Steve Hackett
Encyclopedia
Stephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock
group Genesis
, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career. Hackett contributed to six Genesis studio albums, three live albums and seven singles.
In 1986, Hackett co-founded the supergroup
GTR
with another progressive guitarist, Steve Howe
of Yes
and Asia
. The group released a self-titled album that year, which peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200
in the United States and spawned the Top 20 single "When the Heart Rules the Mind". When Hackett left GTR in 1987, the group disbanded.
After leaving GTR, Hackett resumed his solo career and has released albums and toured on a regular basis since. His body of work has encompassed many styles, such as progressive rock, world music
, and classical
. His playing has influenced guitarists such as Alex Lifeson
and Brian May
. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
as a member of Genesis in 2010.
, London and attended the Sloane Grammar School, Chelsea
.
He grew up having access to various musical instruments, such as the recorder
and harmonica
, but did not develop an interest in the guitar until the age of twelve, when he started playing single notes. By fourteen, he was learning chord
s and experimenting with chord progression
s, although he never received any formal instruction. Hackett's earliest musical influences were classical
(Johann Sebastian Bach
) and opera
(Mario Lanza
). He has stated that his compositions are still influenced by them. Hackett also has cited numerous British blues
artists as influences, namely Danny Kirwan
, Peter Green
, and various guitarists in John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
.
elements. His first recording work came in 1970, as a member of Quiet World
, a band that included younger brother John Hackett
on flute
. The group released one album, The Road, but he departed the group soon after.
Hackett, seeking a new band, placed an advertisement in Melody Maker
. The advertisement, in which Hackett stated he was seeking musicians "determined to strive beyond existing stagnant music forms," was spotted by Genesis
vocalist Peter Gabriel
, who contacted Hackett. The band had recently lost founding guitarist Anthony Phillips
. After seeing Genesis perform, Hackett auditioned for the group and joined in December 1970.
Hackett's first recording with Genesis was Nursery Cryme
, released in November 1971. Hackett made an immediate impact on the group's sound, as evidenced by his work on such songs as "The Musical Box" and "The Return of the Giant Hogweed," becoming one of the first guitarists to experiment with the tapping
technique normally attributed to Eddie Van Halen
. (Hackett has often claimed Van Halen told him he learned the technique after attending a Genesis concert in the early 1970s.) The continuo part in the latter song sounds like a synthesiser because of distortion
and because of his legato
tapping technique as well as Tony Banks
's simultaneous Hohner Pianet
continuo.
Although Nursery Cryme was not a commercial success, 1972's album Foxtrot
was, reaching #12 in the UK. Included on Foxtrot was Hackett's classical guitar
composition "Horizons," which quickly became one of his signature pieces.
Foxtrot began a trend of increasing commercial popularity for Genesis, and in the group's 1973 effort, Selling England by the Pound
, Hackett showed continued and perfected use of the tapping technique, as well as sweep picking, which was popularised in 1984 by Yngwie Malmsteen. Both of these techniques can be heard on the track "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight
." The track "Firth of Fifth
" contains one of Hackett's most well-known guitar solos. The track has remained a favourite in concert, even after Hackett's departure.
During the recording of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
in 1974, Hackett's contribution shrank from what he had originally contributed on Selling England by the Pound
. He attributed his lack of contribution to be that of not being able to come to grips with the material presented, and his failing marriage. Additionally, Hackett injured his hand after accidentally crushing a wine glass, which led to the delay of the Lamb tour. This additionally reflected the tension within the band.
In 1975, Hackett became the first member of Genesis to release a solo album when he issued Voyage of the Acolyte
. Assisting with the recording were Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford
. Hackett enjoyed the freedom he had when writing and recording his own album, and thus began to become frustrated after returning to the group's more democratic approach to songwriting.
The band reconvened after Gabriel's departure to record the album A Trick Of The Tail
, with Collins performing lead vocals after no other singer could be found. Hackett had writing credits on a number of the songs, but felt constricted by his lack of freedom and level of input.
His frustration increased as Genesis prepared to release 1976's Wind & Wuthering
. Hackett was insistent that more of his material be included on the album, but was rebuffed. "Blood on the Rooftops," which Hackett wrote with Collins, made the album but was never played live, and his composition "Please Don't Touch" was rejected completely. Another song, "Inside and Out," was relegated to the Spot the Pigeon
EP
. Hackett remained with Genesis through the conclusion of the Wind & Wuthering tour, but announced his departure on 8 October 1977, one week before the release of the group's second live album, Seconds Out
.
", held to raise money for Peter Gabriel's WOMAD
festival. This was the first and last time this lineup had performed since 1975.
