Meeting Lukather was a little different. I tweeted
him on Twitter, as you do, because he had said
some really kind things about Snarky Puppy
in an article, some interview. I noticed he was
pretty active on Twitter so I was like, “Hey
thanks for the mention, we’re all big fans of you
and the band.” and he tweeted me back. Then
we met for the first time through a mutual friend
of mine, Prashant Aswani, who is an incredible
guitar player and producer from L.A. who has
known Steve for years. So the three of us all
met up at the NAMM show this past year. It
was funny, I think Steve was in the middle of
Mark with Jeff Beck and Steve Lukather
signing autographs and Prashant was like let’s
it on gigs. I played it on Dave Chappelle. That names. So we were chatting and he was like, just go around the back. So we went around
was pretty neat. I don’t think Dave is an Ibanez “Wait, do you want to meet Jeff?” and I was back a nd sort of stole Steve for a minute. He
fan (laughs) but it was there, he saw it. So yeah, like, “Ahhh, I don’t know man, he looks like he was very cool, gave me a hug, said some very
it’s a cool axe, man. wants to go home, you know?” (laughs). So we kind things in front of a lot of people which I was
walked over there and we were the last two a little nervous about. But he’s just one of the
[WM] I also noticed the photos of you and Jeff guys before Jeff was about to leave and we dudes, he’s hilarious. But we kind of keep up
Beck, as well as you and Steve Lukather on were able to snap a pic. So I have it now, I have at every NAMM show, like, “Hey you coming to
your Instagram feed. How’d you come to meet proof. I do not expect Jeff to remember me at Dallas, you coming to L.A.?”, that kind of thing.
those guys? all, of course, but that was pretty neat. And yes, They toured to Dallas a few weeks back, and a
I was totally scared. What do you say? I could mutual friend of mine who was their keyboard
[Mark] Well meeting Jeff was very brief, I don’t have given him a hug or something (laughs), tech was able to get us some tickets, and so
know if I can even say that we met (laughs). I but I wasn’t going to do that! me and my wife went to the show and hung
guess we did in the sense that I was like, “Hi, out with Steve, his guitar tech John and the
I’m Mark, that was a really incredible show, whole crew. It was really cool. Steve’s like a
is it okay if we take a picture?” and he went, friend now, which is insane to say because I
“Alright.” and then that was it. But yeah, Snarky was such a fan of his playing and everything
Puppy was in Tokyo playing the Blue Note that he does. But yeah, the relationship there
Jazz Festival back in 2015 I think, and Jeff is a little more concrete than my friendship with
Beck was also on the bill. One of the perks of Jeff Beck (laughs).
playing a Jazz festival with these people is that
you get a little backstage pass that lets you go [WM] Is there anything else that you’d like
watch the show from wherever you want. So I people to know about?
watched his entire show side-stage, right next
to his guitar tech, which was very cool that they [Mark] I’m trying to put out two records next
didn’t kick me out. I noticed at that point that year. Well, one of them if I can get done I’ll put
Jeff is probably the loudest guitar player that out before the year is over. I’m trying to do this
I’ve probably ever heard in my life. He had four baritone guitar-centric rhythm Funk groove
amps, but two of them were facing backwards, record. Then I’m going to do another Lettieri
and so we got most of that. It was a really project at the end of the year, which I’ll release
awesome show; it was Rhonda Smith on bass, sometime next year. But aside from that, I think
Joseph Jonathan on drums. He had this really if you’re a person of faith just live it and make
great rhythm guitar player Nicholas Meyer. the kind of music that you want to make, as a
Christian. You don’t have to be in a Christian
After the show Nicholas and I ended up talking rock band; you can be a Christian in a band.
because we had kind of known each other’s And it’s totally okay.
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October 2018
WorshipMusician.com