🎵 EXCLUSIVE CHAT: Steve 'Luke' Lukather (Toto)

The legendary Steve 'Luke' Lukather from Toto joins Jonesy & Amanda for a chat!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
And Amanda jam Nation.

Speaker 2 (00:03):
These two songs that have stood the test of time.

Speaker 3 (00:06):
Is there a bigger banger than this?

Speaker 2 (00:25):
One of my favorite karaoke songs. And you know what,
you can hear it up close and personal because Toto
are going to be touring in April joining us. Now
is Toto guitarist Steve Luke Lukafa prefers to go by
the name of Luke these days. Luke, how are you?

Speaker 4 (00:39):
I'm going great? How are you going?

Speaker 1 (00:41):
Well, We're great.

Speaker 5 (00:42):
So I didn't realize that you had a problem with
the name Steve, so you preferred just to be Luke
all the time.

Speaker 4 (00:49):
Oh, I don't I don't have a problem. But nobody
calls me that, you know, anybody that knows me calls
me Louke. And the reason is that happened in high
school because there was ten views around.

Speaker 1 (01:02):
Yeah, that Steve was a popular name back then.

Speaker 5 (01:04):
You know, when I got in the surf, there's a
bunch of guys called Steve and they're all of a
similar age.

Speaker 1 (01:10):
And it's like Steve and Steve stick. So there's a
mean Steve.

Speaker 2 (01:13):
Now you have to call them Luke.

Speaker 1 (01:15):
I'm going to change it all to Luke.

Speaker 4 (01:19):
It's funny, you.

Speaker 3 (01:20):
Know, It's true.

Speaker 2 (01:20):
There's a there's a whole lot of names that are disappearing.
And it's not those old fashioned names. Those are all back.
It's names like Steve and Kathy and Susan and Barbara.
They there's a whole generation that will never have those
the Keiths anymore.

Speaker 4 (01:33):
People are trying too hard, but some of these names
are ridiculous.

Speaker 2 (01:36):
Well, a lot of kids are called Africa, probably thanks
to you.

Speaker 4 (01:39):
Yeah, I didn't to say that, to say a thing.
I mean, I'm very grateful for this crazy little song.
I mean, you know, if you're a band like us,
been around for a long time, and you have a
hit like this, and it's been a hit four or
five times, yeah, you know, it's not even just us.
We've had it a couple of times, and and then

(02:00):
you know, other people have cut the song and had
big hits with it. You know. Well, we recorded the song,
we never thought in a million years that would be
the one that follows us around. We thought this is
a great fun production thing. The lyrics were the last
thing put on it, so we were kind of like,
what the are you kidding me?

Speaker 5 (02:20):
Well, I remember it was a key when I had
the album High Drop, I just I was just in
love for the band.

Speaker 1 (02:25):
I just thought that's why I discovered you.

Speaker 5 (02:26):
And it was such a since George and the Dragon
was just such a great song my brother constantly, you know,
we whack it up.

Speaker 4 (02:33):
Oh wow, man, I love that. You listen to the
deep cuts. Man, that's fun. Yeah, man, you know, we
were kids back then, but boy, we were having fun.
They gave they gave us money in the Keys to
the Kingdom to do whatever we wanted with these records,
and we produced ourselves and we loved every minute of
being in that studio man, recording and creating. You know,

(02:57):
I mean I still I still get that buzz, you know,
I mean, but back then it was new, you know.

Speaker 2 (03:02):
Yeah. And when you come to Sydney, you are going
to be well, you've got a special guest. Who is
Christopher Cross? Is he a mate of yours? Do you
musically connect with?

Speaker 4 (03:11):
Then?

Speaker 2 (03:11):
How did this come about?

Speaker 4 (03:13):
We all play on all those records? Oh really, that's
the funny, yeah man, We all used to be taking guys,
you know. So we played on a million records and uh,
you know, and christ has been a dear friend ever since.

Speaker 5 (03:26):
And but you guys now affectionately known as yacht rock,
how do you feel about being in that category?

Speaker 4 (03:31):
It's funny, you mean, man, it's think it's silly, silly
title for something I haven't done in thirty years. You know,
I played on all those records a million years ago
with all those artists that are considered yacht rocks. Yeah,
but I have no problem with it. If Steely Dan's
in the same sentence as us, I think that is
a great compliment. I love the Doobies, I love all

(03:53):
the musical You can call it what you want. Yeah,
you know, yeah, I preferred West Coast. I mean that
didn't sound of goofy. But you know what the title is,
the title. We've got a silly name for our band too,
So what can I say?

Speaker 2 (04:07):
It is my favorite genre, I must say, And you
guys are absolutely.

Speaker 4 (04:12):
So.

Speaker 2 (04:13):
I'd have to go and buy yacht now.

Speaker 4 (04:14):
Well, you know, I don't know what makes the difference
between like say, the Eagles of Fleetwood Mac are they
yacht rock or not? You know, I thought, oh God,
here we go. But you know, I don't care anymore
at my age. And you know, if people want to
call it this or that that's fine. They come dig
the music, it comes to us playing stuff. God bless,

(04:38):
call me dickhead.

Speaker 5 (04:39):
I don't as long as as long as they're as
long as they're paying for the streams, you don't care.

Speaker 4 (04:46):
I'm sorry I said what I said. I hoping I'm
not going to get you in drouble.

Speaker 1 (04:50):
If we get in trouble through you, we'd be we'd
be on it.

Speaker 5 (04:54):
We would be on it because quite frankly, right yes station,
we've been doing this for twenty years now, and we
play a lot of Toto and I love Hold the Line.
I love the double kicks and hold the Line, and
I set up the Imaginary Air drum kit and Amanda
hates it when I'm just sitting there doing the double kicks.

Speaker 4 (05:12):
That's amazing.

Speaker 5 (05:13):
It's great, and we're so grateful that you came on
our show and we're looking forward to seeing you when
you come to town. For tickets and tour information, head
to tickertech dot com. Steve Luke, Lukatha forever Luky to me.

Speaker 2 (05:26):
We'll see you when you get here.

Speaker 4 (05:27):
Luke, thank you, Thank you guys for your time. I
appreciate it.

Speaker 1 (05:31):
Good on you, mate,