At the personal invitation of Quincy Jones and legendary Montreux Jazz Festival founder Claude Nobs to perform at the famed Swiss festival, Toto couldn’t resist the opportunity, resulting in Toto: Live At Montreux 1991. “From the perspective of the members of Toto,” states guitarist Steve Lukather, “the Montreux Jazz Festival is amongst the most revered events staged in the world. Our association, as a band, and individuals, is something we are deeply proud of. So much fun, and so much history has graced the ground in and around the lake.”
On September 16, 2016, Eagle Rock Entertainment will present this very special concert film from Toto’s storied history. Toto: Live At Montreux 1991 — the last tour with Jeff and Mike Porcaro, alongside original members Steve Lukather and David Paich — will be available on DVD+CD, Blu-ray+CD, and Digital Video in North America [MSRP TBA].
In 1991, Toto was in the midst of a run of headline dates and European summer festivals, while finishing their new album Kingdom Of Desire. It was a time of rebirth for the band, and the Montreux stage proved the perfect opportunity to test drive the new songs. Fans could feel the electricity in the air as Lukather, Paich, and the late brothers Jeff and Mike Porcaro took the stage.
“Yes! Time to take a trip in the ol’ Toto Hot Tub Time Machine! Back to 1991, yes ‘91! Where pure live music was performed on hallowed ground under the paternal wings of Quincy Jones and Claude Nobs,” states keyboardist David Paich. “When I first listened back, the thought omnipresent in my mind was simply, ‘That’s that raw, sizzling energy we had in high school!’ Here we are – four valley dudes from Los Angeles with some assorted musical friends, bringing it once again.”
Sadly, this was Jeff Porcaro’s final tour with the band, before his passing in 1992. Lukather, who personally mixed Live At Montreux 1991 with legendary engineer Niko Bolas, expresses the real emotions that this concert channels, and how poignant it was to the band’s history:
“The most important thing is you can see and hear the love we have for each other and watching this in 2016 with Niko…well bittersweet is a term that has been so overused but in this case…there were tears and a lot of laughter as the memories of this night and this final tour with Jeff were captured. You guys get to see a version of the band that will never and COULD never be again!”
Few ensembles in the history of recorded music have individually or collectively had a larger imprint on pop culture than the members of Toto. With over 38 years together and thousands of credits and accolades to their names, Toto remains one of the top selling touring and recording acts in the world.
As individuals, the band members can be heard on an astonishing 5000 albums that together amass a sales history of a half a billion albums. Amongst these recordings, NARAS applauded the performances with more than 200 Grammy nominations. Their repertoire continues to be current via high profile usage on broadcast television. They ARE pop culture, and are one of the few 70’s bands that have endured the changing trends and styles and enjoy a multi-generational fan base.
Last summer, they released their first new studio album in ten years –TOTO XIV – that debuted Top 10 in nine countries around the world and became their most successful album since 1988 in the U.S. and UK. This August / September, the band will stage a headline tour of North America. Details are available via totoofficial.com.
Track Listing:
On The Run
Kingdom of Desire
I’ll Be Over You
Africa
Jake To The Bone
Red House
Rosanna
I Want To Take You Higher
