In a recent interview with Classic Rock History, Steve Lukather shared a list of 10 albums that changed his life. Among the big names mentioned, he singled out Jeff Beck, naming him ‘the greatest of all.’ Speaking about the 1989 album ‘Jeff Beck’s Guitar Shop,’ the guitarist explained:
“For starters, all of Jeff Beck’s records rule. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I’ll go with it because this one is very special to me. Jeff’s playing had evolved into what we revered, and he was a one-of-a-kind player I watched up close many times. But Jeff Beck did not think, play, or sound like anyone else before him, and his shoes will never be filled. Jeff was the best of the best. Ask anyone.”
Lukather has always been vocal about his admiration for Jeff Beck in his interviews. He especially loved the late guitarist’s style, which he believed set him apart from other players.
What Made Beck Great
Reflecting on his skills in a chat with Guitar World, the Toto member recalled a time when Beck altered a melody he heard by playing it a half-step lower, bending each string intentionally:
“It just goes to show he’s not like other guitar players. He hears it and will find it, but not like a normal guitar player would. That’s what makes him Jeff Beck – if it sounds good ‘normal,’ he’s not interested. If it sounds like anything he’s done before, he’s not interested.”
About the late guitarist’s approach to his own music, he went on:
“He’s one of those guys concerned with ‘personal best.’ If it’s not kicking his a**, whereas it would be kicking mine or anyone else’s, it’s gone – he has his own standard. Which makes him the great, impossible-to-emulate Jeff Beck.”
Beck And Lukather’s Work Together
In the ’90s, Lukather had the opportunity to work with Beck when he was asked to produce an album for him. But, the album was not completed as the late artist shifted his focus to guitar-based electronica during those years.
The two also performed live together a few times, including an outdoor concert in Japan in 1986 and a music festival in France in 2022.
