What a revelation this was - he really got short changed in the final documentary. Thanks for showing us what an articulate, thoughtful and erudite person Hackett is. An enjoyably revealing interview.
1980 is the year I got into Genesis, starting with Duke, which I loved. No Steve Hackett, though. The next Genesis album I bought was "Wind and Wuthering" - there's Steve Hackett, and I was blown away by how nuanced and articulate his guitar parts were, even though they were a little low in the mix in some places. I've been a huge fan of Steve ever since, and his solo career has been even more amazing than his work with Genesis. There is a palpable magic to his guitar playing that you simply cannot find anywhere else.
I like all genesis but remember being kind of miffed at Tony because my album for Nursery Cryme had one section where all you could here was the keyboard, which was only playing harmony notes over and over again, and you could hardly hear the lead guitar, which WAS playing lead but you could hardly hear it. Its unfortunate he quit, but I most certainly see his point.
It's amazing how humble this man can be after having released more material than all the others from the band combined. His newest one is a hit to say the least. Still on top of his game. Gotta love Steve. Thank you John for releasing these jewels in such quality.
At the end, the off-cam joke, “I’m not sure you’ll be using any of this, frankly”, turned out to be almost prophetic. After the documentary was released, Steve was vocal about his role being under-represented.
Sadly that was inevitable. As he admits, he just couldnt' get his stuff in, and the way he left just kind of makes everybody uncomfortable-because he had good points but at the same time you've got Phil "its the band man, do it for the band", and two guys who are leading the light brigade into the crimea. And in a culture that focuses on either flash guitarists or flamboyant front men, well, all I can say is that for fans it was great that he HAD to produce music to make a living.
Fascinating! Steve Hackett is true musician, and more so, a true full blown artist. No compromise, no non sense, always serving the music and his musical instincts. Always pushing forward and challenging himself. Thank you for posting.
I was lucky enough to talk to him briefly a decade or so ago. I'll keep this short: he was a brilliant English gentleman who really seemed to listen to what I had to say.
Great interview as always.... the reminder of MacArthur Park just took me back 50 years or so.... what a Time Machine. (Just like on TV, the world goes a little wobbly).:D
Incredible interview! Thanks a bunch! I can't contribute right this moment, but when I can will. ~ p.s. I remember when Steve left the group a lot of people who were fans thought was the end of Genesis-like when Peter Gabriel left, but managed to eek out one vy decent album. Then when Duke hit the scene-though kind of good, the era was ending- I instinctively knew was over. Such is life.
Anytime a piece of a musical entity is removed that has contributed so much to a group such as Genesis,unless that piece is replaced,normally the essence of the musical phrasing will dissapate. Steve Hackett is one of those pieces,as a huge Genesis fan ,yes he is sorely missed.❤
Steve's playing was magnificent from the start and he certainly has many solos that are legendary...but I must say my favorite is his playing towards the end of "All In A Mouse's Night". Right after Phil sings "It only took one blow"...my god, what Steve plays from that point on almost brings me to tears.
sensible person, excellent musician, insightful observations "crimea...born to rule", and yes, selling england is their most interesting complete work...imho
Totally agree. Competition by committee just does not work in bands..Unfortunately for a great bands. The great British class system got in the way of the music. What a shame but one of my favourite bands ever.
The facts speak for themselves, Steve's the heart and soul of Genesis, the creative spirit stayed with Steve and Ant ,without a virtuoso Guitarist Genesis floundered and eventually called it a day. Steve however carries on creating innovative Music 🎶 and still tours the Music as it was originally conceived, something the others never managed without him. Thank goodness Steve never lost his integrity to the hit machine ❤
@@PressureOnJulian Err none of them are hits! Steve writes serious Music and is not interested in trivial pursuits which why he has a massive following and his former bandmates have had to retire!
Steve tenemos profesiones diferentes, yo soy médico, tenemos algo en común soy un tremendo fan de Génesis, y lo otro en común es sentirme tan identificado contigo en tus forma de pensar, ver y sentir la vida. Soy más joven, solo un poco más que tú, tal vez porque 41:40 música haya sido el hilo de mi vida, o porque estoy atravesando un momento difícil, no se, pero me siento tan identificado contigo. No abundan los humildes en este mundo eres un gran ser humano, y este amigo que no conoces trata de honrar a sus maestros ( tu eres uno de los míos) en su quehacer cotidiano. Doy gracias por ser contemporáneo tuyo Maestro!
