Steve Hackett comes across as a genuine gentleman. He is so busy and prolific as an artist and at the same time so seemingly generous with his time for things like podcasts and interviews.
Steve is impossibly chilled! What a pleasure to hear him range across so many musical topics. A very important guitarist in my life, who influenced me more than I realised. His taste is impeccable. Thanks, Ben.
Another great interview!, thanks for this Greg & Steve. Greg, it's so good to hear an interviewer who knows about the interviewee, their life and work, it's a rare quality this day and age. Brilliant work I'm learning so much about the music and artists that you cover with your podcast.
Kevin, I am so pleased to hear that. Thanks so much for listening. Hope you liked the Tony Banks chat as well, and if you enjoy what we are doing please consider hitting us up on Pateon.
I truly hope you can come to Melbourne next year, I have never in my life bought a meet and greet ticket but did with you Steve. Fingers crossed, love your work, especially the last 10 years.
Love this podcast and love Mr Hackett.It was a real delight when this episode popped up in my feeds this friday.Hope you have a wonderful weekend Mr Bendian.
I met Steve Hackett after a show he did at the Sellersville Theater back in the mid 2000's. I mentioned that I played two of his guitar compositions at a guitar festival in Philadelphia. His response was "Then you heard my mistakes". My reply was if he made any mistakes, he was a master at covering them up. What a nice guy and humble about his towering genius.
On occasion, 5 talented and inspired people, with their magic wands, get together..and something magical happens. Genesis, 1971-1975, was one of those times.
I am so jealous that you get to have a conversation with so many of my favorite musicians, thanks for not asking typical questions. I've been a fan of Steve since the first live Genesis album came out (amazing tour with their best early stuff). I can understand how intimidating joining a band of great writers must have been, as well as the difficulty of finding space for the guitar in tracks where the keyboard is playing so many parts. It is unfortunate that the two guys (Banks/Hackett) who both love Classical music so much could not collaborate later in their careers in that genre. How did their relationship become so toxic? When I see recent interviews with the old band, he is not greeted as a friend by the remaining three members, but more like an ex-wife.
My favorite Steve Hackett solo record is Please Don't Touch. Voyage Of Accolyte was also a regular listen. I met Steve at one of his solo records album signing for Cured. He told me his fav Genesis album was Wind & Wuthering. We talked about that album and Selling England which he said was also one of his favs. He also happened to mention he thought the Lamb came out better than he thought it would. Very nice guy and I he was waiting for someone in the store so I was able to ask him fan questions.
Really interesting to hear Steve mention that his first instrument was the harmonica. This fills it in for me as I have been nothing short of stunned by his harp chops from his recent solo records, particularly the track "Anything but Love". Just kills it!
Would just like to add this, too. Re: harmony lead at the end of "The Musical Box", that inspired Brian May...... Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple had been doing really nice harmony leads on DP's earlier albums. Say, 1968 to 1970.
I finally got around to watching this, and i told you i would watch (rather hear it really) this like 4 months ago, since you sujested and i was going to do it anyways, i'm glad you told me cause i had no idea, so thanks for this video and for making me aware of this, as for the video, there wasn't much that i didn't know in terms of Genesis except for one, and about other artists, i had no idea abut the Mike Oldfield connection, so this was a good hear! 49:18 WHAT
You know, I think it's great that Steve is gracious enough to keep talking about Genesis. However, that W&W concert tour I also was at in Philadelphia, and it was 45 years ago. You refuse to ask Steve anything about his 45 years as a solo artist, (except for a refence to his "Blues with a feeling"album) his time in GTR. Oh wait! Your ONE Steve Hackett solo album that you have - Voyage of the Acholyte- never fails. He toured the US 1981 1986 1992 1993 2000 2010 2013-2020 2022... OVER 22 studio solo albums...
Since it has never been performed in its entirety, I'm willing to bet Dance On A Volcano is too hard to keep tight all the way through. Epping Forest can sit down.
Steve Hackett is the only 'band solo' artist who I've purchased albums about and enjoyed - with the exception of Paul McCartney, who I also purchased and liked. Greg Lake, no, Phil Collins, no, Bill Bruford, no, Roger Waters, no, Chris Squire, no. and John Lennon, no. Just Steve Hackett and Paul McCartney. Not a bad pair of artists. Oh, well there's Bob Welch - but it wasn't his entire album. It was one of his singles,. Welch's solo stuff was also pretty good. And I did purchase 2 Anthony Phillips albums. But I can't say that I liked either one. Steve Hackett was a great solo artist who's work had a level of art, sometimes on par with Genesis themselves.
