Toto guitarist Steve Lukather discussed working on Michael Jackson’s 1982 album “Thriller” with Eddie Van Halen in a new Radio Forrest interview.
“No, it was backwards. There was another version of the song, where Eddie cut the two-inch tape, which negates linking up to all the rest of the tapes.
“So [Toto drummer] Jeff Porcaro and myself had to put the record back together with just Michael’s lead vocal, Eddie’s solo, and Michael hitting two and four on a drum case.
“And Jeff put his own clicks, I did the drum part, and I did all the guitars and the bass parts, and then we sent it to Quincy [Jones, producer], and we did some adjustments, and then I went in and worked with Michael and Quincy on the rest of the overdubs.
“And Eddie had already done the solo, the lead vocal was done, so it was a very bizarre way to make a record, and I would never have thought it was going to be a hit; I used to laugh at the title and stuff, but what do I know.”
He added about Eddie, “Well, it’s gutted me, man. We’ve been brothers for over 40 years, and no one loved him and respected him more than me. We were really friends…
“It wasn’t just like guitar buddies and stuff, we shared a big chunk of our lives together, and there’s not a day that I don’t miss him.
“I have a little area in my home that I have a great picture of him, and I look at it every day, and sometimes I cry.” Ultimate-Guitar transcribed his comments.
