When booking agents paired prog rockers Yes with the softer sounds of Toto for a summer tour, some saw the lineup as odd.
Toto’s guitarist/vocalist Steve Lukather acknowledges this, but says the partnership works on several levels. Namely, both bands have recently suffered the deaths of core members—Yes’ Chris Squire and Toto’s Mike Porcaro.
“They lost Chris tragically,” says Lukather of the musician, who died in Arizona of leukemia. “He was one of the greatest musicians ever. We lost our brother, Mike, couple years go. There are no egos on the tour.”
Although they play different genres of music, Toto and Yes have utmost respect for each other, says Lukather, who goes by the nickname “Luke.” Those differences actually make for the perfect tour.
“We just wanted to be a little more eclectic,” Lukather says. “It was so exciting. Chris was supposed to get better and he didn’t. It’s really tough for their camp. It was like us losing Jeff Porcaro, our leader, our guy. We just lost Mike, we’ve lost two.”
Throughout the run, which includes a Friday, September 4, show at The Pool at Talking Stick, Yes and Toto are paying tribute to their fallen musicians.
“If I was to go (die), I’d like the guys to continue playing music,” he says. “Not playing isn’t going to bring me back.
“If anything, we celebrate the memories. Mike was a legend. Chris was one of the greatest musicians ever. We have to carry on with respect. All this does is remind me that every day is a blessing. We have to make the most of it. I’m a very sensitive cat, but I also have a great sense of humor.”
His silliness shines during the second half of the interview, which focused on Toto’s new album Toto XIV, which hit stores March 20. It is one of the band’s most critically acclaimed albums.
“We’re not used to good reviews,” he says. “We always got our asses kicked. They compared us to punk music, which is like comparing a massive rump steak to a vegetarian. You can’t put the two on the same plate.
“We survived it all. It’s been a great long career. It’s a rollercoaster ride. One we had to hang on to without being flung out from the top. We all went to school together. There’s something we have that very few people understand.”
Toto’s album and shows have been successful thanks to megahits like “Africa,” “Rosanna” and “Hold the Line.” While Toto’s sound has evolved, the touring routine has not.
“That’s real,” he says. “Nobody is showing up to see what my (butt) looks like in my jeans, although I’ve been told that it looks OK in my jeans. I don’t look bad for my age. I have a young girlfriend, he, he, he. I’m not a creep. You just never know who’s going to like you and who you’re going to like.”
The Pool at Talking Stick gig is a rarity for Toto, who primarily tours overseas. But he’s excited to bring the noise to the United States
“We’re bringing it,” he says. “The band’s tight. We’re having fun. We haven’t toured the U.S. as much, so we’re kind of fresh meat, if you will, for the lost era.”
Yes and Toto, The Pool at Talking Stick, 9800 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale, 800.745.3000, ticketmaster.com, Friday, September 4, 8 p.m., $55-$150
