Africa: The song Toto are most remembered for

80s rockers Toto. Photo / Supplied

Africa, the song 80s rockers Toto are most remembered for, was a "wild card" experiment for the band, thrown on the album at last minute, with "weird" lyrics, says the band's guitarist Steve Lukather, who says he is still surprised today how popular the song still is.

"I would never in a million years have called it ... it was a wild card, created out of nothing. We were experimenting and it took a life of its own ... when I heard the lyrics I was like, 'really? ... they are a little weird' ... but we went for it as a fantasy song. We threw it on the album as a throw away album cut and it has taken a life of its own ... sometimes I still can't believe it."

In fact, Lukather would have picked one of the group's other big hits, Rosanna, as "quintessential Toto".

"If you asked me to sum up our sound in one song, I would have picked Rosanna because it has all the elements ... multiple lead vocals, solo, harmonies, the chords."

And while hits like Rosanna and Hold the Line are still bangers, it is Africa, with its famed uplifting chorus, and those weird lyrics blessing the rains, that has become Toto's 'banger', an anthem still played and loved by younger generations, and sampled or covered multiple times.

As recently as June, 90s group Weezer released a cover of Africa after a teenage fan pressed the group for months on social media to record the song.

For Toto, it is all positive.

"We laugh ... we take it all, the good, the bad, the ugly, the funny, the serious ... all the memes ... punk bands covering it ... even death metal bands ... it is great to be part of pop culture after all these years. We have 18-year-old kids in the audience and they know the song."

It is both a "blessing and a curse" to have such a big hit.

"When you get one you play it for rest of your life, and if that keeps you in there great ... but after 40 years people come to see us for more than that."

So when the band arrives in New Zealand in January, they will be rolling out all the bangers in a "strong, hit bound, kick ass set for people to enjoy".

Toto arrives in New Zealand for the A Summer's Day Live tour, featuring big international artists from the last four decades. They will perform at ASB Baypark in Mount Maunganui on January 9 before heading to Napier, New Plymouth and Christchurch.

As well as singalong anthems, Lukather says "be ready for anything".

"You will hear what you want to hear, but people who are curious and might only know a few songs ... we are a rock and roll band with lots of other elements."

The band formed in 1976, with some of the original members, including Lukather, having gone to school together.

Since then they have released 17 studio albums and sold more than 40 million records. Their recent greatest hits record, 40 Trips Around the Sun, features three new recordings; Spanish Sea, Alone and Struck By Lightning, alongside newly-remastered classic tracks.

Two band members have died — brothers Jeff and Mike Porcaco in 1992 and 2015 respectively. Lukather says three or four of the original members will be coming.

Lukather himself is also known for having been an in demand session musician, playing with big names such as Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney and Aretha Franklin,
"Her voice was so good ... so, so good, it was almost distracting."

He is honoured to be part of a generation in that golden age in music. "It was a great time to be alive. I've had a lot of those pinch me moments ... I was the last of the session guys in the days when you just showed up and say what are we going to do today, let's go and kill it ... creating stuff out of nothing. Now it is all computers, FaceTime or Skype, sharing files, and it is all different."

He is looking forward to coming to New Zealand, where they will play with Kiwi band Dragon.

Toto has only played in Auckland once in 2008. This time he hopes he will get around and see a bit of Kiwi towns. "I want to see the the real land."

The band still loves playing live to fans. "It is still big buzz to play live ... as soon as lights go down, call our name out, it is like you turn into someone else, you lose yourself out there. The connection is there, that is what keeps you going."

What: A Summer's Day Live, brought by Neptune Entertainment

Where: ASB Bay Park, Mount Maunganui

When: Wednesday, January 9

Tickets: neptuneentertainment.co.nz