Steve Hackett interview - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Hi All,

As part of my dissertation for my final university project, I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to run a short interview with Steve Hackett. The interview focuses on my research question which explored the creative opportunities of writing a song of extended length. You can read the interview here:

http://edenshadow.net/2014/10/08/interview-with-steve-hackett/

Congratulations RyanElliott!

And thank you so much Steve Hackett for your languid and delicate classical guitar melodies, they make me feel in heaven...

"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB

You bagged an interview with Mr. Hackett? Be still my beating heart. He is the nicest guy in the business. He once responded to an e-mail of mine asking when was the next time he'd be coming to Los Angeles.

The more I learn about Hackett, the more I think Tony Banks is a dick.

I like to feel the suspense when you're certain you know I am there.....

I'm all in the Hackett camp---as my name says---but sadly I do think Banks is a genius player and composer and it's sad his ego is so big he can't see that Hackett is a genius player and composer too.

One last thing. When asked at the time about Hackett's departure from Genesis, Collins was heard to quip that there had been been "too many musicians" in the band. A snide comment that didn't wear well with this fan considering the possibilities if Hackett had stayed. After trying to keep alive the post-Gabriel creative zenith provided by 'Tail and 'Wuthering with the muddled And Then There Were Three, the band unfortunately became Collins-centered, and Banks was a ready accomplice in this decision. Rutherford affably just wanted the Genesis Express to keep on a'rollin'. By Duke and beyond, the dream had dwindled to an overriding pop career and greased MOR airplay.

Edited by Rednight - January 23 2015 at 10:33

^Haven't heard or read any of that. As a matter of fact, he had offered his material for Please Don't Touch to Genesis, and Collins was said to have outright rejected it. It was "back to school" as Hackett summed up the experience, and during a remixing session for Seconds Out, his frustration with the situation came to a head as he broke a wine glass in his hand by squeezing it too hard, resulting in a career-stalling injury and his decision to leave the others for good.

Edited by Rednight - January 23 2015 at 11:27

HackettFan wrote:

The only accusation of Steve Hackett not have much material came indeed after Voyage of the Acolyte and during writing for Trick of the Tail. What extent that's true or not I dont't know, but he had plenty for Wind & Wuthering. Lack of inclusion of Please Don't Touch in favor of the very dull Wot Gorilla was the last straw for him. ATTWT was similarly dull.

I don't really get the rejection of Hackett's song writing ability that Banks and Rutherford speak about even after the solo career he's had.

I think Banks wanted to make sure he was top dog---he was an original member---Banks has also said doesn't know why Hackett left as on W&W he contributed lot's of bits---but of course Tony contributed more---Tony stayed a big force in the group until Collins became a superstar---and then Genesis fame followed the upward trajectory of Phil's career. I actually think Phil liked Steve---they wrote a great song, Blood on the Rooftops together. Think Steve's stuff wasn't as liked as Banks or collins---and was voted down---and Steve's Voyage of A was as big a seller as Genesis at the time---

Great interview Clap

A great interview! Congrats!

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