Tag: Toto

Rai Thistlethwayte has joined Toto. He’ll play keyboards and sing backup vocals for their North American tour. The Thirsty Merc co-founder made his debut with them on Feb. 18 in Milwaukee.

“We are thrilled to announce Rai Thistlethwayte has joined the ensemble on keyboards and background vocals,” the band said on social media. “Our ‘An Evening With’ tour begins tomorrow and will stage shows through March 13. With the Summer tour to follow.”

Thistlethwayte shared his feelings about this chance on Instagram. “I’m extremely excited to be joining Toto on keys and backing vocals,” he said. “The first tour date is tomorrow in Milwaukee, can’t wait to get into these tunes on stage with these absolute legends.”

Thistlethwayte started Thirsty Merc in 2002 with Phil Stack, Karl Robertson, and Matthew Baker. Warner Music Australia signed them, and they became a staple on 2000s Australian radio.

Their first album went double platinum. Sideshows also hit platinum status. The band released Mousetrap Heart in 2010. Songs like “In The Summertime,” “20 Good Reasons,” and “Someday, Someday” remain fixtures from that era.

He’s built quite a resume over the past year. In 2023, Thistlethwayte toured the United States with Sammy Hagar and appeared in Hagar’s Best Of All Worlds Las Vegas residency alongside Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani, and Kenny Aronoff. He also performs as a touring member with electronica group KNOWER. Plus, he works as a keyboardist for Joe Satriani’s solo project.

Toto started in Los Angeles in 1977. They produced hits including “Africa,” “Hold The Line,” and “Rosanna.” “Africa” topped the US charts in 1982. It also reached the top five in Australia. Only one original member, guitarist Steve Lukather, still tours with them. The lineup has changed many times.

The An Evening With tour runs through March 13. Summer dates will follow in July and August, with Christopher Cross and The Romantics as special guests. You can find all Toto tour dates on the band’s official website.

Toto announced 13 U.S. shows for February and March 2026. According to Sonic Perspectives, the band reached over seven billion streams across all platforms. Weekly plays average more than 20 million across streaming platforms. Fans can expect An Evening With concerts featuring over two hours of music each night.

Steve Lukather and Joseph Williams have crafted a new setlist. The tour starts on February 18 at The Riverside Theater in Milwaukee and wraps up on March 13 at Silver Creek Event Center at Four Winds in New Buffalo, Michigan.

“Africa” received diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), according to Headline Planet. That means 10 million copies sold. Total album sales top 50 million copies. The past year marked one of the strongest in the band’s 48-year history. More than half of the annual streams come from listeners 34 years old or younger. Three generations attend shows together, creating what the band calls a celebration night after night.

Steve Lukather and Joseph Williams lead the current lineup. The group’s members have played on GRAMMY award-winning albums across all genres.

A summer tour with Christopher Cross and Men At Work drew more than half a million fans. One remaining 2025 North American date is on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas. The 2026 tour stops include Davenport, Iowa, on Feb. 19, Knoxville, Tennessee, on Feb. 23, and Orlando on March 1. You can find all of the stops on their official website.