Banks always seemed more upset if questions arrived at an interview & Mic'd situation. Gabriel did a great job w/the adult matters when Managing as well. I think it'd be great if they were all working together on a package Tour. Wrong?
BIG THANK YOU FOR THIS INTERVIEW ! Nursery Cryme has always been very memorable for me ! In solidarity with the fighters for peace, love, freedom, justice and truth, we express our feelings with music on our channel. MAGISCHES THEATER (wer nicht wagt, der nicht gewinnt): th-cam.com/video/eqAQ4KbQM6k/w-d-xo.html Greetings from Germany, CLUB OF THE UNCENSORED POETS
It's not just your opinion, it's a fact... after Steve left Genesis released ".... and there were three" : enough said 👎 Anyway "the wonder era" ended with Peter, not just for the role of Peter himself but becouse something broke up forever (but I also think it was simply bound to happen one day...)
This is what perplexes me about Steve's fans, the utter incoherence, they maintain, rightly that Steve was given room to shine within the band, songs credits are quite telling in this respect, and they speak volumes about who had the Lionshare, who was running the band and would decided what. Then Steve leaves, they release a weak album and the fact that the guy who wasn't allowed to contribute enough left was the reason. Where's the logic?
@@fabriziocamisani5477 When Peter left, who was "just" the frontman and the main lyrics writes "strangely & suddenly" no longer legendary album came up , anyway we had 2 very good albums (ATOTT and W&W) then Steve left and Genesis would only released just one "decent" album , Duke... I don't see any incoherence, but obviously, it's also about personal taste 😉
He's right about Tarantino, but Steve really should stop dying his hair. No one is fooled. One need only look at the classic 5 Genesis interview from a decade ago wherein no one else, clearly, touched any Just For Men. Its an odd vanity thing. Maybe it has to do with the relative success/affluence of the other guys.
I dated a gal who was a stage performer, singer and dancer in Reno. When looking at pictures of her in costume, I asked why so much makeup. She told me it's so the people in the audience (these were big productions with the likes of Newton and Osmond) could actually see a "face". Newton dyes his hair black and paints on a widows peak so people watching see the guy they became a fan of so long ago. Trying to look like what people remember. But I must admit he'd probably look better with natural grey and a decent haircut. He should go for the 80s shorter hair.
Poor sods, clinging ro the vestiges of empire. Steve is SPOT ON about the class nonsense. Just look at Tony during interviews Rutherford's stodgy interview style. He's like classic Graham Chapman feigning EMPIRE.
Why am I always under the impression with Steve that he is simply unable to let go? He's obviously a decent human being but you can literally feel the bitterness brewing underneath, whereas other band's members have clearly left the bad blood behind them, see Tony and Peter, he seems to be lingering, harping on it and dredging things up. I have never appreciated this ambivalence of his towards the band. He obviously feels he was shortchanged and in a way he was, particularly instrumentally, but from a songwriting point of view, he's very much like Harrison bemoaning Lennon and McCartney for getting more songs on the Albums and while I'm happy he's out there keeping the Genesis legacy alive, since the Band's last tour was nothing more than a travesty, I wish he would display more coherence and shut up about the alleged hard times he had in the band or, since he talks about self-respect, stop playing Genesis music altogether. Also, I find delusional that he keeps talking about his solo album as a success, don't get me wrong I like it but it was hardly Face Value, Acolyte charted #26 in the UK and #191 in the US, much of the curiosity and the traction was generated by the fact that Genesis guitarist was releasing an album, I was around and I remember that so I doubt the lads were scared the band's future was in jeopardy, he should really stop comparing his solo career to Phil's and Peter's and acknowledge that if he has a career today because of that handful of albums he was on, certainly not because the over 20 solo albums he has released. Harsh, I know but sort of factual, otherwise I'm quite sure he would prefer touring his own material.
Don’t think it’s harsh at all. It is a reasonable assessment. Steve’s contribution to Genesis is overestimated by those who won’t leave 1977 behind. He was a major writer on around 15 songs, he was best applying his talents as a player to others’ material. His best solo songs came while still in the Genesis fold when the bar was high, but he didn’t offer many of them to the band. Frankly, he left Genesis in the lurch by making a solo record in 1975 and missed an opportunity with the band in doing so. Although the material on Acolyte is pretty variable to say the least, it would have needed input from the others to knock the songs into Genesis-worthy shape (and better lyrics). Some of Please Don’t Touch and Spectral Mornings could have made the cut, but after that it ain’t great. Steve is also lauded as someone who didn’t compromise. Yet Cured and Highly Strung are full of less than great attempts at a hit single. Cell 151 was okay, I liked Walking Through Walls. But the reality is he just isn’t as good at writing songs (of any genre) as Banks, Collins, Rutherford, Gabriel or even Phillips in my view.
