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It's been more
than seven years since World of Genesis had an opportunity to chat one on
one with Steve Hackett. Since that time, Hackett has released an impressive
13 albums; toured the world; completed his official biography with renowned
Genesis biographer Alan Hewitt; launched a new official website; continues
work on a forthcoming group project with Chris Squire, bass player and
co-founding member of the legendary progressive rock group Yes; and he is
currently preparing
for a 2009 concert tour. If all of that wasn't enough, this was all
accomplished while dealing with a number of major personal and professional
changes in the past year, including parting ways with his long-time manager.
On February 23, 2009, Steve did a little question and answer session with
World of Genesis.com's own Dave Negrin, and shares his insight into the next
chapter of the career of one of modern music's greatest guitarists.
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WOG:
In 2008, you celebrated your 25th anniversary as an independent artist.
Whether out of reasons of artistic freedom or necessity, while many
musicians now go the independent route, it was a bold step back in 1983. Do
you plan to commemorate the anniversary of this achievement with a "best of"
type compilation of your independent years to date (1983-2008)? If not, can
you share why you've opted against a proper retrospective of your catalogue
- or at least the part of your catalogue that you control?
SH:
I’m not currently in control of my catalogue,
so I can’t comment.
WOG:
I've read that you were pleased with the new Genesis remixed and remastered
studio titles in the 1970-1975 box set. How involved were you in the
project? Did Nick Davis consult with you on the levels and effects of the
guitar parts, etc. in the new mixes?
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World of Genesis:
Can you tell us about your new website, and the other professional changes
that are going on with your music and the new name "Hackett Songs"?
Steve Hackett:
The new website is alive and
well, and we’re in the process of adding all its limbs! I’m enjoying doing
the blogs, straight from the horse, so to speak... Those have been well
received, which I find encouraging.
The new website is being continually updated, and
we’ll demonstrate new ideas as they come along. The new website,
HackettSongs.com, means a lot to me, because at last I have a situation I’m closely
involved with and am now able to have a direct personal connection with all.
WOG:
Does Camino Records still exist? If not, will your new albums and back
catalogue be reissued on Hackett Songs Records?
SH:
For legal reasons, I can’t
discuss [this question]. |
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SH:
I was very pleased with Nick Davis’ input on
the old Genesis songs. In those days, things were often recorded with their
effects. I gather he’s now working on some more material for release...
(webmaster's note: Steve is referring to the Genesis Live remixed and
remastered catalogue which is currently being completed) which reminds me, I must get back to him on it! I always look back fondly on
the Genesis days, and I still think the songs stand up to scrutiny. I did a
small amount of fix-ups on some playing from gigs which were never intended
for release.
WOG:
Many fans have commented that your solo music, especially some of your newer
projects, would be very conducive to 5.1 surround sound remixing. Have you
ever considered the prospect of remixing a few of your titles in this
format?
SH:
Surround mixes are a great idea. Several [live] shows of mine are already
available in this format, and I intend to do more in the future.
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WOG:
You mentioned three new studio projects in development on the new website,
one being the project with Chris Squire of Yes. Does that Hackett/Squire duo
project have a band name?
SH:
The Hackett/Squire project
doesn’t yet have a name, although people are already calling us the
Squacketts, which was an idea Chris’ wife Scotty came up with!
WOG:
You mentioned that it's a rock project, but it is more progressive or more
of a mainstream rock type album in its overall style - a la GTR? What other
details can you share about the recording of that album and its potential
release?
SH:
It’s difficult to fully
describe an unfinished project as more musos come on board, but I can
confirm that it’s really exciting... We’ll give you a back-stage pass when
it’s finished!
WOG:
Have Chris Squire's 2008/2009 tour plans with Yes hindered the completion of
the new album? If not, how has the use of technology impacted your ability
to both work on the album remotely outside of a traditional studio
environment? Does this technology require a different approach to the way
you write and record music?
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WOG:
When you went back and did the EMI reissues of your early solo catalogue on
Virgin Records, were there any early non-album recordings that you unearthed
that you would have liked to have included on the remasters but didn't?
SH:
I really enjoyed doing the re-masters of my early solo material. Although
they weren’t re-mixes, the use of multi-band compression and stereo widening
improved them tremendously. For instance, Voyage of the Acolyte was
cut straight from the master tapes which had been missing when CDs were
first made of those songs. |
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SH:
Chris has been touring the U.S., as I am with
Europe, but it doesn’t stop us with our recording, plus time improves the
quality of production ideas and songs. We’re sending stems to a famous
drummer at the moment, so the ball’s in his court whilst we wait for its
return.
