Luke discusses TOTO - past, present and future.

[The_Noble_Cause]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DebMEdbtljg

[PMA]

Interesting comments about Toto. I heard another one on iMusicast which was similar. He doesn't name Bobby but he's clearly the one that Luke had a falling out with at the end of the FIB era. Not sure why they can't seem to get along. It's a real shame that both Joe and Bobby couldn't be part of the 35th anniversary tour.

Luke seems to hold grudges for a LONG time.

[PMA]

Interesting comments about Toto. I heard another one on iMusicast which was similar. He doesn't name Bobby but he's clearly the one that Luke had a falling out with at the end of the FIB era. Not sure why they can't seem to get along. It's a real shame that both Joe and Bobby couldn't be part of the 35th anniversary tour.

Luke seems to hold grudges for a LONG time.

[TotoStu]

Deleted

[The_Noble_Cause]

My guess is lipping. Bobby is old. And the touring schedule is too much. Just my speculation.

[TotoStu]

Bobby is old.

Bollocks man, have you heard Kimball Jamison? Mr Kimball has still got the goods... [/b]

[WalrusOct9]

My guess is lipping. Bobby is old. And the touring schedule is too much. Just my speculation.

I think it's mostly financial. If Luke was THAT hardcore about being ALL live, he wouldn't have condoned tapes replacing the backup singers starting after the Mindfields tour. Keep in mind, there were layers of taped backing vocals even on Luke songs like "I Won't Hold You Back" and such.

I think it's just money, and perhaps the direction of the band by 2007 with only Luke and Bobby left onstage from the original band.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Bobby is old.

Bollocks man, have you heard Kimball Jamison? Mr Kimball has still got the goods... [/b]

Yea, studio magic is great. Touring 4-5 days a week is not.

[PMA]

With Toto only being a summer touring band, would they really be trying to do 4-5 nights? Bobby could still handle some things with Joe being involved. This all just seems so petty for a great band and their legacy.

[Andrew]

Bobby is old.

Bollocks man, have you heard Kimball Jamison? Mr Kimball has still got the goods...

Not really. He even struggles on that record. Jimi is all over him.

[lordreo]

Not really. He even struggles on that record. Jimi is all over him.

Glad I'm not the only one that sees it that way. I loved Bobby with Toto, but I find it hard to listen to him these days. There's just something off about his voice, I can't quite put my finger on it though...

[The_Noble_Cause]

Not really. He even struggles on that record. Jimi is all over him.

I think the whole album is a rush job. Much of it sounds sloppy.

As for Jimi....he has had his share of his own problems.
We will see how he holds up under the touring rigors of Survivor.
Bobby is still an impressive tenor for a dude in his 60's. I'd expect his voice to have dropped way more.
Dude has power and is still belting it out nightly for his supper. Not sure why he gets so much shit.

[DracIsBack]

Bobby is old.

Bollocks man, have you heard Kimball Jamison? Mr Kimball has still got the goods... [/b]

I've seen him live several times. He's inconsistent and struggles with high notes. And he seemed to sing to fake backing tapes.

Honestly - I see some good performances, but I think he's often an atrocious live singer

Listen to this and then compare to the original recording
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJxj6RM5nq0


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciK2eGkk1x8

[JohnH]

Not fair- vid says Bobby had a cold. At least find a video where he's not sick , then say he cant sing.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Listen to this and then compare to the original recording
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJxj6RM5nq0

Looks like a small intimate venue, the acoustics aren't really good. Has Joe even attempted Girl Goodbye? Back in the Fahrenheit days he could sing the shit out of it, now he wouldn't even dare try. Not sure if it's the 70's porn 'stache or the fanboy power Luke wields over the masses, but people just love to shit on Bobby. Bobby commands my respect.

[DracIsBack]

Not fair- vid says Bobby had a cold. At least find a video where he's not sick , then say he cant sing.

I had two. Did you watch the MAD ABOUT YOU video? One of my favorite songs from that album and utterly butchered live.

[DracIsBack]

Looks like a small intimate venue, the acoustics aren't really good. Has Joe even attempted Girl Goodbye? Back in the Fahrenheit days he could sing the shit out of it, now he wouldn't even dare try. Not sure if it's the 70's porn 'stache or the fanboy power Luke wields over the masses, but people just love to shit on Bobby. Bobby commands my respect.

It's hard to watch this and take him seriously

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbUT368P6RA

[WalrusOct9]

of it, now he wouldn't even dare try. Not sure if it's the 70's porn 'stache or the fanboy power Luke wields over the masses, but people just love to shit on Bobby. Bobby commands my respect.