@@PressureOnJulian You and the OP have it nailed. Frankly, Hackett isn't modest and has quite an ego. It all comes out if you let him talk long enough. He's a snake.
I don't see why you think that. Maybe you are from another culture, but that is a completely normal English guy, quite a genial and gentle one in his manner actually.
I agree with you. Steve is an English gentleman through and through. I'm not English, but I love his gentle ways; nothing pretentious about him. @adamkadmon6339
What a revelation this was - he really got short changed in the final documentary. Thanks for showing us what an articulate, thoughtful and erudite person Hackett is. An enjoyably revealing interview.
What a great man Steve is.
1980 is the year I got into Genesis, starting with Duke, which I loved. No Steve Hackett, though. The next Genesis album I bought was "Wind and Wuthering" - there's Steve Hackett, and I was blown away by how nuanced and articulate his guitar parts were, even though they were a little low in the mix in some places. I've been a huge fan of Steve ever since, and his solo career has been even more amazing than his work with Genesis. There is a palpable magic to his guitar playing that you simply cannot find anywhere else.
I like all genesis but remember being kind of miffed at Tony because my album for Nursery Cryme had one section where all you could here was the keyboard, which was only playing harmony notes over and over again, and you could hardly hear the lead guitar, which WAS playing lead but you could hardly hear it. Its unfortunate he quit, but I most certainly see his point.
It's amazing how humble this man can be after having released more material than all the others from the band combined. His newest one is a hit to say the least. Still on top of his game. Gotta love Steve. Thank you John for releasing these jewels in such quality.
Not Anthony Phillips:)
At the end, the off-cam joke, “I’m not sure you’ll be using any of this, frankly”, turned out to be almost prophetic. After the documentary was released, Steve was vocal about his role being under-represented.
Sadly that was inevitable. As he admits, he just couldnt' get his stuff in, and the way he left just kind of makes everybody uncomfortable-because he had good points but at the same time you've got Phil "its the band man, do it for the band", and two guys who are leading the light brigade into the crimea. And in a culture that focuses on either flash guitarists or flamboyant front men, well, all I can say is that for fans it was great that he HAD to produce music to make a living.
"From a manual, to Immanuel Kant" 🙂 Steve is such an engaging and extraordinary speaker! Thank you so much for sharing this.
incredible interview
greatly admire your work
So many thanks for sharing this!!! Absolutely fascinating to hear Steve's take on everything Genesis.
John - many thanks for this and all of your other interviews!
So happy to have this back up! Thanks John ❤
Fingers crossed that it stays up now !
Fascinating! Steve Hackett is true musician, and more so, a true full blown artist. No compromise, no non sense, always serving the music and his musical instincts. Always pushing forward and challenging himself. Thank you for posting.
Steve Hackett true legend. Nice humble Guy to
Very interesting. This full-form interview gives a very different perspective. Many thanks!
My pleasure!
A real musician, hats off!
I was lucky enough to talk to him briefly a decade or so ago. I'll keep this short: he was a brilliant English gentleman who really seemed to listen to what I had to say.
Oy
Great interview as always.... the reminder of MacArthur Park just took me back 50 years or so.... what a Time Machine. (Just like on TV, the world goes a little wobbly).:D
Excellent, Informative interview. I did get to see Steve with the band for The Lamb, Trick and W&W.
Incredible interview! Thanks a bunch! I can't contribute right this moment, but when I can will. ~ p.s. I remember when Steve left the group a lot of people who were fans thought was the end of Genesis-like when Peter Gabriel left, but managed to eek out one vy decent album. Then when Duke hit the scene-though kind of good, the era was ending- I instinctively knew was over. Such is life.
When Steve left the band they really changed musically even more than when Pete left
Just a top bloke all the way around.
Anytime a piece of a musical entity is removed that has contributed so much to a group such as Genesis,unless that piece is replaced,normally the essence of the musical phrasing will dissapate. Steve Hackett is one of those pieces,as a huge Genesis fan ,yes he is sorely missed.❤
Man, would I like to buy that man a beer!
Thanks a lot John, this is new to me.
