Steve Hackett on love, music and beginnings

In his concerts, Steve Hackett celebrates the old songs of his former band Genesis. But the guitarist and singer also has a lot to offer as a solo artist. Now his 30th album has been released.

London – When Steve Hackett walks through West London, he’s not bothered. No one recognizes the invisible, talented musician who has had the same hairstyle for decades but is always musically fresh.

The 74-year-old’s favorite dish is mushroom soup at a local Italian restaurant. “But please without the spring onions on it,” Hackett tells the waiter in a calm voice before turning to his favorite topic in the interview, music.

He has been tirelessly creating new songs for more than 50 years and has also been very successful in keeping alive the work of his old band Genesis, whose sound greatly influenced Hackett in the 1970s. Before the guitar virtuoso continues to tour again with his program of ” Genesis Revisited”, Steve Hackett releases new LP. According to his German record company Inside Out, “The Circus And The Nightwhale” is already his 30th solo album. The acoustic LP “Under the Mediterranean Sky” is now followed by an interesting conceptual work.

The concept of the album between hard and tender

“It’s a story, a story,” says Hackett in an interview with the German News Agency. “It is a biography. In a way it reveals. In it I talk about my relationship with Jo. So there are love songs too.†Jo is his wife, muse and manager – and almost always by his side.

He also sits next to her during dpa interviews and occasionally nods in a friendly way. “It goes from gossip to romance,” says Hackett, describing his album. “By clinging I mean guitars that strum a lot sometimes. Somewhere it becomes gentle and romantic again.“

“Circus And The Nightwhale” is a great movie for the ears. The opening track “People Of The Smoke” begins with the sounds of an old BBC children’s show, a child’s scream and the sound of a steam train picking up speed and finally setting the rhythm of Hackett’s band and orchestra. “All this happens in the first 45 seconds, says Hackett happily. He calls them “little desserts to get to the main course.” Each time you listen you get new details in this fascinating work.

A musical journey in his life

Hackett’s “Main Course” is a musical journey through his life and work. “I wanted to make it as personal as possible, but at the same time remain universal,” says the guitarist, who also occasionally sings on the album. “I think everyone has their own version of a dream, a story or a legend, and everyone is the hero of their life, because you have to go through everything, you have to suffer.

Brit says that he was busy with many things for a long time. “There were very difficult times that we had to go through, a financial crisis, several things – and a difficult divorce.” effects on him and almost endangering his job as well. “Nightwhale†indicates how much a person can be consumed by events and come close to a nervous breakdown.

His love for Jo, with whom he has been in a relationship for 17 years, and his passion for music saw him through the toughest of times. “I’ve endured a lot in my life, but one thing I won’t allow is my music to be threatened,” Hackett explains. “People often underestimate my persistence when it comes to music. But otherwise I wouldn’t have left Genesis.â

Life according to Genesis

In 1977 he left progressive rock because the band was “too controlling” for him and he had developed his own taste after his first solo album. “You have to be determined to leave a band you’ve put your blood and sweat into to become an international force,” says Hackett, who, among other things, released two classic Selling England By The Pound albums with him. Genesis œ (1973) and “The Lamb Sleeps on a Broad Path” (1974).

“But there was life after. After Genesis, there were several futures for me. And I’m here.â The union has never happened. Discussions about this failed. Hackett isn’t bad. “I love what we did together,†he says.

Visit in the summer

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of “The Lamb Sleeping on Broadway,” he will be playing parts of a worship album on his upcoming tour, called “Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights & Solo” and will be a mix of songs from his various careers. Several concerts are planned in Germany this summer. Steve Hackett will also focus on his new album. Of course he wants to present some songs from “The Circus And The Nightwhale” live. dp