Lukather and Poppa Saturday Night

[Big Poppa]

Hi Luke

After being a Toto fan for 20-odd years I finally caught you guys live in London this year having travelled there from Scotland for the gig. It was a great night and I was just blown away by your playing and live sound. Also interesting to see the first night of a tour!

The gig also tipped me over the edge and I've now got a EBMM Luke on order which I'm looking forward to playing real soon.

My question is in relation to the design process of your signature guitar - what is involved, and how long did it take, from the initial decision of getting together with EBMM, through to trying prototypes and how did you arrive at the final specifications and decide that the design was complete? Also, what prompted the changes to the Luke mk II?

Thank you for your inspiration over all the years I have been playing.

Cheers!

actually it wasn't such an intense process as you would think. mainly because me and dudley worked together for years prior to his involvement with MM, so he already kind of knew what I was into. Sterling, Dudley and I worked together and it was a fun and painless process. The mkII is just losing the floyd rose and Dudley made a brilliant trem that works better than anything I've ever had.

 

[Big Poppa]

I'd love to see him walk us through that solo clip that was recently posted on here - I think I've watched it about 10 times now - just flat out awesome.

For a cover like that - is that a mix of pre-worked lead combined with improv - or is that all off the cuff...how do you aproach a song like that?

What are some hints that we can take away from that solo - where it's phenomenally melodic and emotive yet full of blazing runs as well - any hints for this?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-595971815391118745&q=guitar+solo&pl=true

I was sick that night and didn't really dig what i played, but thanks anyway.

I tried to pay a nod to Clapton and also a couple of key melodic licks, but it's mostly just improv. George was a friend and I wanted to play for him.

 

[Big Poppa]

with all the people you've worked with have you got any special or funny memories that you constantly look back on?

I don't remember much but they tell me I had a great time.

 

[Big Poppa]

The opening riff to "I'll Supply The Love" back in 1978: Les Paul through a Marshall?

The opening riff to "Gift With A Golden Gun" back in 1981: Your EMG Strat through a Marshall?

right on both accounts. all efx were done by the engineer.

 

[Big Poppa]

Hey Luke, thanks for being so kind to me 2003 in Munich(still have your pick)
I was doing the guitars for RPWL (the guest band), it was the day Robbie Williams played in the stadium about 300m away.
Hope your guitar rig knows the words by now (doesn´t hum anymore ) Just joking, the prob was solved quick

Hey BP told us once that you had the final decision on choosing the pickups on the EVH/AXIS model, how did that happen
Full story please

In the moment "Falling in between" is in my car´s heavy rotation A real musicians album, thanx.

Good luck for your music and all the best for the family. See you next time.

Mick

thanks for the kind words, I did actually have some input on the EVH pickups as they were in deadlock as to which one was best, I don't know if they should listen to me or not.

glad you dig the record. thanks a lot.

 

[Big Poppa]

Hi Luke,

I saw you and Toto playing at the Snowpen Air festival in Switzerland, and I wondered what happened to the headstock of your Radiance Red Luke. I noticed there was a dark brown spot on it, near the nut. Did you have some problems sticking your sigarette between the strings?

Keep up the good work and I hope I'll see you again soon here in the Netherlands (or Belgium, that's also fine with me)

Luc

like an idiot i put my cigarette there and burned the nut. Playing at the club years ago. My bad.

 

[Big Poppa]

Hi Steve,

It's an honour to interface with you on this albiet, impersonal abstraction, a reasonable one considering all the demands on your advice et. al.

Let me say before I ask my question that back in the summer of '82 I made it into a prolific band when the final selection was based on who of the three finalists could play the solo of 'Roseana'. Man, I burned a needle on my turntable playing it over and over. Also, the first time I heard 'Hold the Line' in an pinball arcade in 1978 I thought it was the second coming. I dumped my accordion and got my 1st guitar that year.

I feel that we come into our own at any stage of life. In my 40s now, I really feel that my music has something to say and I want to get out of the studio and get on the road.

My question is how do you find touring now compared to touring when you were younger?

