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Steve Lukather – known to fans and friends as “Luke” – is as unique as they come in the music business. He has played guitar on thousands of commercially-released albums while spending nearly 40 years in Toto. No matter the trends of the Top 40, he has been working steadily.
Whether it’s on classic rock radio or your friend’s “Yacht Rock” playlist, Toto hits like “Africa,” “Hold The Line” and “Rosanna” are timeless and are still being played everywhere. But with regards to Luke’s legacy as a guitar hero, he was active on key albums by Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Olivia Newton-John, Cher, Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Chicago and Elton John. And when not busy with Toto and the aforementioned sessions, Luke not only manages to put out a solo album every few years, but also play in Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band.
Luke will be in town for a number of performances in the coming months. Toto, who will be co-headlining arena shows with Yes, coming to Newark’s Prudential Center on August 8th and Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on August 11th. A few months later, as part of the Ringo ensemble, Luke hits the State Theater in New Brunswick on October 25th and Brooklyn’s newly-renovated Kings Theater on October 31st.
If there is one take-away from my Q&A with Steve Lukather, it is that he has a lot of wisdom and smart advice to share to musicians and non-musicians alike. He was one of the more interesting interview subjects I have encountered, so much appreciation goes out to Toto co-manager Steve Karas for connecting me with Luke.
Toto’s Steve Lukather
What is the best thing about being Steve Lukather?
Steve Lukather of Toto: (laughs) That is the first time anyone ever asked me that! Being a father to four of the best kids ever, and second would be having the amazing good fortune to make a life and a living with my passion which is playing the guitar and making music. Working with the best of the best for 40 years, damn, it has been a long-wild crazy ride through the good the bad and the ugly.
A lot of people in the U.S. associate Toto with the hits and ballads, whereas the band seems more known internationally for the musicianship and extended jams. How would you prefer Toto to be thought of?
S: Well, hits are a double-edged sword. People define you by them and we are lucky to have quite a few. More than people realize, ’cause we have had multiple singers IN the band from day one and a few changes of the so called “lead” voice over the years, we sort of fall through the cracks style-wise. You could play a few of our songs to a casual listener and they may not know if was the same band. We cross styles a lot, as we love all styles of music and have three to four different lead vocalists on every record we have ever done. Perhaps in 100 years someone will check us out in a different light, notice our names on thousands of other artists’ records, as well as our own albums, and go “WTF was it with these guys?” and we might get some love on a different level. We are not like any other band I can think of. We are odd and no one can put us in a box, a style or anything else. We are not models but we are not hideous either. Jeez, I don’t know! It is not for me to say, but we are survivors for sure and love what we do. We are most fortunate to have this long career that for some wonderful reason seems to be on the up.
Almost 40 years into your Toto career, is there a band accomplishment you’re most proud of?
S: Hangin’ in there, working a slow burn of success, loss, some not so good times, deaths and taking our punches – some very, very hard ones – and defying the haters. They are so pissed we are still around (laughs). My parents always said “success is the best revenge.” We were never IN style so we could never be OUT of style, either. We are the ultimate underground band now ’cause the people that really know us and our music know we are not defined by the song “Africa,” even though we are. I know that sounds odd, but think about it. We have a lot of albums out since 1978 and that is a lot of songs, so I think we enjoy it all and appreciate it more now than ever with clear minds and bodies and a deeper appreciation of the gift we have been given. But it is a weird life, no doubt!
I had the pleasure of seeing Toto live overseas on the “Falling In Between” tour. Some of the hits were re-invented with new intros. What’s to be expected from Toto’s set on the upcoming shows with Yes?
S: Thanks for the kind words. We are always trying to improve and keep things fresh, but this time we went back to the record versions with a live twist. We will be able to do 90 minutes of our music first off, and then of course we have the big hits in there as well. We’ll change up the setlist nightly as we have much music ready to play after this really successful Europe tour we are just winding down, where the set is two hours-plus a night. As odd as some may think, with this Yes package we have a little more in common than people may think from our radio hits. Yes was a huge musical influence on us and we have music that may surprise their fans and we are hoping for a “1 + 1 = 3” end result here.
When Toto broke up in 2008, you’d mentioned not being able to play “Hold The Line” anymore with a straight face. Have your feelings about that song changed since getting the band back together? Or did you mean to imply that it was difficult to play songs alongside a lot of people who did not record them with you?
