Conversation With a Rock Guitar Great
In April 2005 Guitarist magazine dubbed Steve Lukather “The Reigning King of Session Guitar.” Lately though, it has been more like “King of the Road” as he wraps up a busy year of touring the world with Toto (which he co-founded in 1976) and with El Grupo, a union that Lukather describes as “me and a bunch of crazy Latino fusion rock jazz cats.”

As he looks forward to a brief rest during the holidays, Lukather talked with your Guide about his new (in the U.S.) Christmas album and the new Toto album and world tour that will keep him busy in 2006 and beyond.

Becoming Santamental
About Classic Rock: "There are some things in life that just don’t seem to go together. Say, for instance, Steve Lukather and a Christmas album. What the heck happened?"

Steve Lukather: "When they [producers Al Schmitt and Elliot Scheiner] approached me about making a Christmas album my first reaction was, ‘Exactly what it is it about me that reminds you of Santa Claus?’ Then it was, ‘How do we make corny Christmas songs sound hip?’ "

One way was to call on a guest cast that included Eddie Van Halen, Slash, Steve Vai, and Edgar Winter. Keyboardist Jeff Babko was enlisted to help Lukather create the “hip” arrangements he was looking for. Drummer Gregg Bissonette provided twinkling lights and a plastic Santa to set the mood in the studio in the middle of summer.

Steve Lukather: “We all know each other. We live near each other and we’ve all worked together before. We had six days to do the album. We took the ‘Pepsi Challenge.’ We had no time to get it done so we just jumped in on the deep end.”

About Classic Rock: “Do you have a personal favorite on the album?”

Steve Lukather: “Oh, it would have to be the [virtual] duet with Sammy. I’m a huge Sammy Davis, Jr. fan and the thought of me harmonizing with Sammy [on Jingle Bells] just cracked me up. We pulled it off, with his family's blessing.”

About Classic Rock: “The CD cover pretty well describes the project, but where did the title come from?”

Steve Lukather: “From my wife, actually. I thought it was brilliant. Anybody who knows me will tell you that I’m a complete mental case. So, it was a logical progression to have me in a straight jacket on the cover.”

Falling In Between
In early 2006, Toto released their 13th studio album, their first since 2002, followed by a world tour.

About Classic Rock: “The title of the album is Falling In Between. The question is, in between what and what?”

Steve Lukather: "In between musical styles. It also defines where we are in our lives: not young anymore but not old yet. It’s music that isn’t quite like anything you might expect to hear from Toto."

About Classic Rock: “With all of the touring and recording, doesn’t it get to be a grind?”

Lukather: "What can I say? Here I am 30 years later, still getting paid to play my guitar. There aren’t many guys out there who can say that. I think that’s pretty cool, don’t you?"

Santamental: Compare CD Prices

Steve Lukather on the Web

Toto Concert Review

^{Photos courtesy Steve Lukather}