How Simon Phillips Joined Toto After Jeff Porcaro Died in 1992

[@collette2990]

Simon was the first and turns out the right and perfect call. And, he had a personality of empathy, kindness, caring and compassion and honor for Jeff Porcaro and Toto. Most of all he was extremely talented and courageous. Great man Simon Phillips.

[@braddsn]

There aren't many drummers on the planet that could fill Jeff's shoes. Simon is one of them. Fantastic interview!

[@aaravrowen4541]

I know im asking the wrong place but does anybody know a method to get back into an instagram account?? I stupidly forgot the password. I would love any help you can offer me

[@Mhill9378823]

Simon is a bad ass

[@philipthomas6808]

One of my favorite drummers, Love his playing and style; I got to meet and chat with him in Dallas TX, back in 1988 during his Protocol seminar tour. He signed 2 autographs and a copy of his Protocol CD; real nice guy!

[@patrickcasey357]

what a great choice it was too. Simon is one of the most musical drummers out there.

[@michaeladashefski4582]

Simon was about the only guy who could play with the same precision and finesse as the great Jeff Porcaro. His passing was a horrible loss to Toto and to drummers everywhere. He was a fantastic player and his style was pure class.

[@joereich686]

Michael Adashefski - Carlos Vega was as tight as Jeff Porcaro was, as he took Jeff’s place as a touring drummer for Jeff’s recordings on Boz Scaggs albums. Carlos had the similar style as Jeff, and as Simon Phillips. If Carlos lived, I bet he would’ve been another good option of helping to fill the irreplaceable shoes of Jeff. Jeff was one of the ultimate best drummers of all time. His middle brother Mike Porcaro, was also a great drummer (not many people know that).

[@tysonthomson6847]

Amen

[@robinkulbay]

Crazy coincidence that Simon and Bobby were together when the news hit.

[@JesperH1967]

He's a genius into narrating. Give him a stone, ask him to tell about it, and he is able to keep you listening closely for hours.....

[@lockdownmytownbykevinjohns6224]

Thank you Simon and everyone here, I knew a few details about Simon joining ToTo, but not the Complete Backstory. Simon’s jumping into the ToTo Drum chair, following Studio Drumming Legend Jeff Porcaro, was Nothing less than Epic. How many other Drummers, could have done this and continued for more than TWENTY Years.

[@stevecoscia]

First time I saw Simon Phillips play with the Jack Bruce Band he looked like a teenager (at My Father's Place in Roslyn, NY). It was clear from the start that he was destined for greatness.

[@youngchool]

Check out PhD's debut album (his debut too). I think he was the 'P' of PhD.

[@jordiruiz4323]

I have always believed that Simon was the best suited to replace Jeff, session drummers who could play those songs there are many but drummers who could make those songs their own and at the same time respect the essence of Jeff Porcaro there are very few and Simon Phillips is one from them.

[@fib455]

Love Simon ! Miss him with them . Would love to see him reunite with Luke/Joe/Nathan/Dave for a new configuration of TOTO ...🙏🙏

[@djfobtronics]

Very unlike Paich will tour again with recent illness.

[@bennimag2]

Same here !

[@fib455]

Yeah I know it probably wouldn’t happen but just my wishful thinking

[@frans_YouTube]

Me too. Toto is no longer performing, but I'm still sad that Simon was not on TOTO XIV. He would have done a better job as sound engineering on that album as well.

[@limposwe]

Frans J Yeah, sadly Keith Carlock wasn’t a very good fit for Toto either.

[@scottburns2600]

I had saw Simon playing for the Who a few years before and that man was on fire in those years. A beast. I'm sure he still is but that was my first experience and impression of him

[@alexbassi5484]

How I wish Simon and the rest of the band could find a way to put the band back together for one more album and tour...just one more time with Luke, Simon, David, Steve and Joseph...what a band!!!!

[@MrJupton1]

Agree,,, Probably wont happen...Life moves on... we get older and things arent quite as good as they were the first time around. Simon def my fav drummer.

[@nateridgewaymusic]

If there weren’t the challenges with Jeff’s greedy widow, they would totally do it!

[@xanadu8468]

Luke's autobio does give a good delve into this period into their history, but it is always great to hear Simon's perspective..... Total legend

[@melodymakermark]

Don’t know much about your Toto years Simon, but your time with Jeff Beck was the soundtrack of my life. Blue Wind at ARMS show for example.

[@cjfroese70]

Such a gentleman & brilliant musician.

[@John-fc7wc]

Thanks for posting this interview. I was always curious how Simon joined Toto. All I ever heard before is that Jeff loved Simon's drumming. Of course, Jeff couldn't have hand picked Simon, so this helps me understand the connection, which is a bit complex, but that's the musician's way more often than not. All those contacts developed over the years influence current events.