In 1998 the group gathered for a photo session and dinner to celebrate the release of the box set, Genesis Archive 1967-75
. Hackett re-recorded some of his guitar parts for the box set, as well as participating in the re-recording of 1974's "The Carpet Crawlers
" for inclusion on the 1999 Genesis greatest hits album Turn It on Again: The Hits
. The rest of the group recorded some new parts as well, although they were not recorded together in the same studio. However, by the time that Trevor Horn
and The Art of Noise
had mixed these parts, there remained very little of them in the final release other than Gabriel's and Collins' vocals.
In an April 2006 radio interview, Phil Collins discussed a band meeting that took place in November 2005. During that meeting, the group discussed the possibility of reuniting the classic mid-'70s roster for a limited run of shows, including a complete performance of the group's 1974 double album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
. However, on 18 October 2006 it was announced that the post-Hackett lineup of Rutherford, Banks, and Collins were instead reforming.
In March 2010, Phish
guitarist Trey Anastasio
was asked to pay tribute to Genesis, one of his favourite bands, upon being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In addition to Anastasio's speech, Phish appeared and performed two Genesis songs, "Watcher of the Skies
" and "No Reply At All
." Even though Hackett and his Genesis bandmates (minus Peter Gabriel) attended the ceremony, they did not perform.
, released in 1978. As with Voyage of the Acolyte
, much of the material on the album was in the style of progressive rock. It did contain, however, much more vocal work. Hackett, who had never sung lead on a Genesis song, turned over most of the vocals to a number of singers, including folk
singer Richie Havens
, R&B
singer Randy Crawford
, and Steve Walsh
of Kansas
. He did provide lead vocals for "Carry on Up the Vicarage," but they were processed using a "laughing gnome" vocal effect. The album peaked at #38 on the UK chart, and #103 on the Billboard pop Albums chart
in the United States.
A pair of progressive rock albums followed: 1979's Spectral Mornings
(#22 UK Albums Chart) and 1980's Defector
(#9 UK Albums Chart, they charted #138 and #144 in the United States, respectively). Hackett toured Europe for the first time as a solo act in 1979, and in August performed at the Reading Festival
. The Defector tour brought him to the United States for the first time since his final tour with Genesis.
Hackett's first major shift in musical style came with 1981's Cured
. Although the album contained some of the progressive and classical pieces for which Hackett was known, it also showcased a much more pop approach. The album was recorded without most of the musicians who had been on Hackett's solo albums since Spectral Mornings (Hackett handled all lead vocal duties). Only longtime collaborators Nick Magnus and John Hackett remained. While Cured did not chart highly in the U.S., it peaked at #15 in the UK.
In the 1980s, Hackett released his first classical guitar albums, Bay of Kings
(#70 UK Albums Chart) and Momentum
. The tour for Momentum drew large crowds in Europe, considered unusual for a classical guitarist.
In 1983 Hackett participated on the British/Brazilian singer Ritchie's LP Voo de Coração. Hackett played guitar on various tracks, and most songs on the LP were hits on Brazilian radio.
On the rock production side, Hackett's work in the 1980s involved the LPs Cured (1981), Highly Strung (1983, #16 UK Albums Chart) and Till We Have Faces (1984, #54 UK Albums Chart). Till We Have Faces merged Hackett style sounds with Brazilian percussion.
In 1986, Hackett formed the supergroup GTR
with veteran Yes
and Asia
guitarist Steve Howe
. The group released a gold-selling album, produced by Yes/Asia keyboardist Geoff Downes
. Hackett soon left GTR over financial and management squabbles. In addition to Howe and Downes, Hackett has also worked with Yes drummer Bill Bruford
in Genesis, Yes bassist Chris Squire
(Chris Squire's Swiss Choir, 2007) and briefly Yes vocalist Trevor Horn
(who produced the 1999 reunion version of "The Carpet Crawlers"). He also performed alongside former Yes
keyboard player Rick Wakeman
on the latter's TV Show Gastank
in the mid 1980s. Hackett's long-time keyboardist, Julian Colbeck
, played live with Yes spin-off Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
.
Hackett's solo career continued, releasing a plethora of both electric and acoustic based albums throughout the 90s to the present day. In April 1997 he released the neo-classical influenced A Midsummer Night's Dream, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
, and the album spent several weeks in the Top 10 of the UK classical charts.
In June 2009, Hackett announced a new solo album featuring contributions of many artists, including former Genesis guitarist Anthony Phillips
and Chris Squire of Yes. In fact Hackett and Squire have recorded an album of new material under the working title of "Squackett" which as of late 2010 has been delayed by legal reasons.