WOG:
Wow! I didn't know that... the Squacketts is becoming quite the 'Super
Group!' Have you and Chris determined roughly when you will return to the
studio following your respective tours to complete that new studio
collaboration?
SH:
At this moment in time, Chris and I are involved with the world of live
gigs... but we are still in touch and passing stems backwards and forwards
with a view to picking up the batton once there is a break from gigging.
WOG:
Can you share any insight into the other two studio projects you
mentioned that you are working on? Are they rock projects as well?
SH:
I’m working hard on at least one [other] album. The
emphasis is broadly on rock projects this year. |
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There was also a version of "Shadow of the
Hierophant" that was much longer than the one originally released which was
found some thirty years later in the back of my dad’s shed!
WOG:
Do you think Unauthorised Biography will ever be remastered in a
similar capacity?
SH:
The Unauthorised Biography is basically a compilation album, and
almost all of those tracks have appeared on other projects. It's not a
priority to all those concerned to remaster this compilation at this stage.
However, I was extremely pleased with the sound of the other remasters,
particularly Spectral Mornings, which was already a firm favourite.
WOG:
I was really impressed with how candid everyone in Genesis was on the DVD
interviews from the 1970-1975 box set about the creative
process, touring, and even the artistic conflicts within the group during
that period. Watching the DVD, you get the sense that any issues between the
former band members, professional or otherwise, are sort of 'water under the
bridge'. Is that a fair assessment? |
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What, if any role, did the talks of a possible Genesis reunion tour over the
past several years play in that sort of healing process?
SH:
I’ll
always have tremendous affection for all the Genesis guys and hope that one
day we’ll manage to pull off some kind of public performance together whilst
most of us have got our own teeth, hearing, and so on (laughs)! I’m always happy to see the
others, and I have great memories of
our music and times together.
WOG:
I understand that Tony Banks was interested in recording music for your 1996
Genesis Revisited album, but pulled out of the project before it was
released due to his commitments with Mike Rutherford and Genesis at the
time.
How did you go about selecting him to be involved? Did you reach out
to any of the other guys in the band?
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WOG:
Will you tour Europe or North America for any of these projects in 2009?
SH:
I already have European gigs lined up, and I
hope as soon as possible that U.K. and U.S. gigs will follow.
WOG:
On the Wild Orchids album, one of the things I found really
interesting about the release was how the 13-track and the (special edition)
17-track versions of the album, despite being fairly similar in overall song
selections, took on a very different flow and feel based upon song order,
added tracks, etc. Do you have a preference to one version over the other?
How important do you think the sequencing of the tracks is to the
overall tone of a record?
SH:
I personally prefer the special edition of
Wild Orchids, which I feel runs better as a program, particularly the
use of bookending the album with the "Dark Night in Toytown" / Gothic theme.
It’s sequenced like a train ride, starting with "Transylvanian Express,"
stopping at various tracks that become stations along the journey.
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WOG:
At the time of its release, To Watch The Storms was your first rock
album since 1999's Darktown. For the album, you used your then
touring band and included a few newer songs that were heard previously on
the prior North American tour. Did that level of familiarity with that band
and some of the material make recording To Watch The Storms any easier than that of prior albums?
SH:
It’s always great to be able to test drive
songs in front of audiences before you record them, but it doesn’t always
work out that way. Some songs are studio constructs and aren’t always easy
to deliver convincingly with a small team. For instance, on "Down Street" we
had approximately 212 tracks running – about the size of two symphony
orchestras... Ever since then I’ve been trying to cut down a bit to stop the
computer from blowing up (laughs)!
WOG:
What was it about the chemistry of
that band that compelled you to bring them back into the studio for that
project following the tour and continue to work with most of them to
this day?
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SH:
Many of the guys who had played with the band
over the years took part in my album Genesis Revisited. I found Peter
Gabriel very helpful in that I managed to complete an unfinished song of his,
"Déjà Vu",
that showed great promise during the Selling England By The Pound
period. Chester Thompson and Bill Bruford both played stunningly; and Tony
was encouraging about the idea.
WOG:
Did you get an opportunity to record with Tony again for Genesis Revisited
before he left the project?
SH:
Tony wasn’t able to be involved in the end,
due to other commitments.
WOG:
In your opinion, what is the greatest barrier in making a Genesis reunion
tour or one-off gig with the 5-man line-up happen? If everyone except Peter
is receptive to the idea of a reunion, do you think you, Tony, Phil and
Mike will ever consider the (1976-1977) 4-man line-up?
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STEVE HACKETT ON "PLEASE DON'T TOUCH"
"It's quite true that theme was rehearsed by Genesis at the time of the
Wind and Wuthering sessions, but we never got further than the odd
rehearsal cassette, which Phil used to oversee. So, he's the only bloke on
the planet who might even vaguely have some dodgy versions of what was to
become a great number and stage favourite."
