In the spring of 2006 I was sitting in my office when Dave Tedder owner of United Rock Radio phoned up and asked if I would like to do an interview with someone from the rock band Toto.
After I picked myself up off the floor I uttered "Yes" into the receiver and it was a done deal.
It took several attempts but finally one day my office phone rang and David Paich and I started one of the most memorable phone conversations I've ever had.
In 1978 Toto released their first album "Toto" and I have been a band fan ever since, but even before the release of the album I had been following (vicariously through industry news and record album credits), the careers of Jeff Porcaro (son of legendary percussionist Joe Porcaro), and David Paich (son of Marty Paich - famous producer, arranger, conductor and recording artist).
These two individuals were proving to be every bit as gifted and talented as their parents.
So here am I, on the phone with David Paich, one of my heroes, trying not to slobber and show my nervousness. However, David Paich is a professional and makes me feel instantly at ease and what was supposed to be a 15 minute update about the new Toto album "Falling In Between", turns into a conversation of almost an hour down memory lane into David's childhood.
As David says at the end of the interview, "it was a joy", no doubt more so for me as I came away from the experience feeling totally pumped for at least a few days.
I edited the interview down to approx 37 minutes and then split it into three sections interspersed with music from Falling In Between.
It originally aired at 23:20hrs E.S.T. May 09/2006 during my program (Bunky's Bin) on United Rock Radio.
I present the interview here in two forms.
With the music portions intact as it was originally broadcast.
Bunky - David Paich Interview Complete
click link to stream or right click and "save link as" to download.
Split into three separate smaller sections with the music portions removed.
Bunky - David Paich Interview Part One
Bunky - David Paich Interview Part Two
Bunky - David Paich Interview Part Three
click link to stream or right click and "save link as" to download.
A FEW UPDATES SINCE THE ORIGINAL AIR DATE"
United Rock Radio for all its potential and good intent was closed by owner Dave Tedder about a month after the interview ran. It limped on for about one more year under another manager as
Rockin' Jeff/United Rock Radio.
On Valentines Day 2007 the Matriarch of United Rock Radio
Melody Rendon (aka: Flight) passed away from cancer. For most of us old-timers at United Rock that day was the official ending of United Rock Radio forever.
After that I ran the "Bunky's Bin" program from
Rock Nation Radio for just over a year until it became impossible for me to do so and then I morphed it into this Back From The Bin Podcast thing.
In 2005 David Paich had left the touring aspect of Toto and was replaced by keyboard whiz Greg Phillinganes though David officially remained in the band doing interviews and handling other P.R. events.
In February 2007, Toto bassist Mike Porcaro announced he also would be unable to tour with Toto, due to an
apparent hand injury and was ably replaced by studio veteran Leland Sklar.
In June 2008 at the end of an exhausting two year Falling In Between Tour, Steve Lukather announced (what most of us could see coming) that as far as he was concerned after 30 years, as a band Toto was done for good.
And he made the official announcement.
Sept. 2008 David Paich alludes to the Toto Network forum that he will shortly be releasing what he termed a "world music project"... Is that like a solo album?
The Toto Network (which should be re-named "the Lee Sklar Network") never quite became what it was envisioned to be.
However it is still a special place on the internet where band members and fan members can post text and media and mingle.
Steve Lukather regularly pops in and updates his tour and shares family stuff.
David Paich posts about once every few months.
Mike Porcaro, Greg Phillinganes and Simon Phillips rarely post anymore.
We occasionally hear from guitarist Tony Skinner.
But Mr. Leland Sklar has really kept the network alive with daily postings of jokes, news and other interesting tidbits. The man has become the cornerstone of the forum.
If you're little curious or a rabid Toto fan you really should check it out at;
http://www.totonetwork.com
MORE UPDATES:
October 12, 2009
Toto was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville.
February 01, 2010
The original
Rock Nation Radio station disappeared from the internet
February 26, 2010 Press Release from Toto.
Former members of Toto are reforming for a brief tour this summer in Europe to honor their brother Mike Porcaro who is living with
ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). The line-up will include David Paich, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, Simon Phillips, Joseph Williams and special guest, Nathan East.
.
You may ask...Bunks, why are you posting this now?
Over the last few years I'd get the odd request for a re-broadcast or a posting of the interview from Toto fans who had heard it originally broadcast in Europe, Australia and the U.K.
The one request that convinced me that someone (besides myself) would like to hear it again came from a fellow that my wife works with.
George is originally from Hungry and is into the metal big-time. And like millions of other Europeans, he is a Toto fan, but more than that, he is a major David Paich fan.
So George, this is for you.
I hope you all enjoy the interview and please leave your comments.