The album which was due for release mid October 2009 and called Out of the Tunnel's Mouth
was delayed due to legal reasons, but was eventually on sale from November 2009, and some songs were performed on the European tour.
In August 2009, the official, authorised biography 'Sketches Of Hackett' by Alan Hewitt was published by Wymer Publishing. The first edition hardback includes a bonus DVD with a 90 minute interview filmed early in the year at Steve's home.
On 15 March 2010, Genesis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Hackett making a rare appearance alongside Phil Collins, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford at the ceremony, though they unfortunately did not perform together. Hackett, in recent years, has put on record his willingness to participate in a reunion. Genesis' planned reunion of the classic 70's line-up fell apart in 2007 when Peter Gabriel expressed reservations, and subsequently Hackett dropped out in deference to the Genesis 'trio' line-up, as opposed to the 4-piece. With Phil Collins' announced retirement in 2011, any possibility for another reunion are very slim.
. Hackett has admitted that the strain of the break-up contributed to the incident where he crushed a wine glass in drunken frustration, injuring his hand and delaying the start of the Lamb tour. He then married Brazilian painter and jewellery
artist Kim Poor in 1976 after meeting her backstage at a Genesis concert. She painted most of his album covers. Her artwork
for Voyage of the Acolyte won Album Cover of the Year in 1976. They divorced in 2008. He married Jo Lehmann on June 4, 2011.
Steve's younger brother John
was involved as flute player and second guitarist in his 1970s bands. John has often appeared as musician and collaborator on his more recent work, particularly on Sketches of Satie (2000), arranged for flute and guitar.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
group Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career. Hackett contributed to six Genesis studio albums, three live albums and seven singles.
In 1986, Hackett co-founded the supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
GTR
GTR (band)
GTR were a rock band founded in 1985 by former Yes and Asia guitarist Steve Howe and former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett. In comparison to the two leaders' earlier work within progressive rock, GTR's work followed more of an Adult Oriented Rock format. The band was short-lived, lasting for two...
with another progressive guitarist, Steve Howe
Steve Howe (guitarist)
Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
of Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
and Asia
Asia (band)
Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a supergroup as it included former members of several veteran progressive rock bands, namely John Wetton , Geoff Downes , Steve Howe and Carl Palmer Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a...
. The group released a self-titled album that year, which peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
in the United States and spawned the Top 20 single "When the Heart Rules the Mind". When Hackett left GTR in 1987, the group disbanded.
After leaving GTR, Hackett resumed his solo career and has released albums and toured on a regular basis since. His body of work has encompassed many styles, such as progressive rock, world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
, and classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
. His playing has influenced guitarists such as Alex Lifeson
Alex Lifeson
Aleksandar Živojinović, OC, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a second generation Serbian-Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend, drummer John Rutsey...
and Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
as a member of Genesis in 2010.
Biography
Hackett was born in PimlicoPimlico
Pimlico is a small area of central London in the City of Westminster. Like Belgravia, to which it was built as a southern extension, Pimlico is known for its grand garden squares and impressive Regency architecture....
, London and attended the Sloane Grammar School, Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
.
He grew up having access to various musical instruments, such as the recorder
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
and harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, but did not develop an interest in the guitar until the age of twelve, when he started playing single notes. By fourteen, he was learning chord
Guitar chord
In music, a guitar chord is a chord, or collection of tones usually sounded together at once, played on a guitar. It can be composed of notes played on adjacent or separate strings or all the strings together...
s and experimenting with chord progression
Chord progression
A chord progression is a series of musical chords, or chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" of establishing a tonality founded on a key, root or tonic chord. In other words, the succession of root relationships...
s, although he never received any formal instruction. Hackett's earliest musical influences were classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
(Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
) and opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
(Mario Lanza
Mario Lanza
right|thumb|[[MGM]] still, circa 1949Mario Lanza was an American tenor and Hollywood movie star of the late 1940s and the 1950s. The son of Italian emigrants, he began studying to be a professional singer at the age of 16....
). He has stated that his compositions are still influenced by them. Hackett also has cited numerous British blues
British blues
British blues is a form of music derived from American blues that originated in the late 1950s and which reached its height of mainstream popularity in the 1960s, when it developed a distinctive and influential style dominated by electric guitar and made international stars of several proponents of...
artists as influences, namely Danny Kirwan
Danny Kirwan
Daniel David "Danny" Kirwan is a British musician best known for his role as guitarist, singer and songwriter with the blues-rock band Fleetwood Mac between 1968 and 1972.-Early career:...
, Peter Green
Peter Green (musician)
Peter Green is a British blues-rock guitarist and the founder of the band Fleetwood Mac...
