Bobby Kimball on why Toto music still matters

MANILA, Philippines - The songs of Toto will always be all-time karaoke favorites, and the appreciation for the enduring quality of this American band’s music fascinates Bobby Kimball, the original lead vocalist, no end.

He shared an interesting anecdote about this during an intimate presscon yesterday at the Hyatt Ballroom. Bobby is in the country for a series of performances under Steve O’ Neal Productions, the biggest of which will be on July 4 at the SMX Convention Center of SM Mall of Asia.  

Back home in the US, he would gamely take on the microphone in karaoke bars, singing Toto’s biggest hits and still hitting all the right notes just like the way things were at the heyday of the band responsible for such songs as I’ll Be Over You, Rosanna, Africa, Hold The Line, Anna, Georgy Porgy, 99, Lea, I Won’t Hold You Back, Stairway to Heaven, among others. 

And it would shock people who would get to hear his voice, consequently, lavishing him with praises that he sounded exactly the same as the band’s singer.

Bobby might be getting a kick out of his semi-anonymous life nowadays, but he has no regrets as to how things have turned out for him since he left the band at the height of its popularity. It was right after Toto earned six Grammys in 1982 for the album Toto IV, when “I didn’t actually leave, but was kicked out like a cannon ball out of its cannon,” Bobby shared with a laugh.

But he claimed that it was the turning point for him because it was the beginning of his solo journey towards genuine fulfillment as an artist, saying that the rock star lifestyle was doing him more harm than good. “It was crazy and there were too many drugs,” he said.

After he got the boot, he said, “I drove to the mountain to clear my mind, and two weeks later, I moved to Germany. I had to get away from Los Angeles and start anew.”

However, after several years in Germany (where he also had roots), he would be asked to re-join Toto. This in-and-out-of-Toto cycle would run through the years. He would be part of the recording of the greatest hits album Past to Present 1977 – 1990. In 1988, he was also part of the making of Mindfields, the first reunion album.

In between, when he wasn’t part of Toto, he recorded his own Toto greatest hits album dubbed Classic Toto Hits with the Frankfurt Rock Opera and then in 1994, he released his debut solo outing called Rise Up.

The last time he worked with his former Toto bandmates was in 2008, and they performed here and in several Asian countries. Despite some sourness in how they parted ways again right after that 2008 tour, Bobby said he’s not going to be weighed down by any form of negativity. Toto is set to do a reunion tour without him, and he said he’s happy for his ex-bandmates.

“I’m happier now than I’ve ever been. I love it. I’m working harder and having a lot more fun. I don’t have anyone in the background hollering orders for me. I don’t want it and I don’t need it.”

He added, “Success to me is not about the money. Success to me is to be comfortable and happy, and I’m both of those things. It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to make my own decisions. I love my life. How much happier can you get?”

In fact, he is collaborating with Jimi Jamison (ex-Survivor frontman, who was last seen performing Eye of the Tiger to usher in the entrance of Manny Pacquiao in his last bout) for a duet album produced by Mat Sinner from the German heavy metal band Primal Fear.

The songs on the album, which promises to be one of the highlights of 2011 in the Melodic Rock scene, have been selected from several songwriters including Richard Page (Mr. Mister), Randy Goodrum (Toto, Steve Perry), Robert Sall (Work of Art), John Waite and more melodic rock luminaries.

Meantime, he’s going to make hardcore Toto fans in the Philippines happy by singing all hits at his performances here. “Our agenda is really to make audiences happy.”

His backup is Arnel Pineda’s band Zoo. “They’re fantastic, and in all fairness, Arnel Pineda is really a fantastic singer. (Former singer) Steve Perry is an old friend of mine even before he got into Journey.”

Asked why Toto music still matters to many a music fan, he said, “Toto’s music was written well and recorded well, it’s a simple as that.”

(Bobby Kimball’s Toto: Greatest Hits Tour is sponsored by Hyatt Hotel & Casino, Zest Air, RJ100.3 FM, Business Mirror, Hard Rock Café, Lazer Music, Instabul, Fox, Star Movies, Star World, MS the Male Tablet and Ming’s Pei Pa Koa Candy. Tickets are available at Ticketworld and SM Tickets.)