STEVE LUKATHER
The Toto guitarist and session veteran explains that prog is in his DNA and reveals he’s still a Peter Gabriel and Genesis fanboy.
“At high school we listened to Yes, Genesis, ELP and all the prog of that time. I really got into Peter Gabriel and Genesis, the original guys who did The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway and Selling England By The Pound.
“Peter is one of the greatest singers from an emotional point of view. He could play all those characters in the songs as well as that fantastic music they all wrote.
“It’s part of my musical DNA and it still inspires me – the music of my youth, when I tried to figure out how to play those Steve Hackett parts!
“I saw them a couple of times back then. They were astounding, and sounded as good live as they did on the records. I loved all the theatricals because it was so different, and I thought it was cool.
“Peter is such a good actor and performer in that he sells the song and feels the need to become that character. It’s a beautiful thing in the act – he believes in everything he does.
“Peter’s So is probably one of the greatest albums ever made. When Toto heard it we were doing our seventh album [The Seventh One] and we were like, ‘Wow’! Talk about a guy who evolves all the time! I always loved the fact he was a trailblazer and always ahead of everybody else. This is the kind of guy you reference when you are making a record and you go like, ‘What would Peter Gabriel do?’
“Peter and all the classic Genesis guys are my heroes even though I don’t make music like them. Sometimes, a little bit sneaks in – but that’s because it’s in my blood.
“I saw the Genesis reunion in the UK in the 80s when they played out in the mud pit [Milton Keynes Bowl]. We stood out in the rain and cried! We got backstage and met some of the guys. They were so nice. I thought I was standing in the middle of musical royalty.
“I also met Peter backstage at the Hollywood Bowl when I got to sit down and have a brief conversation with him. He is a wonderful, smart, funny guy. It was an honour to have a little bit of facetime with one of my all-time heroes.”
“Peter’s So is probably one of the greatest albums ever made.”
Steve Lukather’s latest solo album I Found The Sun Again is out now via Mascot. For more details, visit www.stevelukather.com.