I'm kinda freaked out about heading on the road especially when I hear people like Dimebag and Vinnie saying how hard it was to go back on the road when you're older compared to the days of endless energy stores that you have in your 20s.

I guess that if your obsession to get out there overwhelms your fears of the journey, that you can abandon your 'base' to be a troubadour regardless of the rigours of the tour... or something like that.

Honestly I love the road and I play better in front of people. I'm still a kid at heart so age has nothing to do with anything, and I love my job.

 

[Big Poppa]

Hey again, Luke

I'm not even sure the right way to ask this...but could you talk a little about the passing of Jeff Porcaro, how it affected you and the band, how you were able to get through it, and what he meant to you musically and personally.

it's very simple, how would you feel if you lost your brother? It was a tragedy I can't put into words and I think about him everyday.

 

[Big Poppa]

Luke, It was an honor and a pleasure to have meet you at the Open House and see you perform live. You are very humble and super talented, I rate you as one of the most inspirational guitarists of our time.

My question is what's next for you? I'd love to see any clinics if your doing any?

P.S. Hi Casey.

Thanx, Glenn |B)

thanks very much, but i'm not worthy of that praise. I'm gonna be on the world tour for the next 18 months at least, so I hope I come to a town near you. I've never done a clinic in my life, I think there are people that do it a lot better than I do, plus I'm always so busy.

(SUP. -clb)

 

[Big Poppa]

Hey Mr L,

I've been a fan for many years, I've worn a whole in my starlicks video tape - quick question, apart from a loose wrist (as you said) any tips on improving the speed of my picking.

You rock, keep goin'

Mike

just relax and don't overpractice.

 

[Big Poppa]

Hey Luke!
This is just cool of you and BP top do this.

It was truly my pleasure to meet you at the open house and the B.B.A.S. Jam in December at Indio. That show as amazing and trying the 20th anniv SiLO protos with you was a lifetime memory for me. I love listening to the radio and telling the squeeze, "That's LUKE!" the guy at the open house who was soooooo ............! <-what ever you think you were there just fill in the blank.

Any way
You ended up on so many records. Who are some of the bassists and durmmers that you ended up working with alot?

One of my favorite quotes from you is:

That's just sage advice for life.

Well, The first GREAT drummer I ever played with was Jeff Porcaro. He is still my fave, But I mean I have played with Gadd, Simon Phillips, God.. the list goes on and on. I have had the opportunity to play with all the cats I wanted to for the most part. there are still a few left. Jamming with Jack bruce was cool, Will Lee.. Jaco told me he liked my playing one late night at the Baked Potato circa 1980.
I am a lucky f****r thats for sure!

 

[Big Poppa]

Hi Luke...

I just wanted to thank you for the link that you and Arend made to my website a few years ago...

I've seen you 4 times in my life, and the best was last summer with el gruppo in paris...you've never been that good...bad times are really far away...I was about to cry when you played "little wing"...we were also in the zenith with patrice vigier last month...that was a fantastic show !

I was too shy to come and say hello ...you're my hero ( with two eyes...not a thousand...huhu)

so here's my question : how many luke guitars do you own ? and why do you change sometimes? sound ? feelings ?

thanks for all...wish you the best bro' ...

tristan

I can't remember how many I have, that's how many I have. And I use them all. Sometimes different tunings or just a personal favorite that's worn in.

 

[Big Poppa]

Hey Steve and BP!

Greetings from Croatia Have you ever been here?

So I just wanted to say that I'm very sorry that I got into your music so late (well, I'm 14, I still have time) . I saw a couple of your performances on video (with Paul Rodgers, with Jeff Beck and Santana, some studio work from your webpage, some of home jammin' etc.)

I just wanted to say that I really like your style, the way you play and your sound. I tried a EBMM Luke the other day, unfortunately the V shaped neck isn't my cup of tea. But the rest of the gutiar really felt great.

