In the pantheon of guitar greats, few possess a resume as exhaustive—or a personality as candid—as Steve Lukather. The Toto co-founder and session legend recently appeared on Tone Talk, delivering a masterclass in rock-and-roll storytelling that spanned from starstruck studio encounters to decades-long industry feuds.
Known for playing on over 1,500 albums, including Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Lukather has seen it all. Yet, as he revealed to host Lyle Caldwell, even a “first-call” session ace isn’t immune to the occasional bout of nerves or a poorly timed comment in the press.
“I’m Going to Feel Your Fingers”: Meeting Eric Clapton
Lukather’s session work is the stuff of legend, but he admitted that recording with Eric Clapton for the 1985 album Behind the Sun was the only time he felt truly “freaked out.” A lifelong devotee who spent his youth lifting the needle on Cream records to learn “Crossroads,” Lukather actually talked his way onto the session, offering to play for free just to be in the room with his hero.
The nerves hit a breaking point the moment he walked into the studio. “He grabs my fingers as I’m walking into the room,” Lukather recalled. “He goes, ‘I’m going to feel your fingers, man!'” The physical contact from the “Slowhand” himself left Lukather starstruck and momentarily paralyzed. “It freaked me out… I could hardly play.” Despite the initial shock, Lukather noted that Clapton was incredibly gracious, eventually easing the tension of what the Toto guitarist still considers a “holy grail” moment.
The 20-Year “Word Salad” Feud with Billy Corgan
Lukather also addressed his long-running friction with Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan. The feud, which Lukather traces back to 1994, began with what he describes as a “dick” move on his part during an interview with Guitar Player Magazine. After making a disparaging crack about Corgan, Lukather asked the journalist not to print it—only to find the quote featured prominently in the article.
“He bad-rapped me for 20 years; he hated my guys,” Lukather admitted. The ice didn’t break until a chance encounter on a Chicago radio show where both were scheduled as guests. Seizing the moment, Lukather apologized publicly in front of Corgan’s hometown audience. The gesture worked; Corgan accepted the apology, confessing he had always liked Toto’s music, effectively ending one of the more bizarre cross-genre rivalries in rock.
Jake E. Lee and the Vegas “Debauchery”
While the Corgan hatchet is buried, the same can’t be said for Lukather’s relationship with former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee. Lukather recounted an “epic drunk episode” in Las Vegas involving the two guitarists that descended into “complete debauchery.”
According to Lukather, Lee has harbored a dislike for him ever since, reportedly even criticizing Lukather’s playing in magazines. “Oh, he doesn’t like me,” Lukather said bluntly. “He said I sucked in some magazine… you can’t please everybody.” Despite the animosity, Lukather maintained his “no beef” policy, praising Lee’s work with Ozzy as “great.”
Lessons from a Session Legend
Reflecting on his career, Lukather emphasized the importance of humility and the dangers of the press. He cited his influences—Jeff Beck, David Gilmour, Jimmy Page, and George Harrison—as the foundation for everything he achieved. For Lukather, the journey from a kid with a Beatles record to an $81 million brand and session icon was paved with both incredible talent and the occasional “stupidity” of saying the wrong thing at the right time.
As he moves forward with the “new” Toto and his solo ventures, Lukather remains one of the industry’s most honest voices—a man who isn’t afraid to admit when he’s wrong, even if it takes twenty years to say it.