Steve Hackett

Stephen Richard Hackett (born 12 February 1950) is an English guitarist, songwriter and producer who gained prominence as the lead guitarist of the progressive rock band Genesis from 1971 to 1977.

Hackett contributed to six Genesis studio albums, three live albums, seven singles and one EP before he left to pursue a solo career.

Stephen Richard Hackett was born on 12 February 1950 in Pimlico, central London to Peter and June Hackett.

He was born one day before his future Genesis bandmate, singer Peter Gabriel.

He has a younger brother John who took up the flute and has performed, collaborated and written with Hackett throughout his solo career, and helped compose some of the early Genesis songs uncredited including "Get 'Em Out by Friday" and "Cuckoo Cocoon".

Hackett attended Sloane Grammar School in Chelsea.

In the 1950s, the family relocated to Vancouver, Canada but returned home after his parents, his mother in particular, became too homesick.

Hackett grew up having access to various musical instruments, such as the harmonica and recorder, but he did not develop an interest in the guitar until the age of 12 when he started playing single notes.

By 14, he was learning chords and experimenting with chord progressions, although he never received any formal training.

Hackett's earliest musical influences were classical (Johann Sebastian Bach) and opera (Mario Lanza).

He has said that his compositions are still influenced by them.

Hackett also has cited numerous British blues artists as influences, namely Danny Kirwan, Peter Green and various guitarists in John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, as well as Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles and King Crimson.

Hackett's first professional playing experience came as a member of three rock bands: Canterbury Glass, with whom he played on "Prologue" on their album Sacred Scenes and Characters which was recorded in 1968 but distributed in 2007; Heel Pier; and Sarabande, all of whom performed rock with progressive rock elements.

He then joined Quiet World in 1970 which featured his brother John on flute.

He did not write any material with the group as the band's founders directed what the other members played, which did not bother Hackett as he wished to get more experience in a recording studio since the band had secured a contract with a label.

Hackett played on the band's only studio album, The Road (1970), released on Dawn Records, and left them soon after.

In December 1970, Hackett placed an advertisement in Melody Maker in his search for a new band.

It read: "Imaginative guitarist-writer seeks involvement with receptive musicians, determined to strive beyond existing stagnant music forms".

In a 2021 interview, Hackett explained that, by 'stagnant', he meant a lack of inclusion among the different music genres in the 1970s.

The ad was responded to by Genesis lead vocalist Peter Gabriel.

Genesis, which also comprised keyboardist Tony Banks, bassist Mike Rutherford and drummer Phil Collins, had lost founding guitarist Anthony Phillips and sought a new, permanent replacement to his temporary replacement Mick Barnard.

Gabriel advised Hackett to listen to their last album Trespass (1970) before Hackett auditioned for the group.

Hackett claimed that Van Halen had told him that he learned the technique after attending a Genesis concert in the mid-1970s.

Hackett's first live gig with Genesis took place at City University, London on 24 January 1971.

Hackett's first recording with Genesis was Nursery Cryme (1971).

He helped shape the group's sound by strongly encouraging them to incorporate a Mellotron into the songs, and his guitar work is prominently featured through solos on "The Musical Box", "The Return of the Giant Hogweed" and "The Fountain of Salmacis".

He became an early proponent of the guitar tapping technique normally attributed to Eddie Van Halen.

Foxtrot (1972) included Hackett's guitar solo composition "Horizons", which he based on a Suite for Cello by Bach.

Selling England by the Pound (1973) features Hackett using tapping and sweep picking, later popularised by Yngwie Malmsteen, both of which are used on "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight".

The song "Firth of Fifth" contains one of Hackett's most well-known guitar solos and has remained a favourite in concert even after Hackett's departure.

Hackett released his first solo album, Voyage of the Acolyte, while still a member of Genesis in 1975.

After a series of further solo albums beginning in 1978, Hackett co-founded the supergroup GTR with Steve Howe in 1986.

The group released the self-titled album GTR, which peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 in the United States and spawned the Top 20 single "When the Heart Rules the Mind".

When Hackett left GTR in 1987, the group disbanded.

Hackett then resumed his solo career.

He has released albums and toured worldwide on a regular basis since.

Hackett's body of work encompasses many styles; in addition to his work in progressive rock, he has explored pop, blues, world music and classical music on his solo recordings.

According to Guitar World: "Hackett's early explorations of two-handed tapping and sweep picking were far ahead of their time, and influenced Eddie Van Halen and Brian May."

Other guitarists influenced by Hackett include Alex Lifeson and Steve Rothery.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010.