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It was also during these sessions that the band recorded its unique cover of “Rock and Roll All Night” for the Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved (1994) at the request of Kiss bassist Gene Simmons, who loved it and said “it reminded him of Jackson Browne”. Dulcinea arrived in 1994 and was followed by a tour in which the band played over 80 headlining shows, with openers as diverse as Milla Jovovich and Hootie & the Blowfish in their first national tours. The first single “Fall Down” (with a video directed by Samuel Bayer of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” fame) spent 6 weeks at number one on the Billboard Modern Rock chart. “Something’s Always Wrong” was featured in the movie “Fear” and had a groundbreaking music video that put the band on the Home Shopping Network selling themselves to the lowest bidder. A highlight of the Dulcinea era was playing the NOW rally in Washington, DC in April of 1995, a performance that put the band in front of a million people and was nationally broadcast.
Crediting their success to the unwavering support of their fans, Toad the Wet Sprocket are celebrating Dulcinea throughout the year on tour – including a co-headline summer tour with the Gin Blossoms, a fall tour with Barenaked Ladies and additional headline dates in select markets. Limited edition commemorative Dulcinea merchandise will be available at the band’s online store and on all tour dates, as well as a limited quantity of Dulcinea on vinyl that will be a repressing of the original. Dulcinea went on to sell over a million copies and was certified by the RIAA, giving the band its second platinum album in a row. Many songs from Dulcinea are played in the band’s live set every night on tour, and in 2023, “Fall Down” was featured on the Showtime series “Billions”, with the song showing up on the Shazam charts the following week.
Throughout their career, Toad the Wet Sprocket has remained committed to creating music that is both meaningful and accessible. Their songs are filled with introspective lyrics, melodic guitars and vocal harmonies that have resonated for fans for decades. Toad the Wet Sprocket first gained attention in the late 1980s with their debut album, Bread & Circus, originally self-released on cassette in 1988. Their sophomore release, Pale, was recorded independently in 1989. Both records were released by Columbia Records, in 1989 and 1990 respectively.
Toad’s third studio album, Fear, followed in 1991 and included their multi-format iconic hit singles “All I Want” and “Walk on the Ocean”. It was certified RIAA Platinum and further solidified the band’s popularity and mainstream success. In 1994, Dulcinea followed. In 1995 Toad released In Light Syrup, a collection of rarities that included the hit “Good Intentions”, which was featured on the Platinum-selling Friends soundtrack. The band took a break in the late 1990s, with the members pursuing solo projects. However, they reunited in 2006 and have continued to perform together ever since. In 2013, they released their first album in 16 years, New Constellation. The album includes fan-favorite tracks “The Moment”, “California Wasted” and “Enough” that showcase the bands growth and versatility.
Starting Now (2021) marked a return to form for the band, with introspective lyrics, and signature harmonies. It well-received and showcased the band’s signature sound while also exploring new sonic territories. Songs like “Transient Whales”, “Starting Now” and “Hold On” serve as core performance tracks at live shows and as fan favorites.
Toad’s most recent album, All You Want, is a remastered greatest hits album and features the most recent single “Best of Me (2023)”, an alternative version to the album release cut of the track featuring Michael McDonald. Throughout their career, Toad the Wet Sprocket has remained humble and grateful for the loyal support of their incredible fans. This is the fuel that inspires the band to continue creating music and performing live to this day.
More information, email list signups and updates may be found at www.ToadTheWetSprocket.com or on socials @ToadTheWetSprocket.
