First New Studio Album in Ten Years Out In Europe 3/20
The UK and Oceania on 3/23, and North America on 3/24 World Tour Commences In Glasgow on May 21, 2015
Los Angeles, CA --- Frontiers Music Srl has announced a March 20 release date for TOTO XIV in Europe, with The UK and Oceania on 3/23, and North America on March 24. The album will hit retail globally, with specific dates for territories in Asia, South America and others to follow.
Configurations for the album will also include CD, with a deluxe edition available featuring a "making of" documentary on DVD, expanded booklet that includes an in depth story and interview about the new album alongside exclusive pictures in ecol-book packaging. Additionally Toto XIV will be available as a 2LP vinyl set, and a Super Deluxe limited edition which includes the Deluxe CD/DVD edition, 2LP vinyl, an exclusive poster, t-shirt (large size only), and lithograph.
Toto XIV is a realized vision three plus decades in the making exhibiting world-class musicianship, masterful arrangements, topical lyrical commentary, and melodies that the collective genius of Lukather, Paich, Porcaro, Williams and their assembled band-mates bring to life. TOTO XIV is the band's first album of new material since 2006's Falling In Between. However, the band personally considers the new album to be the true follow-up to TOTO IV, which made the band global superstars.
Keyboardist Steve Porcaro reveals, "This is opposite of going through the motions. We are treating this like it is Toto V, our follow-up to TOTO IV. We just want to be the best version of ourselves that we can be. Be true to ourselves and make the best music we can. Entertain people which is what we were put on this Earth for." Keyboardist David Paich reflects, "I think of TOTO as a unit and a band that carries a responsibility when it goes out there in to the public consciousness. There is so much negativity and darkness that I think you have to be as Quincy Jones puts it, 'beams of light that blast through the darkness'."
As they began the process of a return the studio, all of the principle long-term members brought their A-game to the table. Guitarist Steve "Luke" Lukather offers, "When you put us in a room, and everybody brings in their pieces, the next thing you know it all fits together. Everybody's performances are top notch. We are really bringing our best out, forcing ourselves to make personal best choices, what's best for the music. I'm really excited to hear what people think." Singer Joseph Williams adds, "We are talking about a band where everybody is a writer, and everybody is a lead singer, and everybody is a player. All involved brought this trio to the table where it could just live on its own."
The band will hit the ground running with an extensive European headline arena tour with appearances at key festivals. The itinerary begins in Glasgow on May 21, and takes Toto through the UK, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Italy, and Belgium. Ticket sales came out of the box with strength, with some appearances selling out within days of on-sale. A North American tour will follow in the summer of 2015. The band is also in the planning stages for their return to Asia later this year.
The last couple of years have been active, with a seven show sold-out tour of Asia that took them through Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo, Sendai and Sapporo in April, 2014. Also that month, the 35th Anniversary Tour - Live In Poland title was released, debuting at #1 in territories across the globe. Last August and September, the band hit the road travelling across North America as co-headliners with Michael McDonald, which when it was all said and done was their most comprehensive tour on the continent in years.
Toto also continues to raise awareness for ALS, for their brother and friend, Mike Porcaro, who has been diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease. The band commits energies towards fundraising for Police and Fire Departments of California and the Fallen Heroes initiative (http://www.fallenheroes.org/), and help the United Nations in their humanitarian endeavors through music.
Toto will begin an extensive European tour in support of their forthcoming new album on May 21st 2015 in Glasgow, Scotland at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Dates have been announced and are on sale for the UK, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Serbia. See the full list of dates below:
The first quarter of 2015 has some massive releases coming your way.
One of the biggest is the hugely anticipated new TOTO album. The album, right now going under the working title Toto XIV, is currently being mixed in Los Angeles.
Band guitarist Steve Lukather tells me they are up to track 7 of 11.
He was also kind enough to drop me a new quote on the upcoming record.
Luke says:“This new music is amongst the best we have ever tried to make. It is everything people love and or hate about our band. Haha…
The songs have hooks and depth and the production and sounds and playing are filled with blood sweat and soul. We did NOT phone this record in for $ and a tour! This record was born out of litigation, pain and loss…and for Mike P who could use a miracle about now.
It has brought us very close as brothers reflecting back at a lifetime of amazing highs and painful lows.
Fans will be the judge. I hate hyping things! No one ever lives up to their own hype. We are proud of it though and have worked hard on it.”
And co-producer CJ Vanston added his own update for me: “We’re all excited as our first mixes for the new Toto album is finished. Good times at the Treehouse (my studio) yesterday as we were all digging the sound and direction we came up with. I couldn’t be more pumped, these guys have taken everything up a huge notch on this one!”
Luke recently announced the band’s 2015 touring lineup: “It will be Me, Paich, Steve Porcaro, David Hungate, Joe Williams, Keith Carlock, Lenny Castro, Jenny Douglas and Mabvuto...FULL European tour to be announced asap. USA + world to come as well!"
Previously Luke has commented on the upcoming album: "The record we're making is real hi-fi. It has that big, obnoxious production that people who love our music are really going to love: big harmonies, big synths, big guitars, big grooves, great virtuoso musicianship, and classic Toto melodies. Everybody sings on the record. It's very fresh-sounding."
Follwing the release of the Sweden Rock news, Toto's Steve Lukather has updated fans with a little more information on what's to come.
He states: "As of 2015 the line up will be Me, Paich, Steve Porcaro, David Hungate, Joe Williams, Keith Carlock, Lenny Castro, Jenny Douglas and Mabvuto...FULL European tour to be announced asap. USA + world to come as well!"
Previously Luke has commented on the upcoming album, which will be released worldwide in February: "The record we're making is real hi-fi. It has that big, obnoxious production that people who love our music are really going to love: big harmonies, big synths, big guitars, big grooves, great virtuouso musicianship, and classic Toto melodies. Everybody sings on the record. It's very fresh-sounding."
Episode 57 - In this week's episode of One On One with Mitch Lafon. Mitch is joined by Eric Martin of Mr.Big, GENTLE GIANT's Ray Shulman and TOTO's Joseph Williams. FOUR BY FATE's Sean Kelly co-hosts.
In the episode's first interview Eric Martin and Mitch discuss the Mr. Big's brand new album '...The Stories We Could Tell', Richie Kotzen's time with the group, Pat Torpey's recent medical news and his replacement (former Ace Frehley band drummer) Matt Starr, their remarkable popularity in Japan and much more.
In our second interview, Ray Shulman of Gentle Giant discusses the recent special edition re-release of the band's landmark album The Power And The Glory, the involvement of Porcupine Trees' Steven Wilson, the band's history and much more.
We end this episode with a chat with TOTO's Joseph Williams who discusses the band's most recent DVD (Toto - 35th Anniversary - Live In Poland) as well as his involvement with the Intelligent Music Project II - My Kind Of Loving album - http://intelligent-music.com/productions/mykindoflovin/
Lukather: "The record we're making is real hi-fi. It has that big, obnoxious production that people who love our music are really going to love: big harmonies, big synths, big guitars, big grooves, great virtuouso musicianship, and classic Toto melodies. Everybody sings on the record. It's very fresh-sounding."
Toto's US tour kicks off tomorrow night in Grand Ronde, OR and continues through September 7. Full dates at: www.totoofficial.com/events
This leg of the tour features drummer Shannon Forrest and orignal Toto bassist David Hungate (both of whom will appear live with Mecca at MelodicRockFest 4 in October (www.melodicrockfest.com)