S: Well the version of the band I was in then, and the state of mind I was in have now changed vastly! I am back with five of the people that made all those old records, and we are having a blast playing that music again. Me and the guys are in a great head space and the band is playing so well. I guess I was perhaps voicing the fact I was in a bad place then, sorry. Things change, people change.
When not out on the road with Toto, you also play with Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band. How does that gig compare to Toto?
S: Playing with Ringo, being his friend and playing with all the amazing musicians in that band has been a highlight of my life. I truly love the man and the guys in the band. Three years together and more to come. I get to be “the guitar player” in Ringo’s band where no pressure is on me. He treats us like kings! Toto is a lot more pressure, but has amazing rewards in other areas. I would say I am a pretty lucky guy, plus I do lots of other stuff as well. I love my work, love my life, am healthy, and in a great headspace to enjoy it all.
Is it true that you were asked to play with Miles Davis before playing in Toto but turned it down?
S: It was during Toto! Miles played on one of our records, and I guess he liked my playing when he checked out the whole album on its release. He called me on the phone the night before we were leaving for a two month tour of Europe in 1987, and asked me to come to NYC the next day and join his band. In his raspy magical voice he said “I dig that rock n roll shit you play.” Needless to say, I was jaw-dropped and honored, but I explained I could not just quit my band of brothers the night before the tour starts. He was cool and understood and I am honored to have been even considered for the gig, let alone a phone call from the name himself. We spent an amazing week together in L.A. with him and we all got on well. I have a great photo of us in my kitchen as a memory that it actually really happened.
You’ve played sessions for so many quintessential artists, but if free time and opportunity arose, who are some of today’s artists that you’d really like to collaborate with?
S: Jeez…Adele, what a voice. Muse is an amazing band. Alabama Shakes has a wicked organic groove. There are so many talented young people it’s hard to keep up. I am not a fan of machine-made music, though. I am all about real players.
Of the current guitar heroes, like Gary Clark Jr. and Derek Trucks, do you have a favorite player?
S: Both great players, but Derek may be the finest living guitar player we have right now. Very nice man. Met him and his lovely wife Susan at a Les Paul tribute a few years back we both did. Jeez, it’s hard to keep up with them all, mate.
Might we ever see a book written by you covering the sessions-oriented portion of your career? There must be a lot of untold stories or even myths to dispel about essential songs and albums…
S: Yes there are. I have tons of them, too. I have kept every “year at a glance” date book from 1977 to present day, telling me where I was, and who I was playing with. Thousands of records, man. I look back at it all like “did I DO all that?” but I did, and had a successful band as well. The session years were some of the best in my life. I got to work with most of my heroes in every style of music!
Given all of your connections and long-standing friendships, might we ever see you hosting a podcast in which you talk shop with other musicians?
S: Never thought of it, although I would be great at it. I guess someone has to ask me to offer me a gig.
Might we ever see another Santamental project or some other all-star guitar-themed project from you?
S: (laughs) Well, that was made in a week and a lot of fun. I think I DID the Xmas thing, but never say never. Me and my friend and genius Elliott Schiener did that one with the help of legendary Al Schmitt, almost on a dare, and I MUST give love to Jeff Babko who did some amazing re-arrangements with me on that stuff. He re-voiced and made the stuff so hip, we threw ideas around and he made them come to life. It was a lot of fun and I called in all my friends to help. It was a once in a lifetime thing.
Beyond all the gigs and work, what do you like to do when you have free time? Do you have a passion beyond music?
S: Spend time with my kids. I have four of them: 30, 28, 7 and 4. The little ones are with me when I am home. I relax and feel no guilt chilling at home with the kids, summertime in the pool with them, eat at my fave places and watch a little TV, as I never do that on the road. The road is rest, practice, travel, repeat. I read a lot of books as well. Spiritual stuff.
Finally, Steve, any last words for the kids?
S: READ! Knowledge is power and don’t believe all the shit you read on the Internet. Go outside and play and have fun and remember, we are all people sharing a giant rock, be nice to each other. If you play music, PRACTICE and play with other people. The computer is not a real friend and no one has 5,000 friends. Go be young and free and happy and stay off nasty chemical drugs and don’t drink too much booze. Think about the repercussions of your own actions. Lead by example, and try and be a nice person. Take care of your body and watch your money! If you live long enough, you will know why I said that. (laughs)
-by Darren Paltrowitz