I think it's more the business stuff than the singing. He's uneven, sure, but he can still bring it on a good night. Shit, I couldn't sing "Girl Goodbye" in a million years. But I think it's more of Bobby touring on the Toto stuff (even songs from when he was out of the band) with questionable bands (http://youtu.be/rilF76tU3Zw?t=4m7s) even though he only sang lead on about 1/3 of the songs. It's more complicated since he didn't write many of them either, so it's not like when Brian May & Roger Taylor do solo tours playing their own Queen songs.

It's a tough spot, and mostly it just bums me out that it's like this, instead of both him and Joe being on the 35th Anniversary tour like they should be.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Not fair- vid says Bobby had a cold. At least find a video where he's not sick , then say he cant sing.

I had two. Did you watch the MAD ABOUT YOU video? One of my favorite songs from that album and utterly butchered live.

The "Mad About You" clip is not that bad to be honest. Bobby was def off in the 1999 Yokohama concert. Either way, his vocals on the 2003 Amsterdam concert are still pretty much the high water mark of all other Toto vocal performances. The Joe & Bobby mini tour in support of Toto XX also features Bobby at his best. Obviously, time catches up with us all, and he has gone downhill since then. But he is not Lou Gramm or Meat Loaf. Sorry. Bobby still has a voice and pretty damn good one. In the interest of fairness, I'm waiting for you to post all the bad Joe Williams concert footage out there, especially the MTV concert where he had more snow up his nose than Tony Montana. But please, go on, continue with your stupid flaming agenda.

[The_Noble_Cause]

It's hard to watch this and take him seriously

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbUT368P6RA

And when was the last time you were on German TV? "Hold the Line" is starting to be out of Bobby's range, but so fucking what? There's still alot of soul and passion in this performance. The more you post, the more I think you personify the type of troll Luke sings about in "Creep Motel."

[DracIsBack]

It's hard to watch this and take him seriously

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbUT368P6RA

And when was the last time you were on German TV? "Hold the Line" is starting to be out of Bobby's range, but so fucking what? There's still alot of soul and passion in this performance. The more you post, the more I think you personify the type of troll Luke sings about in "Creep Motel."

Why? Because I don't happen to share your personal subjective opinion? Sorry - I'm not impressed with Bobby's vocals over the last few years. I too loved the Amsterdam dvd from ten years ago. When I saw him in Minneapolis six years ago (the show Fergie made a guest spot at), he was pretty good on most leads, but you could tell there were backup tapes he was miming to. Lately, I'm finding he's blowing a lot more notes, singing off key, struggling with high parts and not putting the same energy to it. Worse, he has a backup band that's clearly not Toto in capability and he's goofing around on stage.

And honestly, I've never found him consistent live. He's the type of singer where I find him awesome in one song and absymal in the next. Even in his heydey. But now with age and time, it's much worse to me.

Call me a creep if you want. Sue me for not sharing your opinion. I'm just not impressed with him live anymore.

[DracIsBack]

But he is not Lou Gramm or Meat Loaf. Sorry. Bobby still has a voice and pretty damn good one.

In terms of how he hits the notes? Can't comment on Meat (not a fan), but I do cut Lou a bit of additional slack due to illness.

In the interest of fairness, I'm waiting for you to post all the bad Joe Williams concert footage out there, especially the MTV concert where he had more snow up his nose than Tony Montana. But please, go on, continue with your stupid flaming agenda.

Sorry to have pissed you off for not wanting to kiss Bobby's ass over his recent live performances and for not sharing your personal opinion. You always get your underwear in a knot when people don't agree with you?

And for the record, I think Joe has issues too. It feels like he's really straining to hit those really high notes now. But I generally find him more consistent live than Bobby, even if Bobby has 'soul' and range. I find Joe tends to stay on key better, hit the main notes more accurately and I find him powerful when not trying for the top end.

Bobby, I find soulful, but really sloppy live. Sue me. I think David Lee Roth is fantastic on record and atrocious live too. So what?

[The_Noble_Cause]

I think David Lee Roth is fantastic on record and atrocious live too. So what?

And your endless harping on DLR is found where exactly on the MR forums? All you do is bitch and kvetch.

[Sundet]

Agree with regards to Joe Williams. Sure he's straining to hit some of those insane high notes, but he's far more consistent live than Bobby, is rarely off-key and has for the most part a fuller or richer voice. When listening to Bobby live these days I get the impression that his voice can crack or disappear any time, but I rarely get such an impression from Joe.

