"I’m having the time of my life!"

The legendary ex-РўРћРўРћ guitarist will perform at the Sofia Live Club on Friday, 9 years after visiting the country for the first time with TOTO.

In June 2008, he decided to leave the band. This directly led to the break up of TOTO. On his website, Lukather stated: "I just cant do it anymore and at 50 years old I wanted to start over and give it one last try on my own.... Honestly I have just had enough. This is NOT a break. It is over. I really can't go out and play Hold the Line with a straight face anymore."

Lukather has been nominated for a Grammy twelve times, and has won five awards. We are honoured toВ have Mr. Lukather on the phone.

an interview conducted by Vassil Varbanov

THE NUMBERВ WE JUST DILED TELL US THAT YOU SHOULD BE SOMEWHERE IN HOLLAND, WHERE EXACTLY?
(To someone else) Where are we exactly?..Aha..We are in Harleem.

GOOD. WE CAN NOW READ ON THE INTERNET THAT LAST NIGHT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO APPEAR AT THE SO CALLED ’STATE OFF ART METAL STORE’ IN NIJMEGEN …SO, HOW WAS IT?
Actually I did show up there. It was PACKED! It was really nice. And the owner, I guess really likes our music. He made a really big deal out of it and there was a lot of people there. I signed a lot of records and stuff like that, they took picture…It was good fun.

AS FAR AS WE REMEMBER, THE CITY OF NIJMEGEN WAS THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE VAN HALEN BROTHERS…SO, WALKING IN THE STREETS OF THE CITY, DID YOU SEE A STREET NAMED AFTER THEM OR ANY MONUMENT OF VAN HALEN?
Actually, I have not seen, though it wouldn’t surprise me. Those guys are very good friends of mine, you know. I was at Eddie’s wedding a few weeks back.

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Lukather atВ 'Mr Punch' clubВ in Sofia'2000

OK. PLEASE TELL US, DOES IT FEEL BETTER TO BE ON YOUR OWN NOW? IT’S BEEN AN YEAR SINCE YOU DECIDED TO CALL IT A DAY WITH TOTO…
Actually, a year and a half…

YEAH?
I’m having the time of my life. It is really great. I have a killer band. In Toto I had  great time too. I love and respect all the guys. Most of them, I still see a lot. I just worked with David Paich on the new George Benson album. We co-wrote and produced a track. So I still see Steve Porcaro and Mike and stuff. Mike is not well but I hope for the best for him. You know it was time for me to move on and having a great time.

DO YOU MISS YOUR KID, WHILE TOURING?
Yeah, I miss all of my kids. I have a little baby girl right now – Lily. She’s 22 months old. And I have my oldest – Tina who’s 24 years old and my son Trevor who’s 22. Yeah, I miss my family, I miss everybody.

NEXT FRIDAY, YOU ARE GOING TO COMEBACK TO BULGARIA. DO YOU HAVE MEMORIES FROM THAT BIG SHOW YOU DID WITH TOTO BACK IN AUGUST 2000 AND ESPECIALLY YOU ARE COMING BACK TO BULGARIA. THERE WAS A GREAT THING FOR A MORE INTIMATE AUDIENCE AFTER THE CONCERT IN A CLUB?
I don’t remember that, no, actually! Ha ha ha. Well, I mean I am on the road like 7 months the year of every year! Well, I remember enjoying being there, I ‘m looking forward to coming back, especially with this new band I have.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THE GUYS IN THE BAND…
Well. They are all younger guys. Steve Weingart who studied with Joe Zawinul – he’s just a brilliant musician …Carlitos Del Puerte on bass, Ricky E. Zahariades - guitars and Eric Valentine on drums. They are all virtuoso musicians and nice people and I am having the time of my life. I have a great crew – life is good!

Lukather atВ 'Mr Punch' clubВ in Sofia'2000

‘EVERYCHANGING TIMES’ IS A GREAT RECORD…AND PEOPLE ARE EAGER TO GET NEW MUSIC FROM YOU EVERYDAY…
Yeah I am trying, I am trying. I just signed a new deal… Gotta go back in the studio. It takes me 2 years to tour the world, so that’s why it takes so long.

BUT I BELIEVE YOU ALREADY HAVE NEW SONG WITH THESE GUYS THAT YOU ARE PLANNING TO RECORD ONE DAY, RIGHT?
Oh yeah, maybeВ end of thisВ year, beginning of next year for sure.

rights Tangra Mega Rock