[@csohrab]

And Bobby kimball startet it all. Thx to him! Best drummer for toto after Jeff

[@luiscorro1924]

This is the kind of interview that gets one attention ...marvelous.!

[@anotherDnightmare]

I remember when Jeff died. A tremendous loss. But never knew how SP joined. Really quite interesting. Good stuff.

[@deathrockerlawyer]

I hope to see a new Toto lineup featuring Steve Lukather, David Paich, Steve Porcaro, Joe Williams, Simon Phillips and Shem von Schroeck

[@gavinparsons5150]

And Charlie Pride

[@kai326]

Absolutely fantastic drummer, and a "Godsend" honestly.

[@kai326]

It really hurts to think about what the tour would've been like had Jeff lived. There's a lot of songs they booted from the setlist entirely, I'm sure ( 2 Hearts, The Other Side, Wings Of Time, She Knows The Devil, etc.) because of his death. I just would've loved to see him play those live

[@z20000z]

Great interview, thank you! I love the way that you ask the questions, then let the artists speak without talking over them. I cringe whenever that happens!

[@Max-Mustermann46]

If Simon hadn't joined the band, TOTO would have disbanded. Thank you Simon, fantastic drummer! Jeff also approves you.

[@MrZapp50]

Great interview as always!

[@a.arzvg29]

Nice interview Mr Stark. Would like to see the great Phillips again with them, he's unique 👌

[@kaybot100]

Perfect fit! Simon you are brilliant !!!

[@railfangig6699]

I came across Simon in 1983 and 1984 on the Mike Oldfield albums Crisis & Discovery which really caught my attention, I’ve always liked drums with a rich deep sound .

[@mattwaters6987]

Great interview. Thanks for sharing. 👍

[@dougedwards7005]

I've always been a huge Jeff fan, but l gotta say, Simon your the bomb 💣

[@spicykimchi1]

Thanks for the video. Can you ask Simon about his time with Judas Priest, please? I love the drumming on Sin after Sin.

[@gregkaegi793]

Glad he was able to squeeze in the Buffalo Skinners before leaving for Toto. Genius drumming on a great album!

[@classicalvintagecollector]

Simon did a great job on the time that he was with Toto. They had found an awesome replacement.

[@gavinparsons5150]

Fantastic story thank you for the post we all wondered how it went down 👍

[@gavvac123]

Simon (and Jack Bruce), both lived not far from me back then, I live on the Essex/Suffolk border.

[@macdaddybill]

never heard this story, fantastic.

[@okisuprayogi6928]

I knew Simon back on my 17th yo while am so excited bout drumming & it was through Tambu. Love all his works eversince...

[@jamphotostudio]

I bought tickets for the Chicago stop at the Park West on that tour while Jeff was still alive, and ended up seeing Simon instead. That would have been the first time I got to see Jeff. I actually got to talk to Simon about this when I saw him with Protocol IV about a year ago. Simon was my second favorite to Jeff at the time. Still listen to Toto every day!!

[@marczellm]

Video starts funny. Don't replace it; love those moments.

[@parkinchiu1]

and rest is history! SiPhi was Toto’s longest tenured drummer!

[@57clc]

Great interview.

[@kaelisaac]

Great story. Love the guys work.

[@tonymarinelli7304]

Simon was/Is the best choice what a monster and player

[@paulsteezo1772]

Big Country... IN A BIG COUNTRY!!!!

[@robertryan6782]

Loved this video. Thank you!

[@robburgess4556]

Hey John, where is your theme music from? The bass is so creamy, I love it!

[@fenderstratocastertelecast8479]

Simon and lukather meeting Was in1986, during a venue in japan, along with Carlos Santana and Jeff beck

[@glenandal8244]

Very informative when Simon during interview ❤❤being Professional dummer and to continued the jeff legacy

[@devonkenny889]

I was 12 or so, the first I ever saw/heard of Simon; was an EV add for 408/308 drum mic's I believe. That was 87' ish, and he might've been working with the Who at the time. Man! This guy though....✌🏽❤🤘🥁

[@MrJupton1]

Simon...Fav drummer!

[@alanunseld4942]

i was always curious why simon now i understand great interview john 😎

[@lazycalm41]

The only drummer who could come close to replacing Jeff was Simon!

[@VegasAlien1]

Gadd could do it.

[@benfrewin9926]

@@VegasAlien1 Gadd wouldn't have done it.

[@johnfearon6115]

Saw Simon play with ToTo on the "Kingdom of desire" tour think that was the first one ?

[@toddvandell85]

John, bit of a rough start with the editing portion of this video. Otherwise, great interview as always, because you wisely let the interviewee do the talking while you stay out of their way.