, and various guitarists in John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers are a pioneering English blues band, led by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist John Mayall, OBE. Mayall used the band name between 1963 and 1967, but then dropped it for some fifteen years. However, in 1982 a 'Return of the Bluesbreakers' was announced and...
.
Early career
Steve Hackett's earliest professional playing experience came with two bands—Canterbury Glass and Sarabande—both of whom performed rock with progressiveProgressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
elements. His first recording work came in 1970, as a member of Quiet World
Quiet World
Quiet World were an English band formed by the Heather Brothers in 1969 to record their concept album "The Road". The group included Steve Hackett on guitar, his younger brother John Hackett on flute, Gill Gilbert on vocals, Lea Heather vocals and percussion, Neil Heather composers, John Heather...
, a band that included younger brother John Hackett
John Hackett (musician)
John Hackett is a British flautist, the younger brother of guitarist Steve Hackett. Although his primary instrument is the flute, he also plays guitar, bass and keyboards...
on flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
. The group released one album, The Road, but he departed the group soon after.
Hackett, seeking a new band, placed an advertisement in Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
. The advertisement, in which Hackett stated he was seeking musicians "determined to strive beyond existing stagnant music forms," was spotted by Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
vocalist Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
, who contacted Hackett. The band had recently lost founding guitarist Anthony Phillips
Anthony Phillips
Anthony Edwin "Ant" Phillips is an English multi instrumentalist, best known as a founding member of the band Genesis. He played guitar and sang backing vocals until leaving in 1970, following the recording of their second album, Trespass...
. After seeing Genesis perform, Hackett auditioned for the group and joined in December 1970.
Genesis
Hackett, who had little on-stage playing experience when he joined Genesis, had some initial difficulty performing with the group. But he soon settled into his role, and his unique stage image (wearing glasses and seated in a hunched position over his guitar) served as a counter to Gabriel's extravagant costumes and theatrics.Hackett's first recording with Genesis was Nursery Cryme
Nursery Cryme
Nursery Cryme is the third studio album by Genesis and was recorded and released in 1971. It is also the first album to feature the classic five-piece line-up of Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins and Steve Hackett; the latter two replacing John Mayhew and Anthony Phillips, on...
, released in November 1971. Hackett made an immediate impact on the group's sound, as evidenced by his work on such songs as "The Musical Box" and "The Return of the Giant Hogweed," becoming one of the first guitarists to experiment with the tapping
Tapping
Tapping is a guitar playing technique, where a string is fretted and set into vibration as part of a single motion of being pushed onto the fretboard, as opposed to the standard technique being fretted with one hand and picked with the other...
technique normally attributed to Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen
Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
. (Hackett has often claimed Van Halen told him he learned the technique after attending a Genesis concert in the early 1970s.) The continuo part in the latter song sounds like a synthesiser because of distortion
Distortion (guitar)
Distortion effects create "warm", "dirty" and "fuzzy" sounds by compressing the peaks of a musical instrument's sound wave and adding overtones. The three principal types of distortion effects are overdrive, distortion and fuzz. Distortion effects are sometimes called “gain” effects, as distorted...
and because of his legato
Legato
In musical notation the Italian word legato indicates that musical notes are played or sung smoothly and connected. That is, in transitioning from note to note, there should be no intervening silence...
tapping technique as well as Tony Banks
Tony Banks (musician)
This article is about the musician. For other people named Tony Banks, see Tony BanksAnthony George "Tony" Banks is a British composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who performs as a keyboardist and a guitarist...
's simultaneous Hohner Pianet
Pianet
thumb|Hohner Pianet TThe Pianet was a series of electric pianos built by the Hohner company of Trossingen, West Germany from the 1960s to the 1970s. The designer of the early Pianet models was Ernst Zacharias, basing the mechanism closely on a 1920s design by Lloyd Loar...
continuo.
Although Nursery Cryme was not a commercial success, 1972's album Foxtrot
Foxtrot (album)
Foxtrot is the fourth studio album by English progressive rock band Genesis and the second from the band line-up which included Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins, and Steve Hackett.-History:...
was, reaching #12 in the UK. Included on Foxtrot was Hackett's classical guitar
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
composition "Horizons," which quickly became one of his signature pieces.
Foxtrot began a trend of increasing commercial popularity for Genesis, and in the group's 1973 effort, Selling England by the Pound
Selling England by the Pound
- Sound and live performance :The piano introduction to "Firth of Fifth" has not been included in a performance since 1974, in a Drury Lane Theatre concert, when Banks misplayed and Collins covered by starting the song from after the intro...
