Steve Porcaro addressed claims about drug use among Toto members. He provided his perspective on the band’s past in an interview with The Roundtable with Drew.
Porcaro’s comments came as he sought to clarify misconceptions about the extent of partying and drug use within the band’s circle during their early years.
“I’ve seen some other interviews and we allude to all the partying and all that that was going on back in those days. And believe me, I don’t deny that, I was right there. I spent my time and all that,” Porcaro said. “But you know what? There were a lot of guys that weren’t doing any of that at all. There were Lee Sklar and David Foster and Bill Schnee. There were a lot of people that didn’t party at all, you know what I mean? That weren’t indulging at all, you know?”
The Toto founder emphasized that the narrative around the band’s past has been oversimplified.
“So when people talk about the old days sometimes it seems to be painted with a real wide brush like it was all just all this constant debauchery going on. We had definitely had our share but and I don’t deny that,” he continued. “I just kind of wanted to say there were a lot of people who never, you know what I’m saying? And they were never excluded out of being our brothers either. You know what I mean? Just because they didn’t, you know, that was one cool thing about musicians in this community. Nobody was ostracized or whatever if they didn’t have the bad habits we had, you know.”
These remarks follow previous statements by Steve Lukather. Lukather had downplayed drug use claims about the band, stating that myths about their cocaine use were “grossly over, you know, exaggerated.”
Porcaro’s perspective provides insight into the complex dynamics within Toto during their formative years. The band was establishing itself as one of rock’s most technically proficient groups during this period.
Simple English Wikipedia reported that Toto formed in Los Angeles in 1977 and gained popularity in the early 1980s. Their best-known song is “Africa” from 1982. The band emerged from the Los Angeles session musician scene. Many of its members had already established themselves as highly sought-after studio players before forming the group.
The period Porcaro references coincides with Toto’s most commercially successful era. The band was navigating the pressures of sudden fame while maintaining their reputation as serious musicians during this time. Oreate AI noted that Steve Porcaro eventually left Toto in 1987 to focus more on film scoring. He composed for various projects including TV shows like Justified and films such as Dune.
The band’s story has been marked by both triumph and tragedy, with various lineup changes over the decades. The musicians Porcaro mentioned – Lee Sklar, David Foster, and Bill Schnee – were all prominent figures in the Los Angeles music scene who worked closely with Toto during their peak years. They represented the professional, non-partying contingent within their extended musical family.
Porcaro’s recent comments suggest that the band’s legacy has sometimes been overshadowed by sensationalized accounts of their lifestyle. In reality, their circle included many dedicated professionals who maintained their focus on the music itself. His emphasis on the inclusive nature of their community highlights the band’s commitment to musical excellence regardless of personal choices about partying or substance use.
