Steve Lukather of Toto recently opened up about his experience working with legendary guitarist Eric Clapton. He shared his thoughts in an interview featured on Forbes.
When asked about his collaboration with Clapton on “Forever Man,” Lukather reflected on the profound impact the musician had on him as a young guitarist.
“My hero, man, and yes, I had the honor of working with him once. I was so nervous I could hardly play. It was weird. He’s one of the few guys who ever freaked me out,” Lukather said.
Lukather’s nervousness stemmed from Clapton’s significant influence on his musical development during his formative years.
“I think it was because he had such a profound influence on me when I was a kid. The way he played, and that guitar sound on Disraeli Gears. I was overly shy with Eric, and I’m not known for that. He might have thought I was a little standoffish, but I just didn’t want to get in his way. He was super nice to me, though, so God bless you, Eric,” Lukather continued.
Despite his initial nervousness, Lukather praised Clapton’s kindness and professionalism during their time together.
Lukather’s work with Clapton took place during the recording of the 1985 album Behind the Sun. He played rhythm guitar on the title track. According to Ultimate Classic Rock, the session brought together an impressive lineup of musicians, including Toto co-founder Jeff Porcaro on drums and Nathan East on bass, alongside various other session players.
What makes Lukather’s participation even more remarkable is how he secured the opportunity in the first place. He recalled on his official website: “I talked my way onto that album. I knew the producer on that one and I really wanted to meet Eric because I was a lifelong fan.” Most impressively, Lukather played for free simply for the opportunity to work with his hero.
The nervousness Lukather experienced during the session was far more intense than he had anticipated. He froze during the actual recording, as he explained on his official website: “We played ‘Forever Man’ and I froze up and I didn’t know what to play, and that never happens to me. I would play a little bit, but I didn’t want to play too much.” His anxiety was so overwhelming that he held back from fully expressing himself musically—a rare occurrence for the accomplished session guitarist.
Clapton’s response to Lukather’s nervousness demonstrated the legendary guitarist’s generosity and humility. When they first met, Clapton examined his hands and complimented him on his work. He even praised the solo on Toto’s hit “Rosanna,” as Lukather recalled on his official website. This unexpected kindness from his idol left Lukather stunned and helped ease some of the tension from the session.
Lukather’s reverence for Clapton stemmed from his dedicated study of the guitarist’s foundational work with Cream during his teenage years. He spent countless hours transcribing Clapton’s solos, as he shared on his official website: “I can’t tell you how many hours I spent picking the needle up and down off of Cream records, trying to learn those solos when I was a kid.” This deep connection to Clapton’s music made meeting and working with him decades later an almost surreal experience that left a lasting impression on the Toto guitarist.