Now, if you really want to hear a voice that has held up well over the years and can still reach the high notes effortlessly, try Steve Hogarth of Marillion. It's absolutely amazing what that guy does and while he too does have off-nights, they are few and far between and do not really affect his range.

[DracIsBack]

I think David Lee Roth is fantastic on record and atrocious live too. So what?

And your endless harping on DLR is found where exactly on the MR forums? All you do is bitch and kvetch.

Sorry you feel that way because I don't personally like your golden boy live. He's sung some of my absolute favorite songs on record.

[DracIsBack]

Agree with regards to Joe Williams. Sure he's straining to hit some of those insane high notes, but he's far more consistent live than Bobby, is rarely off-key and has for the most part a fuller or richer voice. When listening to Bobby live these days I get the impression that his voice can crack or disappear any time, but I rarely get such an impression from Joe.

Now, if you really want to hear a voice that has held up well over the years and can still reach the high notes effortlessly, try Steve Hogarth of Marillion. It's absolutely amazing what that guy does and while he too does have off-nights, they are few and far between and do not really affect his range.

He's very lucky. I find Dennis DeYoung's voice holds up really well given his age too. After Noble Cause's rant yesterday, I watched Meatloaf life. Wow - now that's someone who has not seem the years be kind to his voice. Not only was the range way reduced, but he sounded really 'old'.

[Brett]

Agree with regards to Joe Williams. Sure he's straining to hit some of those insane high notes, but he's far more consistent live than Bobby, is rarely off-key and has for the most part a fuller or richer voice. When listening to Bobby live these days I get the impression that his voice can crack or disappear any time, but I rarely get such an impression from Joe.

Now, if you really want to hear a voice that has held up well over the years and can still reach the high notes effortlessly, try Steve Hogarth of Marillion. It's absolutely amazing what that guy does and while he too does have off-nights, they are few and far between and do not really affect his range.

I've seen Bobby a fair number of times (though not in the last couple of years) and always found him to be pretty good, variable and rough around the edges, for sure, but I've never encountered him on one of his really bad nights (which I am not denying have happened, but I do think they are overstated). There are people who just don't like his voice at all, which is fine, but I think sometimes that opinion is turned into the 'fact' that Bobby is dreadful live. At the Yoso gig in London I saw a chap indicate Billy Sherwood and Tony Kaye to his mate and give the thumbs up...then pointed to Bobby and made a throat-slicing motion, which I thought was more than a bit harsh!

As for h - I'd rather listen to him on an off-night than virtually anybody else at their very best - incredible vocalist!

[DracIsBack]

then pointed to Bobby and made a throat-slicing motion, which I thought was more than a bit harsh!

Yeah - way too harsh. One thing I will give Bobby is that he's generally quite enthusiastic and goes for it! I saw then at Casino Rama in a rare Canadian date circa 2005. Bobby was slapping hands with everyone in the front row and he sang everything with gusto, even if they were a struggle for him to sing. They did ANGEL DON'T CRY that night, which is a really hard song to sing and what he missed in high notes, he made up for in energy. And hearing GIRL GOODBYE live and GOOD FOR YOU was a trip.

[Irwin M Fletcher]

I think considering Bobby is basically an old man now, he still does great! Also bear in mind, his solo band couldn't kiss Toto's shoes! That combined with the fact that the Toto songs he sang were all written in a ridiculously high key! I think Joseph Williams is probably the best singer Toto could have at this point, i have seen them twice since 2010 and he (JW) was fantastic! Yes he was helped by the 2 backup singers but thats why all the vocals sound great and not shit! Id rather hear live vocals than canned vocals anyway! Amsterdam 2002 was awesum but bear in mind it has been mixed etc and Bobbys canned vocals on the AFRICA chorus were bad! Tony Spinner could have prob done them! I would loved to have seen TOTO doing their 35th anniversary tour with both Bobby and Joseph on vocals and also David Hungate on bass but i think the fact that the even got back together at all is good enough! Just wish Mike P was up there where he should be on bass! God bless The Groovemeister! Peace.

[DracIsBack]

I think considering Bobby is basically an old man now, he still does great! Also bear in mind, his solo band couldn't kiss Toto's shoes! That combined with the fact that the Toto songs he sang were all written in a ridiculously high key

Those tenor Toto songs are pretty brutal. Come to think of it, at the Minneapolis 2007 show I saw, Fergie himself was struggling on the really, really high parts of ISOLATION and ANGEL DON'T CRY. He mostly pulled the songs off, but there are definitely some notes that are up there and songs that aren't easy to sing.