TOTO'S HIRED GUN: CAPE GIRARDEAU NATIVE TONY SPINNER WILL PERFORM THIS WEEKEND AT BROUSSARD'S

The first time Tony Spinner heard a Toto song, "Hold the Line," it was played by Rural Funk Dispatch, a band composed of fellow students at Cape Central High School. He heard them while sitting in the audience at a talent show and now recalls thinking maybe he should stop being a reclusive guitarist and join a band.

Two and a half years ago and two decades later, Spinner joined Toto on tour as a rhythm guitarist and background vocalist. Since then he has crisscrossed Europe and the Far East with the multi-Grammy-winning band.

Spinner, who lives in Jonesboro, Ark., and a band composed of Arkansas friends will perform at Broussard's tonight and Saturday. They will play mostly cover songs by Credence Clearwater Revival, ZZ Top, Chuck Berry and the Rolling Stones.

Spinner is on hiatus from touring with Toto now but sounds as if he prefers pumping out good tunes with his buddies in a bar to the glamour of big arenas and big-time rock 'n' roll. "This is the funnest band I've ever had in my life," he says. "There are no egos involved. We're all friends real friends. And we're playing the music we grew up with," Spinner says.

For many years after leaving Cape Girardeau in 1982, Spinner fronted his own band and recorded CDs on a blues label. He established a reputation as a fleet-fingered guitarist and talented singer, but the bluesy recordings never broke through. Finally he signed on for a Japanese tour by the band Mr. Big, and Toto followed.

He recently toured again with Mr. Big guitarist Paul Gilbert and played on Gilbert's 2000 album "Alligator Farm."

Spinner is not a member of Toto. "They'd have to pay me a lot more if I was," he laughed. "I'm just a hired gun. But they told me I can keep the job as long as I want it."

He plays and sings on the band's latest album, "Live Fields," which was recorded over three nights in Paris. The live double CD is a follow-up to the band's most recent studio recording, "Mindfield."

Spinner's livelihood is linked to foreigners' love for American bands whose star has faded here. Toto does play some American dates at casinos and at Houses of Blues, but their greatest appeal is with audiences abroad.

"They're huge over there. They still have fans, even young fans. There are a lot of kids. Anything American and rock n' roll is big in other countries, especially Japan."

"Rosanna" and "Africa" are the two hit songs the band absolutely must play everywhere. "Hold the Line" is the traditional encore.

The band often spends six weeks on the road and then takes two weeks off.

Touring is stressful, Spinner says. "You don't get much sleep. You play and you jump on an airplane." Three semi-trucks and 30 roadies keep the equipment moving while the band is flying.

Though approaching middle age, some of the other members of Toto are still avid partiers. Spinner says he fades after about an hour.

Touring has brought him into contact with rock 'n' roll royalty and with new experiences.

He met guitarist Eddie Van Halen and Paul Rodgers, the former Bad Company lead singer. In Hong Kong he ate sea snails and snake soup, which he liked. Spinner's wife, Sonya, has joined him for some of the choicer stops on tour. The band spent a week in Hawaii even though they played only one night.

He accepts that touring is part of his life for now.

"I'd much rather be playing my own music, but the money is good," he says. "That's why I'm doing it. It's hard to be out there. I don't like to travel. Then again, I don't like real work either."