No More Holding The Line : Toto Calls It Quits After Over 30 Years

In a statement posted on his personal web site, guitarist Steve Lukather has announced the end of long running Los Angeles based band Toto :

Steve Lukather: "I would like to make a formal announcement as I have been barraged by e-mails and speculations on various websites.

The fact is yes I have left Toto. There is no more Toto. I told the guys before the last leg of our tour.
We had some differences in how business was being done. The other fact is that I have been the only guy who was at the first rehearsal till the last gig a month or so ago. When Jeff(Porcaro) died part of us all died with him. We pursued it and had some great times. Simon(Phillips) was a champ replacing Jeff at a most difficult time. Bobby was out of the band for 16 years and then came back and you know the other singer stories. Other than Bobby, Joe was the only guy that really fit with us cause he was a high school buddy as well. No offense to Bobby at all.

When Dave Paich retired that was REAL hard for me cause we started the band together. Hell its 35 years if you count High School where the core all met. When Mike fell ill and had to leave that was it for me. If there isnt a Paich or at least one Porcaro how can we even call it Toto? It was bittersweet cause I finally got to tour with my dear friend and musical legend Leland Sklar whom I have known since I was 19 years old. We had some laughs and great times.
Honestly I have just had enough. This is NOT a break. It is over. I really cant go out and play "Hold the Line" with a straight face anymore. I was 19 when we cut the record. I am 50 now".

Founded in 1976 by some of the most popular and experienced session musicians of the era, the band enjoyed great commercial success in the 1980s, beginning with the band's self-titled debut, released in 1978, which immediately brought the band into the mainstream rock spectrum of the time. Continuing with 1982's critically acclaimed and commercially successful Toto IV, Toto became one of the biggest selling music groups of their era.