Something is very wrong - BK

[The_Noble_Cause]

1) Why does BK keep looking at the lyrics for songs like Rosanna and Africa? Hasn't he been singing these for years? These aren't obscure B-sides or something.
2) His back-up singer isn't providing background vocals. He's actually singing the lead - presumably to keep the band and BK on track.
3) For the most part, BK sounds like total shit. Lower the keys / do an acoustic arrangement / get some training - do something.

I don't mean to kick a guy when he's down, but it's beyond abysmal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6WjS4eYKOw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzmA2uy1jbc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgLcsQ2w2ak

[RonaldDupris]

That's honestly the most disturbing live performance I've ever seen. I can't believe that's actually real. WTF is going on with Hold The Line? The other guy is singing the track and Bobby is just rambling in the background.

I think the rumors of dementia are true and someone behind the scenes is using Bobby for money and getting him to perform. Kind of like with Stan Lee before he died.

[Andrew]

Bobby Kimball’s “Wheel Him Out For Cash” Tour Plan:

Location - obscure
Band - absolute shite
Vocals - beyond salvation

[The_Noble_Cause]

Bobby Kimball’s “Wheel Him Out For Cash” Tour Plan:

Location - obscure
Band - absolute shite
Vocals - beyond salvation

I mean, in fairness, some of the singers in these South America package deals (like Chalfant) are actually pretty good. Bobby is just deaf or mentally fried.

[WalrusOct9]

Is that Chalfant backing him up? Been a long time since I've seen that guy, so I dunno what he looks like now.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Is that Chalfant backing him up? Been a long time since I've seen that guy, so I dunno what he looks like now.

No.

[Sundet]

And now this:

https://www.tmz.com/2019/07/04/toto-singer-bobby-kimball-cop-police-fight-threat/?fbclid=IwAR09EjmDfLuMjtODayaI2U-LEFEFTfsW4rK9n_GPfTyvETHv2VoPcZCdAsI

[The_Noble_Cause]

And now this:

https://www.tmz.com/2019/07/04/toto-singer-bobby-kimball-cop-police-fight-threat/?fbclid=IwAR09EjmDfLuMjtODayaI2U-LEFEFTfsW4rK9n_GPfTyvETHv2VoPcZCdAsI

The idea of Bobby threatening a cop with "I am going to knock you the f*** out!!!" only to get his ass kicked is rather amusing.
But overall, anything involving Bobby these days just makes me sad.

[Sundet]

What's strange, if this story is correct, is that Kimball escaped charges for assault on a police officer. The only thing I can think of that may have made him escape such charges is a medical issue of some sort that impedes his judgement.

[JohnH]

Again: 1. Bobby is deaf and I have that from someone that was in Yoso with him as well as crew I recently talked to at a Casino I recently worked at he has played. It’s no rumour or made up comment.
2 .His In ears were called “ The BK Broilers”.

There may be some kind of other dementia issues going on.

[Morten]

Kimball's musical partner and friend John Zaika confirmed on Toto's FB page the other day that Kimball does in fact suffer from dementia and doesn't really understand what he's doing or saying. This was confirmed by Kimball's daughter in the same thread. After those comments were posted, the entire thread was deleted, but they were there. Zaika has posted a message on his own FB page as well, albeit less specific than his comments in the Toto thread.

[The_Noble_Cause]

The whole thing is very sad.

[Franky]

This is very sad to see. Looks and acts not as he should ...
Someone should take care of him and stop this!

This will not kill his extraordinary voice I know from better days, but this hurts to see.
Shame on those who are responsible for this.

[TotoStu]

Kimball's musical partner and friend John Zaika confirmed on Toto's FB page the other day that Kimball does in fact suffer from dementia and doesn't really understand what he's doing or saying. This was confirmed by Kimball's daughter in the same thread. After those comments were posted, the entire thread was deleted, but they were there. Zaika has posted a message on his own FB page as well, albeit less specific than his comments in the Toto thread.

If that's true then it's absolutely tragic. My Uncle died of dementia on New Year's Day. Also - I worked in the care profession for many years and have supported many patients with dementia related illnesses.

