Steve Hackett was born on February 12, 1950, in London, England. Though best know for his ghostly guitar sounds in Genesis' `golden age' period (1972-1977, he has carved out an admirable solo career.
Hackett's entrance into success began after short stays with small bands such as: Canterbury Glass, Sarabande and Quiet World, he placed an advertisement in Melody Maker,- "Guitarist/Writer seeks receptive musicians determined to strive beyond existing stagnant music forms." Peter Gabriel responded after Anthony Phillips departed Genesis( mainly due to stage fright)
After watching Genesis in concert (with a `substitute guitarist), Hackett saw promise in what he experienced and joined the group.
Though Hackett had little experience playing live on stage, he began to showcase his haunting and even `unguitar-like' sounds that fused with Tony Banks keyboards, became Genesis' trademark. He also invented the famous `tapping on the fretboard' technique that many guitarist use.
Unlike most guitarists (with the exception of Robert Fripp), Steve armed with thick glasses and heavy facial hair, sat in a chair, in studied concentration as Gabriel became the centerpiece of the band with his costumes and theatrics.
`Selling England By the Pound,' was the first Genesis album that really began spotlighting his guitar-work and even his writing skills (`I know what I like'). But the double concept album `The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway,' was mostly an exclusively Gabriel effort. He had thoughts of leaving the band.
As Genesis was looking for a new lead singer, Hackett with ample material, utilized Rutherford and Collins to help him on his first solo album- `Voyage of the Acolyte,' was released and went silver and the cover art, by his future wife-Kim Poor garnished album cover of the year.
When Phil Collins took over the singing for Genesis, Hackett stayed for two more albums and an EP. `Trick of the Tail,' and `Wind and Wuthering,' were hugely successful and during the latter tour, Steve, ("the Vincent Price of the group" to quote Phil Collins), even got to introduce a song (`Firth of Fifth').
But Steve wasn't happy- "...I was getting tired of bringing ideas into the group which I felt they weren't going to do. If the ideas were more radical, they weren't necessarily going to do them. I felt that the band was heading towards an area that was becoming very safe." Hackett knew `his instrumental- `Please Don't Touch' was stronger than Collins'- `Wot Gorilla?' Bordering on superstardom, Steve walked away from the band, the breakup was rather bizarre, very little communication. Hackett was gone and along with Gabriel, so was Genesis' creativity. Genesis' `Seconds Out' live double album was Steve's goodbye to Genesis fans, recorded between 1976-77.
In contrast to `Voyage of the Acolyte,' Steve assembled talented session musicians and employed members from Kansas and several African-American performers (including the legendary Richie Havens), and produced a very tight soulful album. Desiring to tour, he hired Pete Hicks (vocals), John Shearer (drums), as well as brother John Hackett on (flute and keyboards) and performed. Other talented musicians such as John Acock, Dik Cadbury, Ian Mosley, and keyboard wizard Nick Magnus , etc, joined Hackett's band creating IMHO his two finest albums- `Spectral Mornings' and `Defector,' both had Kim Poor's beautiful artwork and Hackett's powerful guitar instrumental dominated tracks. Defector climbed to the top ten on the British charts. During the recording of the albun,- the songs: 'The Steppes' 'Sentimental Institution' (and B-side)- 'Hercules Unchained' were recorded all in one day!
Tired, Hackett regrouped; and started working on his singing and became guitar/vocalist for a more pop-oriented album `Cured,' complete with electronic drums and less sentimental material; he then toured Europe and America, garnishing rave reviews and solid attendance from Hackett/Genesis fans alike.
In 1982, at the Womad festival that united the `classic Genesis line-up (with Chester Thompson (drms) & Darryl Stuermer on guitar), Steve came back to perform the last two songs,' their masterpiece- `Supper's Ready' and `I Know what You Like,' in Milton Keynes. The show, boggled by bad weather and sound still delighted diehard Genesis fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the old magic.
1983 gave Hackett a successful European single in song "Cell 151" (#66 in the charts), off of the Highly Strung LP (which was a vast improvement from `Cured' album). The album was a hit.
After many year of electronic music, Steve dropped the technology to create some acoustic guitar solo work. `Bay of Kings' and the marvelous `Momentum' were recorded to critical acclaim.
