Busier than ever in a world that has shut itself down, Scott Page, the saxophonist of Pink Floyd, Supertramp, and Toto has immersed himself in a neon state of technology combined with music as he rises above the noise with new and innovative ideas for artists. Page is currently the CEO of Think:EXP, an all-star band based in LA which is also an entertainment company whose focus is on live, immersive entertainment.
Do you recall a moment that changed the trajectory of your life?
There were always a variety of pivotal moments, mentors that had given me those a-ha moments. But as far as a trajectory, I think it was the period of time when I was studying to be an architect and I got in a band with Jeff Porcaro and David Paich who later became the founders of Toto.. All of a sudden we were winning all the Battle of the Bands. I was the worst guy in the band. I played second trumpet. We would play our gigs on the weekend, and we would kill it. Then I would go back to work on Monday doing my drafting gig and then I realized that it was a lot more fun playing gigs, not to mention there were a lot of girls at the music gigs…..at that moment I decided I would be a musician. I think that the trajectory that changed me into becoming a musician was joining that band with Jeff Porcaro and Dave Paich called “Merciful Soul.” It was more fun playing those gigs then sitting in a room drinking 20 cups of coffee a day and drawing drawings. This band was so good. Jeff Porcaro was a monster drummer even at 13 years old and already becoming a legend. Being around real musicians made that happen. The fun, the parties, the music, the girls, all of that…. I said, “This is my life.”
What is the best advice that your parents ever gave you?
Be kind…… My mom always told me to be nice to people, kind to people. My mom was the most giving person in the world. She was all about being kind to everybody. She would say always be nice to people and treat them with respect.
What was your biggest challenge?
I learned not to be fooled by the mental thoughts in my head, the stories we tell ourselves in our own minds. I think the biggest challenge is not getting lost in your thoughts and focus on reality and not being taken over by negative illusionary things. I went through a whole period of time where I was beating myself up. I didn’t have those natural abilities that many musicians have, guys that can just pick up an instrument and really quickly learn. I have to work really hard and realize that it were my thoughts that were causing all the problems. Getting out of my head was the most important thing I’ve ever learned.
What was your biggest triumph?
Learning how not to be lost in thought lol. I don’t get taken down like I used to anymore. I’m constantly checking myself and asking this question, what am I feeling, what’s going on right now? It goes back to the conversation I always have during an interview, the only thing that’s real is us talking right now. The biggest thing for me was not to identify with thinking and actually focus on reality.
Knowing everything that you know now what advice would you give to Baby Scott?
It’s really simple ….take an inward journey, learn to meditate, start really aligning with the source. I think there is nothing more important than an inward journey.
What’s the funniest or most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?
We were in Japan with Toto and it was 2:00AM. I was on the phone at the time with my girlfriend. All of a sudden I heard a knock at the door. We were staying at a five-star hotel, and all of a sudden I hear, “Scott, Scott, Scott…it’s Steve.( that was Steve Lukather the guitarist ).” I asked “what’s happening?” At the time phone calls were like $10.00 a minute, and the dollar was worth less, you weren’t making as much, so it was expensive. So I was sitting on the bed talking on the phone and getting ready to go to bed. I was in my underwear… I said, “hold on” and I ran to the door and I looked through the peep hole and I saw them holding up Jeff Porcaro. I opened the door to see what was going on, to see if everything was ok. They grabbed me, they pulled my underwear off and I was 100 percent stark naked, completely, nothing on…they threw my underwear inside the room and I was stuck in the hallway naked. They said the only thing they could hear was me yelling under the door “hang up, hang up!” That was probably one of the funniest things that has ever happened to me. I remember the next day, I knew they were pranksters, and the last thing you want to do is resist. Instead I said, ” oh, that was so cool, that was so funny.” I took that approach because if I took the other approach they would do it again. For Jeff’s memorial they published that story in Modern Drummer Magazine.
So what’s next… are you optimistic about the future?
I’m very optimistic! I think what happened is the planet has gotten shaken and all this new innovation is being created. It’s driving people to think. Obviously, there are going to be some horrible things that has happened for a lot of people, and they’re going to have a really rough time. But at the same time I think it’s going to bring humanity closer together in some ways. I think there is an incredible innovation and opportunities. I’m actually very excited about the opportunities coming out of this. I can see new business models and all kinds of new things.