He definetely shreds, i read his book, which i recommend every guitarist to read. He talks about falling down some stairs and having a shoulder injury as a result which makes it harder to play faster lines. If you see how much fast lines he played in the 90s. Its not like he can’t do it, just not as much during a show
Right? I'm stoke when I see a band or a video of a band actually playing their music, let alone some improvised parts. It used to be the only thing anyone did, how far we've strayed..
This ^. Somehow rock and metal has given the impression that a solo is written in stone and must be the same every time, yet the studio version we all know was improvised and the whole point of the solo is to let that instrumentalist improvise and shine.
I mean, the little things he does are so beautiful! That harmonic melody he played was enough to blow my mind haha this guy's an absolute living legend.
I just watched a clip of him playing this solo live in France in 1990. Tore it up with every guitar theatric you can imagine. Tapping, playing behind his head, playing with his tongue, insanely legato and staccato. Blew me away. Then theres this, a little more tame, but with damn near as many shreddy theatrics, and still blowing me away. Those crickets near the end ❤❤ Perfection. Steve is my favorite guitarist of all time. Quite easily
It's better because: 1- Lukather is, unbelievably, still at 100% Skill despite his Age. I've seen most of my Jazz Idols slowly lose their Ability as they get into their 60's, most in their 70's. 2- The Solo is Improvised, with some (veey few) licks and Notes from the Original Studio Version thrown in at key points. 3- It's played Live. 4- It's their №1 Hit Song. Since the Solo is both Improvised and played Live, the Flexibility that playing Live allows is Synergistic with the fact that its contents are imorovised. Contrary to when you're playing Live, when you're Recording an Album in the Studio, you're paying a fortune, with the longer the Recording ends up being, the costlier it will be to be Mixed & Mastered, + the costs at the time were prohibitive compared to today. When you're Recording an Album, you also need to be extremely mindful of making the End Result as Streamlined, appealing to the widest Audience possible (depending on your goals), with ANY microgram being trimmed out, only keeping the bare essential. It truly is an Art in itself to deliver the best, most Minimalistic Performance for a Song, so that there's enough content to satisfy the average audience while still always keeping as Short as possible to pique the Interest, the Curiosity, deliver the most Memorable Lines, and there's still a lot more... It's when I first started Recording Pop Music (I'm an Electric Guitarist) on Original Songs during Studio Sessions that I became aware of how huge of a Challenge it is to place THE Perfect Note at the perfect place, to know when to add more and when to abstain from adding. My Guitar Teachers in College all had extensive experience in the Pop Music Industry, and it was amazing to see how in Pop, you're putting as much stuff in as you can while maintaining the illusion of extreme simplicity, of making everything appear easy and effortless. Any good Musician will do this, as when you Master your Instrument, most everything you do seems effortless. It's just that this (making the Song & Performances appear super simple) has to be done on a much higher level, and as a general philosophy/approach in Pop Music, as people always want to be comfortable, reassured by being able to predict the Rythm & Chord/Key Changes that are coming while putting just a little bit of spice here and there as to not be too predictable (and thus, uninteresting). Our Western Music System is based on principles of Tension and Resolution, with Patterns widely used so as that, to the Listener's Ear, the Music wil always have a sense of familiarity, be predictable in more or less of a vague sense. That's the best way I can describe it. So, when playing Live, especially your Hit Song, your Audience being real Fans, you can focus on pleasing them more instead of trying to hook as many people as you can to to your melodies, your Earworms. That being, you can take all the time you want to shred and push the envelope!
@@eriamelrrow6195 Thanks! I really appreciate it! When I put in the Time and Effort to write a thorough Comment or at least add a minimum of meat to my Arguments or Explanations, I never know if it'll be Read at all. From time to time, I get a Reply to one of those longer Comments I make, and that always tells me that it was all worth it! Wish you the best!
Unlike many other guitar manufacturers Music Man doesn't just endorse anyone. You really need to be at the Pinnacle of guitar mastery to have your name on that headstock. Luke has been killing for a long time and he just keeps getting better.
I met him at LAX when I was working the ticket counter. GREAT PERSON! We talked a little while he was waiting for everyone he was traveling with to show up. That "Hold The Line" guitar solo is legendary! I'm glad he switched it up so now I can come as close to the original without feeling too bad.😂
Steve you smell great!! Lol I met you in PA after the show at your tour bus in around 2003 ish I think.. you took a sip of my beer and gave me the drum sticks! You probably don’t remember and that’s ok! I will remember you!!! Love your music keep going!!
