Steve Hackett has exclusively revealed more details about working under the shadow of his output with Genesis. Hackett was part of the talismanic group from 1970 to 1975, and recorded six albums with them including 1974’s lauded ‘The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway’.
Photo: Press.
By Eamon O'Neill on 26th May 2016.
EXCLUSIVE: Steve Hackett has revealed more details about working under the shadow of his output with Genesis. Hackett was part of the talismanic group from 1970 to 1975, and recorded six albums with them including 1974’s lauded ‘The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway’.
Speaking exclusively to eonmusic, the guitarist admitted that he still questions from time to time what his former band mates including Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins would make of his song writing efforts.
The revelation follows on from Hackett’s earlier admission that watching the group go on to achieve staggering success as a trio comprising of Collins, keyboardist Tony Banks and guitarist Mike Rutherford with the albums ‘Invisible Touch’ (1986) and ‘We Can’t Dance’ (1991) was “a difficult period” for him.
In further revelations, from an interview with eonmusic which is due for publication on Monday 30th May, Hackett said that he looked back fondly on writing with the others. Said Steve: “Four writers on a tune gave it great variety and gravitas, and made it interesting”. He also conceded that going out on his own after working as part of that talented dynamic was “a hard act to follow”.
It was then that he revealed that he still thinks of his former band mates, and how their views might impact on his studio work. Said Steve: “I like to think: “Well, what would Peter have made of this; would he have liked this lyric? Would Tony have liked the chord sequence? Would Phil have liked the drums?”
Hackett went on to say that although Genesis played on his mind, he saw a much bigger picture when it comes to critiquing his own work. He added: “Then I think, well hang on a minute; it’s not just about Genesis, about pleasing them - I don’t have to please them any more. Would John Lennon have liked it, you know? Would Joni Mitchell like this bit? Would Tchaikovsky like this? Would Grieg have liked it? And so on and so forth.”
Steve Hackett is set to appear at the inaugural Stone Free Festival, which takes place at London’s O2 Arena on 18th and 19th June 2016. He'll be joined by Rick Wakeman, who headlines the Sunday night and will be performing the whole of his ‘Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table’ opus for the first time since 1975. Other acts set to perform during the weekend include The Darkness, Marillion and Alice Cooper.
'The Charisma Years' - an expansive retrospective vinyl set - meanwhile, is due for release on 27th May 2016, along with deluxe CD/DVD additions of some of his earliest solo albums.
eonmusic’s full interview with Steve Hackett will be published on Monday 30th May 2016.
EXCLUSIVE: Steve Hackett has revealed more details about working under the shadow of his output with Genesis. Hackett was part of the talismanic group from 1970 to 1975, and recorded six albums with them including 1974’s lauded ‘The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway’.
Speaking exclusively to eonmusic, the guitarist admitted that he still questions from time to time what his former band mates including Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins would make of his song writing efforts.
The revelation follows on from Hackett’s earlier admission that watching the group go on to achieve staggering success as a trio comprising of Collins, keyboardist Tony Banks and guitarist Mike Rutherford with the albums ‘Invisible Touch’ (1986) and ‘We Can’t Dance’ (1991) was “a difficult period” for him.
In further revelations, from an interview with eonmusic which is due for publication on Monday 30th May, Hackett said that he looked back fondly on writing with the others. Said Steve: “Four writers on a tune gave it great variety and gravitas, and made it interesting”. He also conceded that going out on his own after working as part of that talented dynamic was “a hard act to follow”.
It was then that he revealed that he still thinks of his former band mates, and how their views might impact on his studio work. Said Steve: “I like to think: “Well, what would Peter have made of this; would he have liked this lyric? Would Tony have liked the chord sequence? Would Phil have liked the drums?”
Hackett went on to say that although Genesis played on his mind, he saw a much bigger picture when it comes to critiquing his own work. He added: “Then I think, well hang on a minute; it’s not just about Genesis, about pleasing them - I don’t have to please them any more. Would John Lennon have liked it, you know? Would Joni Mitchell like this bit? Would Tchaikovsky like this? Would Grieg have liked it? And so on and so forth.”
Steve Hackett is set to appear at the inaugural Stone Free Festival, which takes place at London’s O2 Arena on 18th and 19th June 2016. He'll be joined by Rick Wakeman, who headlines the Sunday night and will be performing the whole of his ‘Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table’ opus for the first time since 1975. Other acts set to perform during the weekend include The Darkness, Marillion and Alice Cooper.
'The Charisma Years' - an expansive retrospective vinyl set - meanwhile, is due for release on 27th May 2016, along with deluxe CD/DVD additions of some of his earliest solo albums.
eonmusic’s full interview with Steve Hackett will be published on Monday 30th May 2016.