Steve's playing was magnificent from the start and he certainly has many solos that are legendary...but I must say my favorite is his playing towards the end of "All In A Mouse's Night". Right after Phil sings "It only took one blow"...my god, what Steve plays from that point on almost brings me to tears.
"I'll read anything from a manual to Immanuel Kant" lol 6:24
Que instrumentista extraordinária e tem outro, Steve Howe do Yes , ❤ os dois.
Tickets for the Oct 24 gig in the bag-can't wait
sensible person, excellent musician, insightful observations "crimea...born to rule", and yes, selling england is their most interesting complete work...imho
Could easily argue Selling is tops.
What a fantastic video have a wonderful day John also i have a stomach flu ❤❤❤❤❤❤😢😢😢😢😢😢
Nice John
6:14 Todo lo que está bien!! No solo un virtuoso de la música, sino un grandioso habitante del planeta.
Makes me imagine Steve playing Invisible touch :)
Totally agree. Competition by committee just does not work in bands..Unfortunately for a great bands. The great British class system got in the way of the music. What a shame but one of my favourite bands ever.
Your comment makes no sense. So Genesis were never a great band then, of course they were!
The facts speak for themselves, Steve's the heart and soul of Genesis, the creative spirit stayed with Steve and Ant ,without a virtuoso Guitarist Genesis floundered and eventually called it a day. Steve however carries on creating innovative Music 🎶 and still tours the Music as it was originally conceived, something the others never managed without him. Thank goodness Steve never lost his integrity to the hit machine ❤
Of course non of that is true or factual
Steve's solo output is pretty sh-t
He tried writing hits, but couldn't. Look at Turn Back Time, Give It Away, Cell 151 scraped the charts, the MOR of Little America....and many more.
@@PressureOnJulian Err none of them are hits! Steve writes serious Music and is not interested in trivial pursuits which why he has a massive following and his former bandmates have had to retire!
@@stuartwaby3081 Exactly...he tried, he failed
Why was there never a Steve Hackett/Anthony Philips guitar album?
Anthony has openly said he’s the one member of Genesis he really doesn’t want to fall out with 😂
Steve tenemos profesiones diferentes, yo soy médico, tenemos algo en común soy un tremendo fan de Génesis, y lo otro en común es sentirme tan identificado contigo en tus forma de pensar, ver y sentir la vida. Soy más joven, solo un poco más que tú, tal vez porque 41:40 música haya sido el hilo de mi vida, o porque estoy atravesando un momento difícil, no se, pero me siento tan identificado contigo. No abundan los humildes en este mundo eres un gran ser humano, y este amigo que no conoces trata de honrar a sus maestros ( tu eres uno de los míos) en su quehacer cotidiano. Doy gracias por ser contemporáneo tuyo Maestro!
Banks always seemed more upset if questions arrived at an interview & Mic'd situation.
Gabriel did a great job w/the adult matters when Managing as well.
I think it'd be great if they were all working together on a package Tour. Wrong?
BIG THANK YOU FOR THIS INTERVIEW !
Nursery Cryme has always been very memorable for me !
In solidarity with the fighters for peace, love, freedom, justice and truth, we express our feelings with music on our channel.
MAGISCHES THEATER (wer nicht wagt, der nicht gewinnt): th-cam.com/video/eqAQ4KbQM6k/w-d-xo.html
Greetings from Germany, CLUB OF THE UNCENSORED POETS
Nursery Cryme is one of Geddy Lee's top five favourite albums. The ONLY Genesis album on there, nuff said.
Yes Steve, the music changed after you left. It was never as good imho.
It's not just your opinion, it's a fact... after Steve left Genesis released ".... and there were three" : enough said 👎 Anyway "the wonder era" ended with Peter, not just for the role of Peter himself but becouse something broke up forever (but I also think it was simply bound to happen one day...)
This is what perplexes me about Steve's fans, the utter incoherence, they maintain, rightly that Steve was given room to shine within the band, songs credits are quite telling in this respect, and they speak volumes about who had the Lionshare, who was running the band and would decided what. Then Steve leaves, they release a weak album and the fact that the guy who wasn't allowed to contribute enough left was the reason. Where's the logic?
