Toto's Steve Lukather Shares His New Album & His Birthday Gift to Ringo Starr BY R A N DY PAT T E R S O N , B O O M E R O C I T Y.C O M
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E ADERS MAY already know that Toto’s Steve “Luke” Lukather is a good friend of Boomerocity, going back at least eight years. Luke has always been generous with his time and a gracious host for several Toto shows, in addition to a show with Ringo Starr. Luke has been a member of Ringo’s All-Starr Band for almost 10 years. I reached out to Luke at his SoCal home to discuss his new album and to catch up on Toto’s post-litigation news. We started off, however, discussing a new music video that features Ringo Starr, titled “Run to Me.” “That was a gift to Ringo,” said Luke. “That’s why I put it out so early (before the album), because it’s nothing like the rest of my record, stylistically. But it was a cool tune written for Ringo for his 80th birthday. It was supposed to be included in a video thing that never actually came out. Me, Colin Hay (Men at Work), Gregg Rolie (Santana & Journey), and a bunch of the guys who made it never used it, and I’m like, ‘Why didn’t it happen?’ “So I said, ‘Well, you know what, this is so cool. We got Ringo to play on it and everything. I love the tune. So let’s put it out in the summer. It’s a happy tune for unhappy times!” Luke finished by saying, “It was made for zero dollars! Joseph Williams (also of Toto fame) made it on an iPhone and then got Brent Carpenter to go to Ringo’s, and we taped him playing. He then sent the film to Joe, who put it all together. It was just meant for Ringo’s birthday, but it came out so good! I thought, well, let’s put it on it (the new album). Let’s put it out. Come on. It’s a happy tune. Look, it has Ringo Starr - one of my favorite human beings on planet Earth, as well as one of my favorite drummers - and he just came in and killed it Ringo-style and played the tambourine.
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That tambourine was the same tambourine that was on the Beatles records, and it was on Revolver. You’re like, pinch yourself! I have a lot of pinch me moments.” Luke is right, it is a cool video with Ringo playing the drums and that iconic tambourine. It’s done in classic “pandemic home video” style, complete with dance moves in the kitchen, loved ones, and, of course, a cute dog. Be sure to catch the “Run to Me” video on Boomerocity.com. Click on the “Read More” button on Steve Lukather’s photo to watch Ringo Starr’s special birthday song while we find out more about Luke’s pinch me moments. Luke and the band he has been with for more than 40 years, Toto, have had a tumultuous few years, legally speaking, that has recently been settled. Luke and lead singer Joseph Williams, along with Toto’s David Paich, are continuing Toto’s legacy, with Luke’s upcoming release of a new solo album, “I’ve Found the Sun Again,” and a new release on the same day from Joseph Williams. On the subject of his and Joseph Williams’ solo albums that both land this month, Luke said, “We’ve been rehearsing the new band
from a distance, wearing masks and all that. It’s been a long year for everybody. We put together a plan to have our albums come out the same day and have a similar cover. We’re on each other’s records. David Paich is on mine and also Joe’s, and we co-wrote together. I did duets with him. It’s not a Toto record, but it’s probably as close as you’re ever going to get to one again.” Boomerocity asked Luke to share more about his new solo album, and he responded: “My record’s harder, more jam. There are longer pieces of music. A lot of improvisation. It’s cut 90% live. I overdubbed the vocals the same day, and we made the whole album in eight days. All the solos are real. I got David Paich, Jeff Babko from Jimmy Kimmel’s band, Jorgen Carlsson from Gov’t Mule, John Pierce (Huey Lewis & The News) on bass, Gregg Bissonette (drummer, also in Ringo’s All Star Band), and myself. We didn’t rehearse. I pointed to guys to solo like I was conducting in the studio! It’s all on film. Brent Carpenter, my dear brother, came down and filmed ‘Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys,’ which was a big jam! I was really proud of the way it came out and just had so much fun making this record. We wanted to make a record old school with 1972 values. Everybody’s playing live in the studio but with 2020’s fidelity.” There is so much more that Luke shares, including insights into how the album was made, more about the Toto litigation, playing with Ringo, and how it is being Steve Lukather; blasting his guitar to a neighbor who made the mistake of mowing his yard a tad too early in the morning…
You can watch it all on video by visiting www.Boomerocity.com.