, Hackett showed continued and perfected use of the tapping technique, as well as sweep picking, which was popularised in 1984 by Yngwie Malmsteen. Both of these techniques can be heard on the track "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight
Dancing with the Moonlit Knight
"Dancing with the Moonlit Knight" is the first track on the Genesis album Selling England by the Pound, released in 1973.The a cappella voice of Peter Gabriel opens the track. Then, the song progressively gets louder and more upbeat, becoming a powerful rock number...
." The track "Firth of Fifth
Firth of Fifth
"Firth of Fifth" is a progressive rock song by progressive rock band Genesis, from their 1973 album Selling England by the Pound. The title is a pun on the estuary of the River Forth in Scotland, commonly known as the Firth of Forth....
" contains one of Hackett's most well-known guitar solos. The track has remained a favourite in concert, even after Hackett's departure.
During the recording of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
The Lamb Lies down on Broadway
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is a double concept album recorded and released in 1974 by the British rock band Genesis. It was their sixth studio album and the last album by the group to feature the involvement of lead singer Peter Gabriel.-Premise:...
in 1974, Hackett's contribution shrank from what he had originally contributed on Selling England by the Pound
Selling England by the Pound
- Sound and live performance :The piano introduction to "Firth of Fifth" has not been included in a performance since 1974, in a Drury Lane Theatre concert, when Banks misplayed and Collins covered by starting the song from after the intro...
. He attributed his lack of contribution to be that of not being able to come to grips with the material presented, and his failing marriage. Additionally, Hackett injured his hand after accidentally crushing a wine glass, which led to the delay of the Lamb tour. This additionally reflected the tension within the band.
In 1975, Hackett became the first member of Genesis to release a solo album when he issued Voyage of the Acolyte
Voyage of the Acolyte
Voyage of the Acolyte is the debut solo album from then-Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett. It was released in 1975 on Chrysalis Records in the US and Charisma Records for the rest of the free world. Due to the heavy contributions of Phil Collins and Michael Rutherford it is often thought of as a...
. Assisting with the recording were Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford
Mike Rutherford
Michael John Cleote Crawford Rutherford is an English musician. He is a founding member of Genesis, initially as a bassist and backup vocalist. In later incarnations of Genesis, he assumed the role of lead guitarist. He is one of only two constant members in Genesis . He also fronts Mike + The...
. Hackett enjoyed the freedom he had when writing and recording his own album, and thus began to become frustrated after returning to the group's more democratic approach to songwriting.
The band reconvened after Gabriel's departure to record the album A Trick Of The Tail
A Trick of the Tail
-B Side:*This is the first song in the Genesis catalogue to feature an ellipsis in its name, used to convey the mysteriousness of the track. All future issues of this track omit the elipsis, however....
, with Collins performing lead vocals after no other singer could be found. Hackett had writing credits on a number of the songs, but felt constricted by his lack of freedom and level of input.
His frustration increased as Genesis prepared to release 1976's Wind & Wuthering
Wind & Wuthering
"It's Yourself" is the B-side to "Your Own Special Way", released February 1977-Related EP:All tracks from the Single Spot the Pigeon 20 May 1977-2007 SACD/CD/DVD Release:...
. Hackett was insistent that more of his material be included on the album, but was rebuffed. "Blood on the Rooftops," which Hackett wrote with Collins, made the album but was never played live, and his composition "Please Don't Touch" was rejected completely. Another song, "Inside and Out," was relegated to the Spot the Pigeon
Spot the Pigeon
Spot the Pigeon is a 7 inch EP by the British progressive rock band Genesis, released in 1977. Its three songs were holdovers from the Wind & Wuthering sessions, which the band felt did not fit the feel of the album....
EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
. Hackett remained with Genesis through the conclusion of the Wind & Wuthering tour, but announced his departure on 8 October 1977, one week before the release of the group's second live album, Seconds Out
Seconds Out
Seconds Out is a live double album by Genesis, released in October 1977. It reached No.4 in the UK, remaining in the charts for 17 weeks. The performances were recorded in Paris in 1976 and 1977 on their tours in support of A Trick of the Tail and Wind & Wuthering...
.
Reunions
Since Hackett's departure, the early 1970s lineup of Genesis has reunited on a handful of occasions. On 2 October 1982, the group gathered for a one-off performance entitled "Six of the BestSix of the best
Six of the Best was the name chosen for the reunion concert of the rock band Genesis with former founding member Peter Gabriel which took place on a wet 2 October 1982 at National Bowl, in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England...
", held to raise money for Peter Gabriel's WOMAD
World of Music, Arts and Dance
WOMAD is an international arts festival. The central aim of WOMAD is to celebrate the world's many forms of music, arts and dance.-History:...
festival. This was the first and last time this lineup had performed since 1975.