@@fabriziocamisani5477 When Peter left, who was "just" the frontman and the main lyrics writes "strangely & suddenly" no longer legendary album came up , anyway we had 2 very good albums (ATOTT and W&W) then Steve left and Genesis would only released just one "decent" album , Duke... I don't see any incoherence, but obviously, it's also about personal taste 😉
@@lukaf2393It is literally only an opinion
He has close connections to North Wales
He's right about Tarantino, but Steve really should stop dying his hair. No one is fooled. One need only look at the classic 5 Genesis interview from a decade ago wherein no one else, clearly, touched any Just For Men. Its an odd vanity thing. Maybe it has to do with the relative success/affluence of the other guys.
I dated a gal who was a stage performer, singer and dancer in Reno. When looking at pictures of her in costume, I asked why so much makeup. She told me it's so the people in the audience (these were big productions with the likes of Newton and Osmond) could actually see a "face". Newton dyes his hair black and paints on a widows peak so people watching see the guy they became a fan of so long ago. Trying to look like what people remember. But I must admit he'd probably look better with natural grey and a decent haircut. He should go for the 80s shorter hair.
Poor sods, clinging ro the vestiges of empire. Steve is SPOT ON about the class nonsense. Just look at Tony during interviews Rutherford's stodgy interview style. He's like classic Graham Chapman feigning EMPIRE.
How do you not see that Hackett was/is the real a**hole?
Why am I always under the impression with Steve that he is simply unable to let go? He's obviously a decent human being but you can literally feel the bitterness brewing underneath, whereas other band's members have clearly left the bad blood behind them, see Tony and Peter, he seems to be lingering, harping on it and dredging things up. I have never appreciated this ambivalence of his towards the band. He obviously feels he was shortchanged and in a way he was, particularly instrumentally, but from a songwriting point of view, he's very much like Harrison bemoaning Lennon and McCartney for getting more songs on the Albums and while I'm happy he's out there keeping the Genesis legacy alive, since the Band's last tour was nothing more than a travesty, I wish he would display more coherence and shut up about the alleged hard times he had in the band or, since he talks about self-respect, stop playing Genesis music altogether. Also, I find delusional that he keeps talking about his solo album as a success, don't get me wrong I like it but it was hardly Face Value, Acolyte charted #26 in the UK and #191 in the US, much of the curiosity and the traction was generated by the fact that Genesis guitarist was releasing an album, I was around and I remember that so I doubt the lads were scared the band's future was in jeopardy, he should really stop comparing his solo career to Phil's and Peter's and acknowledge that if he has a career today because of that handful of albums he was on, certainly not because the over 20 solo albums he has released. Harsh, I know but sort of factual, otherwise I'm quite sure he would prefer touring his own material.
Don’t think it’s harsh at all. It is a reasonable assessment.
Steve’s contribution to Genesis is overestimated by those who won’t leave 1977 behind.
He was a major writer on around 15 songs, he was best applying his talents as a player to others’ material.
His best solo songs came while still in the Genesis fold when the bar was high, but he didn’t offer many of them to the band.
Frankly, he left Genesis in the lurch by making a solo record in 1975 and missed an opportunity with the band in doing so.
Although the material on Acolyte is pretty variable to say the least, it would have needed input from the others to knock the songs into Genesis-worthy shape (and better lyrics).
Some of Please Don’t Touch and Spectral Mornings could have made the cut, but after that it ain’t great.
Steve is also lauded as someone who didn’t compromise. Yet Cured and Highly Strung are full of less than great attempts at a hit single. Cell 151 was okay, I liked Walking Through Walls. But the reality is he just isn’t as good at writing songs (of any genre) as Banks, Collins, Rutherford, Gabriel or even Phillips in my view.
Thankfully your opinion means jack shit.
@@PressureOnJulian You and the OP have it nailed. Frankly, Hackett isn't modest and has quite an ego. It all comes out if you let him talk long enough. He's a snake.
Great musician, ghastly haircut. My poor wife has just been sick into her hand. Trigger warnings, please!
english are shit with their hair.....geeezzzzz
he is very pretentious
I don't see why you think that. Maybe you are from another culture, but that is a completely normal English guy, quite a genial and gentle one in his manner actually.
I agree with you. Steve is an English gentleman through and through. I'm not English, but I love his gentle ways; nothing pretentious about him. @adamkadmon6339
GO EAT SOME ICE CREAM AND THINK YOUR COMMENT OVER....can't agree with it...
People like Steve Hackett destroyed rock music.
😅😂🤣 Really!
Utter bollocks!
If destroying rock music means creating so much beauty then so be it!
@@jonnykhatru 🔥☄🌀🌠💙
Oh dearie me