Toto’s Steve Lukather said he contributed backing vocals to Van Halen’s 1991 song “Top Of The World” simply because he happened to be hanging out at 5150 Studios.
“I was on the ‘F.U.C.K.’ record [on ‘Top of the World’],” Lukather told Ultimate Guitar. “I was just hanging around. I’d go pick up my kids when they were in school still. I’d pick them up from school and just drive up the canyon and go, ‘Let’s see if Ed’s home!’
I knew the code [keypad security code], and I’d just drive up to the studio where I knew they were working and just walk in with the kids,” he continued. “The kids would play with Wolf, or they’d just be running around the studio, and I’d be hanging out with Ed and the guys and they’d say, ‘Hey man, we need a third voice. Lukather, get in there!’ And I’d go, ‘OK, I’ll do it!’ And we’d double it, and then I left. It was just because I was there, you know?”
While many sources correctly claim Lukather sings backing vocals on “Top Of The World” they also state he played guitar on the track. Some even say he played Eddie Van Halen’s guitar parts. Lukather said that’s not so. He cleared up that rumor during an interview with Rock And Roll Garage last summer.
“I did some background vocals [on ‘Top of the World’] – that’s all,” said Lukather. “People are still thinking that I play Eddie’s parts – yeah, that’s really funny. I mean, come on – of course he doesn’t need me to play anything like that.”