In 1998 the group gathered for a photo session and dinner to celebrate the release of the box set, Genesis Archive 1967-75
Genesis Archive 1967-75
Genesis Archive 1967–75 is a 1998 boxed set by progressive rock band Genesis.This set features live recordings and rarities from the band's classic years when Peter Gabriel was lead singer. The first two of the four discs consist of a previously unreleased live recording of The Lamb Lies Down on...
. Hackett re-recorded some of his guitar parts for the box set, as well as participating in the re-recording of 1974's "The Carpet Crawlers
The Carpet Crawlers
"The Carpet Crawlers", also sometimes listed as "Carpet Crawl", "The Carpet Crawl" or "Carpet Crawlers", is a song originally from the 1974 Genesis concept album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway...
" for inclusion on the 1999 Genesis greatest hits album Turn It on Again: The Hits
Turn It on Again: The Hits
Turn It On Again: The Hits is a greatest hits collection by British progressive rock band Genesis. The album was first released as a single album on 26 October 1999 by Virgin Records in England and by Atlantic Records in the United States.In 2007, an expanded two-disc edition, subtitled The Tour...
. The rest of the group recorded some new parts as well, although they were not recorded together in the same studio. However, by the time that Trevor Horn
Trevor Horn
Trevor Charles Horn CBE is an English pop music record producer, songwriter, musician and singer. He was born in Houghton-le-Spring in north-east England....
and The Art of Noise
The Art of Noise
Art of Noise was an avant-garde synthpop group formed in 1983 by engineer/producer Gary Langan, programmer J. J. Jeczalik, along with arranger Anne Dudley, producer Trevor Horn and music journalist Paul Morley. The group's mostly instrumental compositions were novel melodic sound collages based on...
had mixed these parts, there remained very little of them in the final release other than Gabriel's and Collins' vocals.
In an April 2006 radio interview, Phil Collins discussed a band meeting that took place in November 2005. During that meeting, the group discussed the possibility of reuniting the classic mid-'70s roster for a limited run of shows, including a complete performance of the group's 1974 double album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
The Lamb Lies down on Broadway
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is a double concept album recorded and released in 1974 by the British rock band Genesis. It was their sixth studio album and the last album by the group to feature the involvement of lead singer Peter Gabriel.-Premise:...
. However, on 18 October 2006 it was announced that the post-Hackett lineup of Rutherford, Banks, and Collins were instead reforming.
In March 2010, Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
guitarist Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
was asked to pay tribute to Genesis, one of his favourite bands, upon being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In addition to Anastasio's speech, Phish appeared and performed two Genesis songs, "Watcher of the Skies
Watcher of the Skies
Watcher of the Skies is the first track on Genesis' 1972 album Foxtrot. The title is borrowed from John Keats' 1817 poem "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer":Then felt I like some watcher of the skiesWhen a new planet swims into his ken;...
" and "No Reply At All
No Reply at All
"No Reply at All" is a song by British band Genesis, from their 1981 album Abacab.-Structure:This song, like Phil Collins' solo track "I Missed Again" , makes prominent use of a horn section, arranged by Tom Tom 84 "No Reply at All" is a song by British band Genesis, from their 1981 album...
." Even though Hackett and his Genesis bandmates (minus Peter Gabriel) attended the ceremony, they did not perform.
Solo career
Hackett's first post-Genesis album was Please Don't TouchPlease Don't Touch
Please Don't Touch! is the second solo album by English guitarist Steve Hackett, and his first after leaving Genesis in 1977.The album featured several guests including R&B singer Randy Crawford, American folk icon Richie Havens, the drummer and vocalist for the progressive rock band Kansas , Frank...
, released in 1978. As with Voyage of the Acolyte
Voyage of the Acolyte
Voyage of the Acolyte is the debut solo album from then-Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett. It was released in 1975 on Chrysalis Records in the US and Charisma Records for the rest of the free world. Due to the heavy contributions of Phil Collins and Michael Rutherford it is often thought of as a...
, much of the material on the album was in the style of progressive rock. It did contain, however, much more vocal work. Hackett, who had never sung lead on a Genesis song, turned over most of the vocals to a number of singers, including folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
singer Richie Havens
Richie Havens
Richard P. "Richie" Havens is an African American folk singer and guitarist. He is best known for his intense, rhythmic guitar style , soulful covers of pop and folk songs, and his opening performance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival.-Career:Born in Brooklyn, Havens was the eldest of nine children...
, R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singer Randy Crawford
Randy Crawford
Randy Crawford is an American jazz and R&B singer. She has been more successful in Europe than in the United States, where she has not entered the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo artist...
