News Item

David Paich, keyboard player of rock band Toto is to have gender reassignment surgery over the summer.

A fellow bandmate (Steve Lukather) posted an announcement on 10 June, saying that "David will be missing the summer tour due to a sex change operation. His dreams of becoming who he REALLY is, a woman, need to be realised. The lie he has been living has been difficult for his family and for us as a band. It will be our pleasure to introduce 'Davida' in the Fall. This has been a long time coming and we wish him a quick, healthy recovery."

Earlier in the week, Paich's absence in the band's forthcoming summer tour had been explained as due to a "family illness". A day later, though, Lukather's website was updated with the message: "One day after releasing the news about David's replacement by Greg Phillinganes, Toto came out with the real reason of David missing the Toto summer tour.  David will not be part of the summer tour due to a sex change operation. He'll come back as Davida Paich before the start of the Night of the Proms tour [due to start in the autumn]".