Steve Lukather discusses his influences and career in interview

Steve Lukather was speaking with Henry Yates for a feature that originally appeared in Classic Rock Presents The Blues 20, published in March 2015. Lukather has been the only member of Toto to never take a hiatus from the band. He continues to be Toto's band leader, a long-tenured member of Ringo's All-Starr Band, and a solo artist.

Steve Lukather's 2003 Christmas album Santamental has just been reissued and is available to order now. Lukather released a memoir titled The Gospel According To Luke, which was a global best-seller. He performed as a session musician on Michael Jackson's Thriller.

Steve Lukather said that when he was 26, he jammed onstage in Japan with Carlos Santana and Jeff Beck. He said he got a ring in his ear since 1986 because of a gig. He said he got to play Sunshine Of Your Love with Jack Bruce.

Steve Lukather said he got the first Led Zeppelin album in the summer between sixth and seventh grade. He described Dazed And Confused as a psychedelic blues record. He said Stevie Ray Vaughan's take on Little Wing was great.

Steve Lukather said B.B. King's The Thrill Is Gone was his biggest commercial success. He said Larry Carlton's playing on Kid Charlemagne resonated with him after he heard The Royal Scam album. He recommended Jeff Beck's Where Were You to hear modern blues.

Steve Lukather said he got to blues music through the British invasion, including Clapton, Beck and Page. He said he got an electric guitar and tried to learn Clapton's Crossroads solo. He said the first Hendrix song he heard was Purple Haze.