Steve Lukather has revealed that there will be no new Toto music “right now”, due to legal complications. The guitarist made the comment speaking to eonmusic at the Leslie West Tribute, which took place in Agoura Hills, California on Tuesday 23rd January 2024.
Steve Lukather on Stage At the Leslie West Tribute. Photo: Alex Kluft.
Lukather was on hand to honour the late Mountain band leader at the bash in aid of charity MusiCares along with a host of others including Doors’ legend Robbie Krieger, Bon Jovi man Phil X, and Eagles of Death Metal’s Jesse Hughes.
Speaking to eonmusic about his involvement in the event, Lukather, who performed a brace of tracks including a stirring take on Robin Trower’s ‘Bridge of Sighs’ said; “there’s a lot of great players here tonight. I’m one of them, I guess”.
He continued; “I was honoured to be asked. Leslie was a friend of mine, and a hero since I was a kid hearing the first Mountain record. I didn’t even pick the music. I’m not even doing a Leslie song. They picked some different stuff. They didn’t want it just all night long, but we’re doing this for him, just as a nod to him, the greatest of all time”.
Asked whether he’d be playing any Toto music, he joked; “no, you've got to pay me a lot of money to do that!”
When asked about Toto’s upcoming tour he replied; “Yeah, February 8th. We’re doing the Toto thing, and then I’m going out with Ringo [Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band] as well, which takes me through November this year.”
Pressed about new music from Toto, given that the band members including Steve himself, singer Joseph Williams and pianist David Paich have all collaborated on each others’ most recent solo albums, he replied; “Not right now. There’s too much legal bullshit with that. I mean, we make records. I made a record about six months ago with all the guys. We still love each other and play.”
Finally, the guitarist let slip that European dates for Toto look likely for 2025. “We hope to see you guys in ‘25, early ‘25”, he revealed. Toto last performed in Europe in 2018, as part of their 'Forty Trips Around the Sun' anniversary jaunt.
Steve Lukather's latest solo album 'Bridges' was released in 2023. It followed on from 'I Found the Sun Again' which came out in 2021.
Speaking to eonmusic about his involvement in the event, Lukather, who performed a brace of tracks including a stirring take on Robin Trower’s ‘Bridge of Sighs’ said; “there’s a lot of great players here tonight. I’m one of them, I guess”.
He continued; “I was honoured to be asked. Leslie was a friend of mine, and a hero since I was a kid hearing the first Mountain record. I didn’t even pick the music. I’m not even doing a Leslie song. They picked some different stuff. They didn’t want it just all night long, but we’re doing this for him, just as a nod to him, the greatest of all time”.
Asked whether he’d be playing any Toto music, he joked; “no, you've got to pay me a lot of money to do that!”
When asked about Toto’s upcoming tour he replied; “Yeah, February 8th. We’re doing the Toto thing, and then I’m going out with Ringo [Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band] as well, which takes me through November this year.”
Pressed about new music from Toto, given that the band members including Steve himself, singer Joseph Williams and pianist David Paich have all collaborated on each others’ most recent solo albums, he replied; “Not right now. There’s too much legal bullshit with that. I mean, we make records. I made a record about six months ago with all the guys. We still love each other and play.”
Finally, the guitarist let slip that European dates for Toto look likely for 2025. “We hope to see you guys in ‘25, early ‘25”, he revealed. Toto last performed in Europe in 2018, as part of their 'Forty Trips Around the Sun' anniversary jaunt.
Steve Lukather's latest solo album 'Bridges' was released in 2023. It followed on from 'I Found the Sun Again' which came out in 2021.