Here's an artist related question: What do you think of Richie Sambora? I think it'd be very interesting to see a duet (both guitar and singing wise)

So enjoy the rest of the evening, make some more great music and stay tuned

I've never been to Croatia, but I'd love to come. It's always an honor to work with your heroes, and those guys certainly are my heroes.

guitar necks are very personal, and that's why there's so many different kinds of them.

Richie is a great player and a great guy, nothing planned now, but you never know. stranger things have happened.

 

[Big Poppa]

I don't have a Q for ya, Luke, but I wanted to share a true story about how we found our home... My wife and I were looking for a place to call our own in a very particular neighbourhood up here in Ottawa, and we were driving our realestate agent crazy - the bastidge was going nuts trying to meet our 4 zillion requirements sticking to this small area, and we'd seen 36 houses over a couple weeks and rejected them all as unsuitable... So he calls us on Thanksgiving and says "I got a house for you to see that hits the market next week, but I know the sellers and they say you can get a viewing today if we hurry." So we rush over to the place and we know right away that it's pretty close to what we're looking for... and as we're cruising through the house, we pass through the living room and there on the end table is a picture of you with the current owner that was snapped in Vegas where he'd managed to wrangle a backstage pass to one of your shows... and I looked at the picture and pointed it out to my wife and say "This wraps it. This is the one!" and you know, it was...

And here we are a year and a half later, and I'm telling you we love this house!

So, like, you were a sign!

Rock on...

Wow, I don't know what to say. That cracks me up, hope you liked the house. Where's my comission? laffo.

 

[Junior]

YIPEEKUHYAAAY!!! THE Man replied

So you know Richie?

 

[Big Poppa]

Steve,

Who were your influences when you first started out? And who are they now?

George Harrisson was my first hero. As for the rest, probably the same as all you guys. Anybody that plays great is an influence.

 

[Big Poppa]

Okay, real questions.

1. Who's YOUR favorite guitar player? I mean, who, when you listen to him/her, makes you think, "Ah, that's just perfect"?

2. Why weren't the Tubes a big hit?

3. Have you ever worked with Todd Rundgren? If so, what was the project and was it fun?

4. If I were a carpenter, and you were my lady.....wait, I'll ask you that in private.

The Bovine One

Jack

1. Jeff Beck, just for pure passion and originality.

2. Capitol Records didn't put any money behind it, even though it was a radio hit. On both songs I wrote, which were the only hits. I am a huge fan and they're a great band live. Fee and I still write songs together all the time.

3. I've not worked with Todd, but I've worked on a record of his songs, which he's said he enjoyed my playing on.

4. I'd hit you with a 2x4.

 

[Big Poppa]

Here's another question for you Steve.


How long was it before you decided on EMG pickups and what were the factors that weighed in your decision?


Thanks,



Rich
PugNinjas

I tried all the other pickups out there and EMGs just seemed to work the best for me. To each his own. I still have my old vintage guitars, and they sound great too. but...

 

[Big Poppa]

Sir Luke,

On a related note to the previous post (PugNinjas'), when using different EMG-equipped Lukes, can you tell a difference in sound between them? In other words, do you notice the alleged EMG tone-destruction where every guitar with the same pickups sounds the same?

I have had wildly different results with EMGs in different axes, but seemingly no one will ever corroborate my opinion that the wood and construction still matters.

Thanks,
-James

I have no idea what you're talking about, EMGs always work great for me. (tone-destruction?)

 

[Big Poppa]

Hey Casey & Pops. How r u guys?

anywho ... some questions for Luke:

1) If you had to play a guitar that wasnt your Sig. which would you play?

2) Any records/artists youve discovered lately that have floored you?

3) You remember this?

After Open House i told a coworker I met ya and got drunk w/ u and he said "me too" and showed me some pics he took in Toronto

Anywho ... Dude, you're hella good! Last question type thing. Any tips, tricks to your style n sound?

Cheers,
Arin

1. I dunno, Les Paul or strat or somethin'.

2. I haven't really been listening to much new music lately, being on the road and all. Any suggestions?

3. yes, at Jeff Healy's club with Edgar Winter. We had a blast.

last question: i'm still trying to figure that out.