[@drumsport]

I loved Simon with Toto. Depending on your taste in music he has to be Top 5 in the world, and a great gentleman. However, Shannon is terrific because he plays more heavy-handed like Jeff, thus the deeper groove is back. IMHO

[@jimmyhowe7883]

Ironically, that Big Country record Simon was working on while deciding whether or not to join Toto has a song on it called “We’re Not In Kansas”!

[@DAGDRUM53]

I saw Toto in concert with Jeff but never with Simon. Soon after Hydra was released Toto headlined at a club near me in February '80. Hungate was still with them and Luke ten times louder in the house mix than on the albums, where his guitar is criminally buried. Their recordings were tame by comparison to their stage performance. The live vocals were far looser in a more rock & roll style than the glossy AOR post-production treatment in the studio. With Luke screaming they sounded every decibel like a rock band----I doubt much changed as time went by with Simon.

[@kevdonew1412]

Toto why are they not in the hall ,this is long over due !!

[@SuperDavestube]

Such an inspired choice to replace the irreplaceable Jeff.

[@Millennial_Mike]

Perfect guy to take over.

[@Millennial_Mike]

OMG. Did Simon play with Big County :o , love them.

[@andrewkarp5067]

He replaced the incredible Mark Bzrezicki on Big Country’s album “The Buffalo Skinners”. It’s a great record. In the meantime Bzrezicki replaced Simon on Pete Townshend’s record “Psychoderelict”.

[@arminhess1512]

I like him very much. At that time he was the only possible choice. But a lot has changed over the past 30 years. There are so many great musicians today that even Porcaro/Phillips could be replaced easily.

[@benfrewin9926]

That just not true. There are a lot of great musicians out there, but most lack the precision and control that guys like Jeff Porcaro possessed. The bar was so high during that era. You had to bring your A Game to absolutely every session in those days. They did. Day In, Day Out.

[@benmeltzer]

I guess Simon's implication is that, had the Kingdom Of Desire album been less of a straightforward rocker, Toto's approaching him would have made less sense. I suspect, however, that based on Steve Lukather's having played with him on tour with Jeff Beck and been suitably impressed, they would have approached him regardless.

[@mauroangelantoni6889]

Hallo!..Do you want to play for Toto!?...Wait i call you back! ahahaha!!!

[@mikearchibald744]

Would have liked to hear him on buffalo skinners, that was one of big countrys weaker albums I thought. Big fan of Big Country.

[@dave1812]

Are you gonna release the entire Interview in one video?

[@anotherrudeawkening2k610]

Cool vid.

[@pamr4040]

♥

[@trevorbenoit6924]

Greg Bissonette would have been about the only other guy who could have stepped in the way Simon did

[@bobvaningen578]

Oh man Simon in Toto!! May well have been the best scenario ever! Toto on steroids. Don't get me wrong, I love Toto and all of the line ups, but boy did he bring joy to it!

[@paulj.ingram2839]

We won’t see anyone touring as Toto in the foreseeable future, but I really would like to see Luke tour as Steve Lukather and load up the best cats available, including Simon. This would be a tour where Luke has total freedom to do anything from the Toto catalogue and his solo work. My hope is he will include a ringer who can focus on the Bobby Kimball and Fergie Fredrickson cuts. With what I’ve seen on KZbin, I kind of get the feeling Arnel Pineda is already auditioning for the spot. It would be great to hear Isolation once more and Arnel could definitely do it justice.

[@jonnyrock3986]

Powerhouse drummer

[@berndluers8612]

Money .kills it all

[@Mr.Troost]

Who was this geezer in Amsterdam that got upset????

[@satchie01]

I don’t buy much that “we didn’t speak much”, he already made the Santana-Jeff Beck-Steve Lukather concerts, where he was the drummer, Luke called him because his talent and qualities AND the trust built by their friendship, which as today, it seems broken, after the Los Lobotomy’s plagiarism by David Garfield to Luke, taking the name off from him and involving Simon into that new band old name thing.

[@Kim-iv4ty]

I'd love him to play with them one more time if commitments allowed him to.

[@alanunseld4942]

wasnt that familiar with the Toto members knew the music i thought mike was jeff when i heard the news didnt know it was the drummer

[@jonnyrock3986]

T

[@DilbiWilber]

Oh, I thought this was gonna be about the dog in the Wizard of Oz.

[@sebrura]

I don’t think Simon worked well with Toto. Of course he’s a great drummer, but there was something about his sound and playing that just wasn’t Toto to me. Too clinical, too technically correct. Boring.

[@jenteworrell4065]

'Boring'..Really? Never heard a opinion like that about SiPhi.