Hackett Steve

One has to admit that legendary guitarist Steve Hackett has carved out quite a career, easily the most prolific and consistent of all the former Genesis maestros. Eschewing commercial fame and fortune, this consummate artist has always remained faithful and committed to a progressive rock experience defined by his unique and pioneering style…

John Hackett is highly regarded for his distinctive flute sound in the world of progressive music and as an accomplished soloist. Solo flautist, guitarist, singer and composer, John is best known for his work with his brother Steve Hackett, the former Genesis guitarist, and the ambient group Symbiosis…

Feedback 86 is a solo album by guitarist Steve Hackett. The album is a collection of songs written in 1986 but put on the shelf. Some of the songs were supposed to be on the aborted second GTR album. The album features guest appearances by singer Bonnie Tyler, Queen guitarist Brian May and Marillion members Ian Mosley and Pete Trewavas.

Although Steve Hackett had made several albums under his own name since his departure from Genesis, 1981's Cured was the closest thing yet to a true solo Hackett album. Having disbanded the group with whom he's recorded two successful solo albums - Spectral Mornings and Defector - Steve retained only keyboard player Nick Magnus to help out on this effort. Magnus played keyboards, Hackett handled guitar and bass, and the drums were provided by a drum machine. But the most noticeable change was in the vocals. Previous albums had featured the occasional vocal excursion by the guitarist, but Cure was the first album on which Hackett handled all the lead vocals himself. Combined with the revamped musical backing and a more straightforward songwriting style, the new sound threw some Hackett devotees for a loop…

An unusual foray into prog rock. Steve Hackett may be best-known as lead guitarist with Genesis between 1971-1977, during the band's transition from prog outsiders to chart success. The RoadHackett's earliest experience in playing professionally came with groups named Canterbury Glass and Sarabande, making mainstream rock with a progressive/psychedelic edge…

Steve Hackett's later material is somewhat different from his '70s and '80s work, in that the guitar playing tends to be less progressive and lengthy, verging more on rock-blues and basic string arrangements. The emergence into this style is showcased on Guitar Noir, as Hackett displays a more mature side to his instrumental prowess. Each song is given one line of interpretation from Hackett in the liner notes, as the songs range from the life of a prostitute to the onslaught of television in the household. Only two of the 12 songs are without vocals, but words have no affect on Hackett's beautiful passages anyway…

A blues album by prog rocker and classically trained guitarist Steve Hackett? It may seem a bit of a surprise, but as Hackett himself explains, his first musical affinity was for the blues, and his first instrument of choice was the harmonica, not the guitar. So he returns to his roots on this release, unknown as they are to most of his audience. Most of the songs are original compositions, and the tunes are well written. Hackett plays a mean harmonica throughout, and shines in particular on a couple of instrumental numbers, "A Blue Part of Town" and "Footloose" (mercifully not the Kenny Loggins song). Hackett sings lead vocals on the other songs, and unfortunately his voice just doesn't lend much conviction to blues material, even though it's treated to sound much deeper and grittier…

In 1983, Steve Hackett fought an uphill battle for the release of Bay of Kings, his first album of solo acoustic guitar pieces. He ultimately did find a distributor, after several months. Rather than becoming disconcerted by the experience, Hackett determined never to shy away from his classical impulses in the future, and in 1988 he returned with Momentum, another album of mostly original acoustic guitar passages. As the title suggests, this album finds Hackett gaining confidence and proficiency in his guitar playing; he manages to play several complex pieces in a seemingly effortless manner. The songs are pleasant, evoking delightful imagery. Any admirer of acoustic guitar music will find this thoroughly enjoyable.

In a lengthy and prolific solo career dating back to the 1970s, Steve Hackett has dabbled in numerous musical styles ranging from blues to classical. But he seems to understand that his core audience, the people interested in buying tickets to see him perform in concert, sees him primarily as a progressive rock guitarist of the ‘70s and ‘80s. At least, that seems clear from this double-disc live set, in which he fronts a band and pleases his listeners by delving deeply into his catalog of most popular recordings. That includes selections from his early solo albums…