, and Steve Walsh
Steve Walsh (musician)
Steve Walsh is a singer and songwriter best known for his work as a member of the progressive rock band Kansas.-Introduction:The keyboardist/vocalist/songwriter/producer/percussionist is best known for his visionary work with Kansas...
of Kansas
Kansas (band)
Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
. He did provide lead vocals for "Carry on Up the Vicarage," but they were processed using a "laughing gnome" vocal effect. The album peaked at #38 on the UK chart, and #103 on the Billboard pop Albums chart
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
in the United States.
A pair of progressive rock albums followed: 1979's Spectral Mornings
Spectral Mornings
Spectral Mornings is the third release and the second post-Genesis album by guitarist Steve Hackett. This is also the first recording to feature Hackett's first true touring band consisting of his brother John Hackett on flute, guitar and bass pedals, long-time collaborator keyboardist Nick Magnus,...
(#22 UK Albums Chart) and 1980's Defector
Defector (album)
Defector was the fourth solo album from former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett. It was released in 1980 on the Charisma label.In 2005, Defector was remastered and re-released on Virgin Records...
(#9 UK Albums Chart, they charted #138 and #144 in the United States, respectively). Hackett toured Europe for the first time as a solo act in 1979, and in August performed at the Reading Festival
Reading and Leeds Festivals
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
. The Defector tour brought him to the United States for the first time since his final tour with Genesis.
Hackett's first major shift in musical style came with 1981's Cured
Cured (album)
Cured is the fifth solo album from former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett. Prior to recording Cured, Hackett disbanded the group with which he recorded Spectral Mornings and Defector. Only Hackett's brother, John, and keyboardist Nick Magnus remained from that band.The album is largely a...
. Although the album contained some of the progressive and classical pieces for which Hackett was known, it also showcased a much more pop approach. The album was recorded without most of the musicians who had been on Hackett's solo albums since Spectral Mornings (Hackett handled all lead vocal duties). Only longtime collaborators Nick Magnus and John Hackett remained. While Cured did not chart highly in the U.S., it peaked at #15 in the UK.
In the 1980s, Hackett released his first classical guitar albums, Bay of Kings
Bay of Kings
Bay of Kings is the seventh solo album from former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett. It is Hackett's first full album of classical guitar music, completely instrumental...
(#70 UK Albums Chart) and Momentum
Momentum (Steve Hackett album)
Momentum is the ninth solo album by guitarist Steve Hackett. It is Hackett's second album consisting mainly of classical guitar pieces. Hackett's younger brother, John, plays the flute on the album...
. The tour for Momentum drew large crowds in Europe, considered unusual for a classical guitarist.
In 1983 Hackett participated on the British/Brazilian singer Ritchie's LP Voo de Coração. Hackett played guitar on various tracks, and most songs on the LP were hits on Brazilian radio.
On the rock production side, Hackett's work in the 1980s involved the LPs Cured (1981), Highly Strung (1983, #16 UK Albums Chart) and Till We Have Faces (1984, #54 UK Albums Chart). Till We Have Faces merged Hackett style sounds with Brazilian percussion.
In 1986, Hackett formed the supergroup GTR
GTR (band)
GTR were a rock band founded in 1985 by former Yes and Asia guitarist Steve Howe and former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett. In comparison to the two leaders' earlier work within progressive rock, GTR's work followed more of an Adult Oriented Rock format. The band was short-lived, lasting for two...
with veteran Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
and Asia
Asia (band)
Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a supergroup as it included former members of several veteran progressive rock bands, namely John Wetton , Geoff Downes , Steve Howe and Carl Palmer Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a...
guitarist Steve Howe
Steve Howe (guitarist)
Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
. The group released a gold-selling album, produced by Yes/Asia keyboardist Geoff Downes
Geoff Downes
Geoffrey "Geoff" Downes is an English rock keyboard player, songwriter, best known as the keyboardist for the bands The Buggles, Yes and Asia, of which he is the only consistent member. When he was a keyboardist for The Buggles, he played multiple keyboards to achieve a New Wave technopop sound...
. Hackett soon left GTR over financial and management squabbles. In addition to Howe and Downes, Hackett has also worked with Yes drummer Bill Bruford
Bill Bruford
William Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring...
in Genesis, Yes bassist Chris Squire
Chris Squire
Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
(Chris Squire's Swiss Choir, 2007) and briefly Yes vocalist Trevor Horn
Trevor Horn
Trevor Charles Horn CBE is an English pop music record producer, songwriter, musician and singer. He was born in Houghton-le-Spring in north-east England....
