Toto’s Joe Williams still enjoying the stage after decades of performing

FARGO (KVRR) – Two iconic 1980’s rock bands will hit the stage for back-to-back performances in Grand Forks Saturday.

Journey and Toto will be at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. It’s all part of Journey’s 50th Anniversary Freedom Tour.

In an interview with KVRR Local News, Toto lead vocalist Joe Williams says the tour has been a huge success for the bands and the fans.

“It’s a good marriage. A lot of Journey fans are also Toto fans. So, the crowds have been unbelievable, sell-out crowds in these arenas, said Williams. “We couldn’t be happier. This is our third year doing it with them.”

Williams says there’s still plenty of enthusiasm among music fans who’ve been listening to Journey and Toto for decades. And he says there’s no sign of that passion going away.

“One thing is for sure, there are certain genres and certain eras that seem to live on, which is great. One of them being music from the 80’s. It’s all sort of coming back around again.”

Popular music has undergone significant changes since the 1980’s. Williams says that’s not necessarily a bad thing. “The music business has changed, the way we buy our music, receive it, listen to it, that’s changed, but on the whole, I think it’s just getting more and more interesting, as far as I’m concerned.”

Toto’s impact on popular music is immense. The band has amassed more than 3.4 billion streams and 20 million listeners each month on Spotify alone.

Even after several years of touring, Williams says he never really gets tired of performing, especially his favorite song, the megahit “Africa.”

“It’s a great song. You can’t squelch down a great song. The other reason I love it, it’s just the way the audience reacts. To see them on their feet, everybody singing it. As a band, we’re blessed to have a song that’s world-class and known around the world.”

Williams grew up surrounded by music. His father is movie soundtrack composer John Williams. He says Paul McCartney, Robert Plant and Stevie Wonder are among his main influences.