Steve Hackett
Progressive Rock Pioneer, Classical Virtuoso & Master of Melodic Guitar
Biography
Born Stephen Richard Hackett on 12 February 1950 in Pimlico, London, Steve Hackett is widely celebrated as one of the most innovative and influential guitarists in rock history. After answering a famous classified ad placed by Peter Gabriel in Melody Maker seeking a guitarist "determined to strive beyond existing stagnant music forms," Hackett joined Genesis in early 1971. His six-year tenure with the band defined the golden era of progressive rock, leaving an indelible mark on seminal albums such as Foxtrot, Selling England by the Pound, and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.
Hackett is universally recognized as a pioneer of advanced electric guitar techniques, introducing two-handed fretboard tapping, sweep-picking concepts, and lush volume-swell string textures well before they entered the mainstream rock and heavy metal lexicon. Departing Genesis in 1977 to pursue total artistic autonomy, Hackett has forged an expansive solo career encompassing over thirty studio albums. His work moves effortlessly between symphonic progressive rock, intricate classical nylon-string repertoire, blues, and world fusion. In 1986, he co-founded the supergroup GTR with Yes guitarist Steve Howe, scoring a US Top 20 hit with "When the Heart Rules the Mind." In 2010, Hackett was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis, and he continues to tour globally with his acclaimed solo band, preserving and revitalizing progressive rock's rich heritage.
Selected Solo Discography & Key Releases
The Classic Era
- Voyage of the Acolyte (1975)
- Recorded while still a member of Genesis with bandmates Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins, this tarot-inspired debut remains a landmark progressive rock classic featuring "Ace of Wands" and the towering epic "Shadow of the Hierophant."
- Please Don't Touch! (1978)
- His first post-Genesis release, showcasing a versatile array of guest vocalists including Richie Havens, Randy Crawford, and Kansas frontman Steve Walsh, alongside legendary rhythm section Chester Thompson and Phil Ehart.
- Spectral Mornings (1979)
- A definitive high-water mark of his solo career, anchored by his regular touring band and featuring the soaring, emotional sustained lead guitar on the iconic title track.
- Defector (1980)
- His most commercially successful UK solo release, blending punchy art-rock sensibilities, vintage synth arrangements, and progressive structures on tracks like "The Steppes" and "Jacuzzi."
- Cured (1981)
- A pop-leaning, new-wave-influenced release recorded as a duo with longtime keyboard collaborator Nick Magnus, featuring Hackett taking over lead vocal duties on tracks such as "Hope I Don't Wake" and "Picture Postcard."
- Highly Strung (1983)
- An energetic 1980s rock outing featuring the UK hit single "Cell 151," highlighting heavy overdriven riffs, experimental guitar synth textures, and driving rhythmic arrangements.
Acoustic, Classical & Concept Works
- Bay of Kings (1983) & Momentum (1988)
- Intimate, classical nylon-string collections demonstrating Hackett's delicate touch, Bach-influenced counterpoint, and classical Spanish discipline.
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (1997)
- A fully orchestrated classical suite composed by Hackett, recorded alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, interpreting Shakespeare's famed comedy.
- Metamorpheus (2005)
- An ambitious conceptual suite for acoustic guitar and orchestral chamber ensemble, based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.
- Under a Mediterranean Sky (2021)
- An evocative acoustic travelogue inspired by Hackett's journeys around the Mediterranean basin, layered with orchestral arrangements and indigenous folk instrumentation.
The Genesis Revisited Projects
- Genesis Revisited / Watcher of the Skies (1996)
- Hackett's initial reimagining of classic Genesis compositions with modern production and an all-star cast including John Wetton, Paul Carrack, and Bill Bruford.
- Genesis Revisited II (2012)
- A sweeping, critically lauded double album that launched his worldwide touring franchise, featuring guest appearances from progressive luminaries such as Mikael Åkerfeldt, Steven Wilson, and Steve Rothery.
Modern Progressive Renaissance
- To Watch the Storms (2003) & Wild Orchids (2006)
- Acclaimed studio outings marking a return to dynamic, eclectic progressive rock, blending heavy electric riffs, psychedelic flourishes, and world instrumentation.
- Wolflight (2015) & The Night Siren (2017)
- Globally minded progressive rock records incorporating multi-cultural instruments—such as the oud, sitar, and charango—reflecting themes of peace and cross-border artistic unity.
- At the Edge of Light (2019) & Surrender of Silence (2021)
- Heavy, cinematic studio albums balancing high-velocity lead guitar, world rhythms, and grand symphonic orchestrations.
- The Circus and the Nightwhale (2024)
- A deeply personal autobiographical concept album charting a young musician's journey through postwar London into artistic maturity, pairing vintage 1970s prog textures with crushing modern guitar tones.
Steve Hackett was the lead guitarist for Genesis from 1971-1977, meaning he played on many classic albums and tracks. In this clip, Jackson and Steve talk about the creation of the epic song "Supper's Ready," and why Steve believes it's one of the greatest progressive rock songs of all time.
Steve Hackett Gets Candid About the Making of "Supper's Ready"
Steve Hackett and Steve Rothery's new album "The Roaring Waves" is available now! Buy it here: (https://www.insideoutmusic.com/)
0:00 Introducing Steve Hackett
2:29 Steve's style of guitar playing
7:07 Ad break
8:43 The making of "Supper's Ready"
16:55 The making of "Los Endos"
19:48 New album with Steve Rothery
25:59 Outro
Steve Hackett: Genesis, Guitar, and Foxtrot | Ep 56