(who produced the 1999 reunion version of "The Carpet Crawlers"). He also performed alongside former Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
keyboard player Rick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
on the latter's TV Show Gastank
Gastank
Gastank was an English television show that aired between 1982-1983 in the United Kingdom on Channel 4. Hosted by former Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman, the show featured a mix of interviews with 1970s musicians and impromptu performances where the guest artist would join Wakeman and his house band...
in the mid 1980s. Hackett's long-time keyboardist, Julian Colbeck
Julian Colbeck
The current CEO of Keyfax NewMedia, Julian Colbeck is a former professional keyboard player of over 25 years, author of several music-related books and guides, the creator of Twiddly.Bits MIDI loops, the concept designer for the PhatBoy MIDI controller, and producer of several music technology DVDs...
, played live with Yes spin-off Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe was a project of four progressive rock musicians, vocalist Jon Anderson, drummer Bill Bruford, keyboardist Rick Wakeman, and guitarist Steve Howe . They had played together in Yes in the early 1970s...
.
Hackett's solo career continued, releasing a plethora of both electric and acoustic based albums throughout the 90s to the present day. In April 1997 he released the neo-classical influenced A Midsummer Night's Dream, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
, and the album spent several weeks in the Top 10 of the UK classical charts.
In June 2009, Hackett announced a new solo album featuring contributions of many artists, including former Genesis guitarist Anthony Phillips
Anthony Phillips
Anthony Edwin "Ant" Phillips is an English multi instrumentalist, best known as a founding member of the band Genesis. He played guitar and sang backing vocals until leaving in 1970, following the recording of their second album, Trespass...
and Chris Squire of Yes. In fact Hackett and Squire have recorded an album of new material under the working title of "Squackett" which as of late 2010 has been delayed by legal reasons.
The album which was due for release mid October 2009 and called Out of the Tunnel's Mouth
Out of the Tunnel's Mouth
Out of the Tunnel's Mouth is an album by musician Steve Hackett. It is his first album on his new vanity label Wolfwork after leaving his previous label Camino. It is also his first prog release since 2006's Wild Orchids...
was delayed due to legal reasons, but was eventually on sale from November 2009, and some songs were performed on the European tour.
In August 2009, the official, authorised biography 'Sketches Of Hackett' by Alan Hewitt was published by Wymer Publishing. The first edition hardback includes a bonus DVD with a 90 minute interview filmed early in the year at Steve's home.
On 15 March 2010, Genesis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Hackett making a rare appearance alongside Phil Collins, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford at the ceremony, though they unfortunately did not perform together. Hackett, in recent years, has put on record his willingness to participate in a reunion. Genesis' planned reunion of the classic 70's line-up fell apart in 2007 when Peter Gabriel expressed reservations, and subsequently Hackett dropped out in deference to the Genesis 'trio' line-up, as opposed to the 4-piece. With Phil Collins' announced retirement in 2011, any possibility for another reunion are very slim.
Personal life
Hackett has been married three times. His first, brief, marriage was to Ellen and the couple had a son, Oliver. The union broke down at about the time of the recording of The Lamb Lies Down On BroadwayThe Lamb Lies down on Broadway
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is a double concept album recorded and released in 1974 by the British rock band Genesis. It was their sixth studio album and the last album by the group to feature the involvement of lead singer Peter Gabriel.-Premise:...
. Hackett has admitted that the strain of the break-up contributed to the incident where he crushed a wine glass in drunken frustration, injuring his hand and delaying the start of the Lamb tour. He then married Brazilian painter and jewellery
Jewellery
Jewellery or jewelry is a form of personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.With some exceptions, such as medical alert bracelets or military dog tags, jewellery normally differs from other items of personal adornment in that it has no other purpose than to...
artist Kim Poor in 1976 after meeting her backstage at a Genesis concert. She painted most of his album covers. Her artwork
Cover art
Cover art is the illustration or photograph on the outside of a published product such as a book , magazine, comic book, video game , DVD, CD, videotape, or music album. The art has a primarily commercial function, i.e...
for Voyage of the Acolyte won Album Cover of the Year in 1976. They divorced in 2008. He married Jo Lehmann on June 4, 2011.
Steve's younger brother John
John Hackett (musician)
John Hackett is a British flautist, the younger brother of guitarist Steve Hackett. Although his primary instrument is the flute, he also plays guitar, bass and keyboards...
was involved as flute player and second guitarist in his 1970s bands. John has often appeared as musician and collaborator on his more recent work, particularly on Sketches of Satie (2000), arranged for flute and guitar.
External links
- Steve Hackett's official website
- Camino Records, Steve's former record company
- The official Steve Hackett Facebook page
- The Steve Hackett Appreciation Society Facebook page
- World of Genesis.com August 2001 Steve Hackett interview
- World of Genesis.com February 2009 Steve Hackett interview
- World of Genesis.com September 2009 Steve Hackett interview
- 2011 interview with Steve Hackett on Prog Sphere