Toto guitarist Steve Lukather has sold millions of albums and has had several hit songs, including “Rosanna” and “Africa.” But until recently, there is one thing Lukather has never done — toured with a Beatle. Tuesday, July 3, Lukather, along with Todd Rundgren, Richard Page (Mr. Mister), Gregg Rolie (Santana, Journey), Mark Rivera and Gregg Bissontte, will be hitting the stage at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater as a band mate of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr.
“This is a gift from God — it is a dream come true,” Lukather said. “I can say this is the coolest summer vacation I could have ever dreamed of as a child or an adult. Ringo is everything I could have wished him to be. It’s a great honor to share the stage with all of these musicians.”
Now in its 13th incarnation, Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band began its track across North America June 14 in Niagara Falls and will end with a show July 21 at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. The show, headed by Starr who both sings and plays drums, is a mixture of Starr’s solo work, Beatles songs and hit songs from band members such as “Black Magic Woman,” Broken Wings” and “Hello It’s Me.”
“Ringo picks the songs,” said Lukather, who along with Rolie is a first-year member of the All Starr Band. “It has got to be a hit song — you don’t get in the band if you don’t have a hit. I’ll be performing the obvious songs — “Hold The Line,” Rosanna” and “Africa” — which is interesting for me because I’m singing parts I don’t normally sing, but I get a lot of help from all of the guys in the band. I’m having fun with it. So far, the reception has been really good. Everybody is singing along. It’s great.”
“(Steve and Gregg) are great musicians and the both have great songs,” Starr said. “That’s what the All Starrs is all about. We like to be able to play together and this band has played really well. You have Todd on one end and Gregg Rolie on the other. We’re musicians and we’re working. If you start with good intentions, you can usually keep them. It’s a live band and things can happen. But so far there hasn’t been a ‘wow’ bad moment. We’re getting better as the days go on and that’s the point.”
Ringo 2012
Starr released his 17th solo studio record Jan. 31. “Ringo 2012” was produced by Starr and recorded in Los Angeles. It features songs written by Starr and Alanis Morisette producer and Mississippi native Glen Ballard and Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics. One song, “Samba,” was co-written with legendary writer/arranger Van Dyke Parks, known for his work with Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys during the “Smile” era.
“I told Van Dyke ‘You’ll always be Samba to me,’ and from that line we wrote the whole song,” Starr said.
Starr, who worked extensively with producer Sir George Martin during his years with The Beatles, said he took advantage of modern technology during the recording of “Ringo 2012.”
“In the modern day, I write the basic tracks and we write the songs to the backing track,” said Starr. “In the digital age, Van Dyke can be at home or in another studio and have some parts recorded and just e-mail them to me. You know, it’s far out. Certainly I like to be in the room together, but this is the new way.”
“Slow Down,” the album’s closing song, was written by Starr’s brother-in-law and friend, Joe Walsh. When asked if the song was a cautionary tale, Starr said it’s more about literally slowing down.
“I don’t think it’s cautionary,” he said. “I mean, we’ve all been alive and I just think it’s well worth taking a moment and slowing down instead of being in just a head-long rush all of the time and that’s why we wrote that. We’ve both slowed down. We’re not full-on anymore. There’s no one finer than Joe (Walsh). Joe is incredible. I mean besides, he’s an incredible man. But as a musician, he’s just as incredible.”
The All Starr Band will perform two songs from the new album during the tour. And despite sluggish sales for “Ringo 2012,” Starr said he still has no interest in critical acclaim.
“It’s received as whatever it’s received — I’ve made a new record and it’s been bought by five people, so I thank the five people who have bought it and listened to it,” Starr said with a laugh. “You know, I just do my part and make the record and I have fun doing it. I hang out with really cool musicians — most of them are my friends, and I do it at home so I can have a cup of tea if I want one and just have fun. It’s a serious job but I like to do a serious thing with a lot of joy and that’s that. I love to play. The dream of being a drummer is still unfolding and I get to play with really good musicians. It’s still working for me.”
Living the dream
As the Tuscaloosa show marks the beginning of the last leg of the tour, Lukather said he is still thrilled to be part of the show.
“This isn’t about me, it’s a group effort,” Lukather said. “I try to do what is right for every song. But the highlight — the surreal moment — is still when I look to my left and Ringo is singing ‘With A Little Help From My Friends.’ If you had told me when I was 12-years-old and bought ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ that one day I would be doing this tune live with Ringo and that we would be friends, I would have never believed it. I’ve had the honor of working with Paul (McCartney) and George (Harrison) in the studio over the years, but it’s just a different thing when you tour with someone. It’s just great.”
Jeff Clark’s Uncut Interview With Ringo Starr
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Jeff Clark is the City Reporter for The Dispatch. You can read more of his interview with Ringo Starr at his music blog, Maximum R&B!, online at cdispatch.com.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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