Behind the Wheels



Toad refers to several distinct musical acts: 1. Toad is a Swiss hard rock and blues-rock band formed in the early 1970s by members including Vittorio Vic Vergeat (guitar/vocals), Werner Frohlich (bass), and Cosimo Lampis (drums). Their debut single, Stay, released in 1972, gained chart success in Switzerland. The band’s early sound combined heavy, bluesy, and experimental elements, with influences from artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Status Quo, and rhythm and blues. Their albums include Tomorrow Blue (1973) and Dreams (1974), as well as the live album Open Fire: Live in Basel 1972. The band was part of the foundation for the Swiss metal scene that emerged in the 1980s. Lead vocalist Benjamin Jäger contributed to their early recordings but left shortly after their debut. Interest in the band and early European hard rock led to various reissues and compilations in the 2000s. 2. TOAD is a six-member band from Phoenix, Arizona, known for creating a unique rock sound that blends distorted vocals with organ instrumentation. Their album Rotten Tide was recorded live using analog tape and vintage equipment from the 1960s and 1970s, with production by Bob Hoag. The band describes their sound as distinct and difficult to classify within traditional rock genres. 3. Toad is also the name of an underground hip-hop artist. 4. Toad is a traditional folk music project associated with the La Nòvia collective from the Massif Central region in France. They focus on Auvergnat folk music and have released four self-titled studio albums in 2009, 2011, 2014, and 2018. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.