It's an absolutely evil condition. The weirdest thing about it is (and IMO this makes it kind of unique from other illnesses) is that I'd say the family of the sufferer actually suffer more.

There's absolutely no cure for it, nothing that can be done to help it - and it's terminal. And cause each person is different - you don't know if it's going to be years, months, weeks, days - or even HOURS.

Believe me as someone who's stared it right in the face: This is not something I'd wish on my own worst enemy.

[JohnH]

The last few years we had a neighbor a few doors behind us making the worst yelling sounds. They would usually start at 10pm at night and also when I got home from gigs they would be going full chat at 3AM. After a year of this I finally talked to some people in that building and they said it was someone female very elderly and I realized then it was dementia. I went from being upset about the noise to very understanding with deep sympathy for the family that had to live with that person. The noise has not been heard in a bout a year, but I also think the dementia patient was shuffled between famlies half the year as the noise would disappear for awhile. They also seemed to sound proof the room as the volume went to half after awhile. Indeed, a very awful fate for the family that has to live with that and in the building too.

[DracIsBack]

The whole thing is very sad.

Yeah. Aging can really suck

[JohnH]

One of A few postings I just found about Bobby's Dementia in past few days ..im stunned he did a few dates in Germany this month no idea how .. this says he can’t sing so how is he doing a show?

https://www.facebook.com/24044676264088 ... 94?sfns=mo

myRockworld Sad News Toto‘s original singer Bobby Kimball has Dementia and is already in a Bad mood - his close girl friend told me yesterday that this Few concerts with the Soul Mates may be his last in Germany forever - because he ist mostly unable to travel alone, to sing or to recognize friends

I was totally shocked yesterday when we met, because we always had lots of fun, when we met over the years and got friends

Sometimes he called me in the middle of the night from USA because of the time difference

But yesterday he didn’t remember me first, 10 min later he did, and 5 minutes later he was gone again. So this is my last pic and meet with him. Bobby made a joke and we did this pic laughing about that joke after he signed also the 5th signature myRockworld shirt

Please remember him as one of the best voices in Rock ever with Great hits like Hold the Line and Africa and a totally authentic human being with a big heart.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Thanks. Interesting comment about the gf - maybe he separated from his wife? Other comments beneath the original post seem to back up these allegations. I feel for him. His strange and erratic behavior since TOTO broke up has often been mischaracterized as being drug-related.

[TotoStu]

Devastating news. Dude deserves better than that. Dementia truly is evil.

[JohnH]

I have done some reading, severe hearing loss ( which Bobby has) can lead to dementia.

https://www.beltone.com/en-us/hearing-l ... aring-loss

[RonaldDupris]

So who's trotting him to perform all over the world in this state? At what point, does it finally become abuse towards Bobby and become a legal matter? Similar thing happened to Stan Lee before he died in November 2018.

[WalrusOct9]

His manager, presumably?

Bobby probably doesn't get a ton of residual money from Toto's back catalog...he didn't have a ton of writing credits to begin with, but especially not on the big songs that keep generating revenue. I obviously don't have any insight into his financial situation, but it's not hard to envision a situation where he has to do these gigs as long as someone is willing to pay him for them. Sad, but far from the only older musician to have this problem.

[WalrusOct9]

Remembering Bobby in better times. Randomly revisited Ryo Okumoto's solo album last night after many years and forgot how much I liked it. Bobby sings on a couple of the tracks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZnBQZ6H2ts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxv3DGqaClM

[The_Noble_Cause]

Remembering Bobby in better times. Randomly revisited Ryo Okumoto's solo album last night after many years and forgot how much I liked it. Bobby sings on a couple of the tracks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZnBQZ6H2ts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxv3DGqaClM

Not familiar with this. Thanks. I would also strongly recommend Bobby's last solo album "We're Not in Kansas Anymore." Really a strong album.

[WalrusOct9]

The whole Ryo album is fun if you're into prog-rock. Along with the two tracks that feature Bobby, Glenn Hughes shows up on a tune, and Neal Morse co-wrote the gorgeous title track. Highly recommended.