have asked in this thread, where's the proof?
The poster displayed during the morning show did not say that.
And when I posted the TV ad that did label his solo show as "TOTO's Greatest Hits" many fans were quick to chime in and say Bobby has no control over advertising.
After reading Neal's many corrections through the years about radio ads still using Perry's vocals, who's to say they are wrong?

If you say Bobby Kimball is a slippery dick not to be trusted, then that is as good as bond.

[Andrew]

If you say Bobby Kimball is a slippery dick not to be trusted, then that is as good as bond.

I didn't say that! I have no personal issues with Bobby at all. Not what this is about. I'll certainly ask him about the Toto name use.

[Ehwmatt]

It's certainly possible Bobby has no control over how they bill him, right?

I remember Luke himself in interviews leading up to his solo tour was saying he couldn't control it and he could very well play some venues where they bill him as Toto or playing Toto music and have some casual fans come out and get pissed?

[weatherman90]

It's certainly possible Bobby has no control over how they bill him, right?

I remember Luke himself in interviews leading up to his solo tour was saying he couldn't control it and he could very well play some venues where they bill him as Toto or playing Toto music and have some casual fans come out and get pissed?

I do think that this is the case - Bobby has little control over how he is advertised. Luke seems to be concerned, and rightfully so, about un-informed people going to shows expecting to see Toto, and getting Bobby with a poor quality back-up band.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Luke seems to be concerned, and rightfully so, about un-informed people going to shows expecting to see Toto, and getting Bobby with a poor quality back-up band.

If that's so, I fail to see how any of it falls directly on Bobby's shoulders.
If Lukather wishes to exact a means of quality control, rather than angrily slamming a bandmate (again), he should corner the market on performing those songs himself.
As long as he's not out there doing it, who cares who Bobby sees fit to play backup?

Now that the gloves are off, I wonder if Lukather will revert to calling Bobby "fat" and "wacked" again?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a7hYfOuR7E

[weatherman90]

Luke seems to be concerned, and rightfully so, about un-informed people going to shows expecting to see Toto, and getting Bobby with a poor quality back-up band.

If that's so, I fail to see how any of it falls directly on Bobby's shoulders.
If Lukather wishes to exact a means of quality control, rather than angrily slamming a bandmate (again), he should corner the market on performing those songs himself.
As long as he's not out there doing it, who cares who Bobby sees fit to play backup?

Now that the gloves are off, I wonder if Lukather will revert to calling Bobby "fat" and "wacked" again?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a7hYfOuR7E

I don't think the alleged Toto-billing falls on Bobby's shoulders, but I think his lack of communication with Luke shows that Bobby either knows that he is angering the band or feels bad about how his tour has been perceived by the band.

It seems like there has always been tension between Luke and Bobby, and it probably all goes back to 1982-1983 when Bobby was kicked out. Bobby's latest tour has re-ignited the tension because Luke feels that the Toto legacy is being tarnished. It's clear that Toto's legacy is #1 for Luke at all times; he wants to preserve it and he is very selective as to who can do what when it comes to Toto and its songs (Paich's commercial, Bobby and Fergie's touring, etc...). He wanted Toto to end on a high note with the successful FIB release and three-year world tour.

I hope that we haven't seen the last of Toto, but this new tension certainly isn't helping to make a reunion happen.

[WalrusOct9]

Entering stage right, Mister Jeff Scott Soto!
I always got the on-stage vibe Luke didn't care for Bobby too much.

JSS would be perfect for the band if they ever reformed...I imagine Luke would want to take the band in a heavier, funkier direction anyway if the last record was any indication.

I never got any onstage bad vibes from Luke and Bobby in the 5 times I saw them...they weren't exactly Bruce and Little Steven, or Tyler and Perry, or Jon & Richie as far as onstage charisma as a pair, but I attribute that more to simply being at it so long and that not being their dynamic as a band. Certainly I never got any bad vibes from the stage, and I was always in the front row to notice...closely watching the interaction between the band members is one of my favorite aspects of a live show (especially in a 'musician's band' like Toto) and I'm usually quick to pick up on bad vibes. But this was back in '06 and '07, so who knows what changed since then.


I appreciate Luke's follow up here...I just wasn't sure the extent of all of it...certainly didn't know about the tickets or t-shirts or anything. Not that I doubted Luke, but that's the kind of stuff we never would have known. The fact that we're spending this much time discussing it says we have too much free time, but (IMO) it also shows how deeply the band affected many of us in an inspirational and positive way, and I hope, if nothing else, Luke leaves with that thought if he reads here, rather than thinking we're all nosy, whiny little bitches.

I do think it's lame that Bobby has blown off the rest of the band... it seems very short-sighted of him, knowing responding would inflame things and possibly keep him from his present activities, but in doing so seems to end the potential of any future collaborations which would be far more profitable down the line than a small Asian tour for a couple months. Although...that's the kind of logic that drives the major labels so maybe he could work there?

I don't have much else to say but I hope that Bobby/promoters/others stop using the Toto name so prominently on future tours. I think that he would do just fine touring as "Bobby Kimball, former lead singer of Toto". Why can't he just sing "Hold the Line" in the promo videos? Who knows. Maybe it's just the promoters' fault - I don't have enough information to be the judge.

Agreed. Although as far as video footage, since this is Bobby's first solo tour (or at least first one in a dozen years or so), there isn't any pro-shot footage of him solo to use. You use what you've got. It's lame, but it probably comes down to some poor video guy at a small company given the task of making an advertisement for a solo artist with no solo footage or music videos. Again, the buck (should) stop at Bobby, but if I was the poor sap who had to make the ad, I probably would've done the same thing.

Of the dueling guitar rivalry, I wonder who is the more bibulous paranoid egomaniac, Neal Schon or Steve Lukather?
I used to think Neal hands down, but Luke seems to overreact to almost everything.
Bobby's gotta eat, I really don't see the problem here.

Given that Luke's recording credentials are longer than the fucking bible, I doubt Luke has an ego problem. He's allowed to respond the way he does about his own band, though. The difference between him and Schon is that Luke actually communicates with anyone willing to listen. It isn't always pretty, but it's honest and direct, and above all genuine.

As big a fan as I am of Journey and Neal Schon, you'd be hard pressed to get Neal to be as genuine in public for 30 seconds as Luke has been for the 6 or so years I've been a diehard Toto fan. (yes, I was late to the party, sue me)

[The_Noble_Cause]

Look - as I said in an earlier thread, when I saw the video of Bobby crucifying Africa in Asia I was CERTAIN that the guys had not given their blessing on this.. how could they? - he has gone out there using the TOTO name and made a mockery of it. A complete fucking shambles.

The "video of Bobby crucifying Africa" never credited Bobby as TOTO or anything of the sort.
And considering the real TOTO has been using a backing tape for much of the Africa lead vocal for years, that wretched yet earnest live vocal was actually a welcome upgrade.
The band has lipsynched and mimed their instruments on Live Solid Gold with a mullet-sporting Joseph Williams complete with gay indian feather earring, yet a few Bobby performances in some remote corner of the globe now supposedly signals the death knell?
C'mon.