# Has there been a more successful band of "dorks" than Toto? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 17, 2019, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-been-a-more-successful-band-of-dorks-than-toto/838787 "2019-08-17T11:02:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-been-a-more-successful-band-of-dorks-than-toto/838787/41 "2019-08-18T20:39:16Z")
[HALF](https://societyofrock.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/fagen-becker-735x413.jpg) of them did. Donald Fagen is weird looking, even slightly menacing, but I don’t think you can credibly accuse him of not looking cool. Walter Becker did, indeed, look like the polar opposite of cool, from the first years of Dan all the way to the end. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-been-a-more-successful-band-of-dorks-than-toto/838787/42 "2019-08-18T21:16:45Z")
> [@JoseB](#): > > I… > > I have achieved complete illumination after watching this video. My mind encompasses the Universe and I am one with the immanent quiddity of transcendent deities. > > This is beyond awesome. My work here is done. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2019, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-been-a-more-successful-band-of-dorks-than-toto/838787/43 "2019-08-18T23:49:20Z")
**The Decemberists** look like dorks. Pretty sure **XTC** _are_ dorks. ---
**Author:** ![Moris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moris/32/2846_2.png) [@Moris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moris)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-been-a-more-successful-band-of-dorks-than-toto/838787/44 "2019-08-19T00:54:26Z")
> [@Toxylon](#): > > IMHO it doesn’t get 90-pound-weakling-with-glasses-and-dorky-haircut-dorkier than [The Korgis](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjfvSXclFlI) (a killer song, too). While we’re at it, British prog rock **Stackridge** (Davis and Warren later founded The Korgis) [looked dorky](https://nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-s/stackridge/) too. > [@Isosleepy](#): > > Probably disqualified because of his complete lack of succes at the time of the initial recordings of his music in the 70’s, and the questionable nature (and extent) of the success of the re-releases, but unsurpassed in dorkiness: Mark Gormley. [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=87nkJquHnAU](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=87nkJquHnAU) A man whom pop-history inexplicably and unjustly overlooked, and who represents greatness in a non-traditional way. Please note that his demeanor, presentation, dress and power-stance is entirely un-affected and not meant ironically in any way. This is genuine. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-been-a-more-successful-band-of-dorks-than-toto/838787/45 "2019-08-19T01:23:04Z")
I’m not sure if they count since they’re well known mostly because of their awfulness and the story behind them, but _The Shaggs_. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XR9d4ESlpHY/hqdefault.jpg "My Pal Foot Foot - The Shaggs") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR9d4ESlpHY) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-been-a-more-successful-band-of-dorks-than-toto/838787/46 "2019-08-19T07:15:07Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Kraftwerk _Ding!_ _Ding!_ _Ding!_ On the less successful side, I cannot think of a dorkier-looking band then [The Pastels](https://www.toppermost.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/the-pastels-photo-one.jpg), the lead singer of which often wears an actual anorak! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-been-a-more-successful-band-of-dorks-than-toto/838787/47 "2019-08-19T07:52:13Z")
Hombres G were [pretty dorky](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7cEs-1qK5k), dorky enough to be surprised by encountering Crocodile Girls (their name for groupies, and also [one of their songs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgyK_ZfqUW0)). They also sold enough records on both sides of the Atlantic to be called “the Spanish Beatles”. Their lyrics often were of the “and this is while being sober” variety. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-been-a-more-successful-band-of-dorks-than-toto/838787/48 "2019-08-19T07:54:58Z")
I remember reading in a music rag in the early 80s about Elvis Costello the "hippest computer geek you’ll ever see " ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-been-a-more-successful-band-of-dorks-than-toto/838787/49 "2019-08-19T12:14:57Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > I remember reading in a music rag in the early 80s about Elvis Costello the "hippest computer geek you’ll ever see " Yeah, but he doesn’t count, because he was \*trying \*to look dorky. ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2019, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-been-a-more-successful-band-of-dorks-than-toto/838787/50 "2019-08-19T12:37:03Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > Adorable dork, which is a look in and of itself, but dorky nonetheless. The word you are looking for is “adorkable” ---
**Author:** ![Snake\_Plissken\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Snake\_Plissken\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snake_Plissken_1)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-been-a-more-successful-band-of-dorks-than-toto/838787/51 "2019-08-21T16:15:16Z")
…will peg when you watch the ‘Rock Me Tonight’ video by Billy Squier. Hilariously horribly bad. Makes you wonder WTF somebody was thinking. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-been-a-more-successful-band-of-dorks-than-toto/838787/52 "2019-08-21T16:49:34Z")
> [@Snake\_Plissken](#): > > …will peg when you watch the ‘Rock Me Tonight’ video by Billy Squier. Hilariously horribly bad. Makes you wonder WTF somebody was thinking. [The video in question](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZvl2aqIyNg). So dorky that many people (including Squier himself) see it as having directly contributed to Squier’s career stalling out. I’m not sure if that’s really true, but a video in which you’re not-intentionally-ironically dressed like (and acting like) a teenaged girl lip-syncing to “Flashdance” in your bedroom wasn’t likely to help one’s image as a male, adult rock star. ---
**Author:** ![Snake\_Plissken\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Snake\_Plissken\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snake_Plissken_1)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-been-a-more-successful-band-of-dorks-than-toto/838787/53 "2019-08-21T19:03:25Z")
I encourage every Doper out there to give this video a watch. It is laugh-out-loud funny! And you’re right, it killed his career. I’d kinda feel bad for Billy if it wasn’t so fucking funny. ---
**Author:** ![TimfromNapa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@TimfromNapa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimfromNapa)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-been-a-more-successful-band-of-dorks-than-toto/838787/54 "2019-08-21T19:42:07Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > I cant deny their musicianship. > > But good lord, on “Hold the Line” the lead singer looks like Ron Jeremy, and on “Africa” and “Roseanna” the band looks like a glorified cast from “Revenge of the Nerds”. > > Im hard pressed to think of a “nerdier” or “dorkier” band than Toto. > > I know some are going to say Weezer but they at least intended for the “nerd” look. Are you forgetting 50% of Cheap Trick during their peak? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2019, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-been-a-more-successful-band-of-dorks-than-toto/838787/55 "2019-08-21T23:40:45Z")
> [@Snake\_Plissken](#): > > I encourage every Doper out there to give this video a watch. It is laugh-out-loud funny! > And you’re right, it killed his career. > I’d kinda feel bad for Billy if it wasn’t so fucking funny. I never liked his music, but I felt sorry for him after watching that. What could he and the producer have been thinking? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-been-a-more-successful-band-of-dorks-than-toto/838787.md?page=2)