In 1986, Hackett hooked up with Yes guitarist Steve Howe to form GTR, a quasi-supergroup band (ala Asia) that thrived with the MTV and the rock press. The Arista labeled album went platinum and and generated a hit single- `When the Heart Rules the Mind.' As GTR was breaking up, Steve met and worked with Brian May (`Feedback `86' was recorded but not release until over a decade later).
After GTR, Hackett went back to work and released a live retrospective live album that spanned many years of music. With the harmonica sneaking into his stage performances, Hackett produced a pure blues album- `Blues With a Feeling,' in 1994. This album reflected some of Steve's boyhood days of playing blues.
1997 gave us-`A Midsummer Night's Dream,' based on Shakespeare's literature was another first for Hackett, working with a full Symphony Orchestra. The album was released on EMI's Angel Records label and stayed several weeks in the UK Classical charts.
1999's Darktown showcased a darker moodier Hackett feel, with solid foreboding instrumentals married with some very romanticallty historic pieces and though not a concept album in the classic sense, it seems Steve's most autobiographical.
Turning back to his progressive rock roots, Steve enlisted ex-King Crimson alumni Ian McDonald and John Wetton, Genesis' tour-drummer Chester Thompson and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra by performing Genesis' pieces, `Hackettized' of course. The band did a few quick gigs in Japan and a live album entitled `Genesis Revisited' that included old and new Hackett tunes, Genesis classical and songs King Crimson songs such as: `In the Court of the Crimson King. A video was shot and released. Though the concert is wonderful the import DVD's quality borders on amateurish. The NTSC domestic version is MUCH better with bonus rehersal footage.
The following year, Steve joined with his brother to record interpretations of Erik Satie's work, rightfully named `Sketches of Satie.' The album is simply flute and guitar and is a beautiful addition to the Hackett discography. He then composed the soundtrack to the Showtime film- `Outwitting Hitler.'
Whether working with Brian May, Steve Howe, Gandolf or doing things on his own, Steve has never been idle. Creating Camino Records, he now has a stable platform to release work and even sell Genesis and fellow musicians' albums especially throughout Europe, Japan and South America. After the release of `Darktown, and `Sketches of Satie,' Hackett toured South American tour, even dealing with having his equipment confiscated by a Brazilan police-scam.
In November, 2001, Steve released a 4-disc boxed set of live material. Discs one and two come from a June 30, 1979 performance at the Hammersmith Odeon. Performances are very high in quality. The third CD is from a September 13, 1981 show in Rome, Italy. The last CD conatins more recent material and is from London's Grand Theatre (June, 8, 1993), and has the best sound quality of all the shows.
The highlight of 2002 for Amerocans was Steve's mini-tour of the east coast, climaxing at Trenton's Nearfest 2002. Steve played a brilliant set of old and new tunes. Steve also showcased his arranging talents and willingness to invent new and creative medleys. See the review of the show in the review section of this site.
Steve has an electrical album and 2 DVD concerts pending- one an electronic gig from Buenos Aires (should be out this fall), and the other an acoustic show with his brother John.
Discography:
VOYAGE OF THE ACOLYTE; Charisma, 1975
PLEASE DON'T TOUCH; Charisma, 1978
SPECTRAL MORNINGS; Charisma, 1979
DEFECTOR; Charisma, 1980
CURED; Charisma, 1981
HIGHLY STRUNG; Charisma, 1982
BAY OF KINGS; Lamborghini, 1983
TILL WE HAVE FACES; Charisma, 1984
MOMENTUM; Lamborghini, 1988
UNAUTHORISED BIOGRAPHY; Virigin Universal, 1992
TIME LAPSE; Charisma, 1992
GUITAR NOIRE; 1993
BLUES WITH FEELING; 1995, Herald
THERE ARE MANY SIDES; 1995, Herald
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM; 1997, Angel
WATCHER OF THE SKIES; 1997, Angel
THE TOKYO TAPES, 1998, Camino
DARKTOWN; 1999, Camino
SKETCHES OF SATIE; 2000, Camino
FEEDBACK 1986; 2000, Camino
LIVE ARCHIVE (70,80,90's) 2001 Camino