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Steve Hackett at NearFest in
Trenton, New Jersey 2002
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SH:
I love the guys in the band. It’s like an
extended family to me. Of course, there’s also Jo, my partner, who is part
of the writing team these days. It’s wonderful to work with her, too.
WOG:
How did you come to meet Nick Beggs and get him involved as part of your new
band line-up?
SH:
I first saw Nick Beggs playing with Belinda
Carlisle playing at an EMI music convention around about the time I was
promoting A Midsummer Night’s Dream. We hit it off immediately.
Nick’s
a great player and character, and I’m looking forward to treading the boards
with him on our Italian tour. He has a tremendous sense of humour... Just
you all wait and see!
WOG:
I read in Nick's bio that he's played with John Paul Jones and Steve Howe,
both of which you have worked with yourself. When you consider working with
someone new who has toured or done session work with some of your former
colleagues, do you call for professional references or does the musical
abilities of the player and the musicians that they have performed with
speak for themselves?
SH:
I prefer to use my own ears and eyes and cast
my fate to the wind, the brass, or even the bass in this case! |
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SH:
I’ve always thought that some kind of reunion would be possible. It’s up to
Pete, Mike, Tony and Phil. I’ve always been flexible on the subject ever
since we last got together on stage at Milton Keynes in the early eighties.
WOG:
Rumor has it that "Hackett to Bits" (a.k.a. "Please Don't Touch") was
something you wrote in your Genesis days. Did Genesis ever demo the track
before you left? If so, is that demo lost at this point or was it considered
for the 1976-1982 Genesis box set?
SH:
It's quite true that theme was rehearsed by Genesis at the time of the
Wind and Wuthering sessions, but we never got further than the odd
rehearsal cassette, which Phil used to oversee. So, he's the only bloke on
the planet who might even vaguely have some dodgy versions of what was to
become a great number and stage favourite.
WOG:
You've done more than 30 solo albums, not counting your work with Genesis
and others, and toured the world many times over. Is there a particular
album or moment in your career that you are most proud of?
SH:
All the albums have got their
strengths. [As mentioned] Spectral Mornings remains a favourite, and I’m very proud
of my more recent albums, such as Tribute and Wild Orchids.
Selling England By The Pound, I think, has got the best Genesis guitar moments for me.
Gigs have always been important. It’s a great feeling to play to a huge
crowd, but equally
some of the smaller gigs have got an intimate magic all their own.
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WOG:
When you compose orchestral projects, like A Midsummer Night's Dream
and Metamorpheus, does the process by which you compose music differ
from when you are creating, say, a classical guitar album like Tribute
or even a synth/acoustic guitar album like Bay of Kings?
SH:
Normally on orchestral projects I work very
closely with Roger King as we tend to negotiate the parts note by note.
There’s no room for jamming when orchestras are involved. Roger is a trained
musician, whereas I am self taught and my approach is more instinctive. I
follow the same approach with all my classical albums, but the orchestral
ones have an added dimension.
WOG:
Is there a genre of music that you would like to explore in more depth than
you have to date?
SH:
My latest explorations are into Indian and
Turkish music... places I’ve only so far visited in the mind!
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RECENT GENESIS PROJECTS
FEATURING STEVE HACKETT:
GENESIS - 1976-1982 (U.S. CD + DVD) Box Set
Includes Trick of the Tail, Wind & Wuthering, And Then
There Were Three, Duke and Abacab in newly remixed and
remastered stereo and 5.1 surround sound plus bonus rare video footage, new
band interviews, special packaging, and more! |
WOG:
Can you share any news on Sketches of Steve Hackett, your forthcoming official biography
than Alan Hewitt is reportedly working on? How did the idea for an official
biography first come about?
SH:
Alan Hewitt’s biography initially came about
via a series of interviews that coalesced ‘organically’ into the basis of
his book. I believe it’s due for publication at some point this year, but
best to check with Alan!
WOG:
Did you have any apprehensions about doing a biography knowing that is its a
sort of 'all access' history of your career and personal life? Will the book
go up through the end of 2008 with the release of the Tribute album
and your recent changes professionally and personally? It sounds like 2009
has a lot of optimistic things on the horizon that might be a nice ending
for the book with the new website, new tour, new band, new material on the
horizon with Chris (Squire), new relationship, and so on….
SH:
Obviously, there have been changes in my
post-divorce situation, but Alan is sensitive and constructive in his
approach. My plans for 2009 certainly promise to reflect the positive tone
of the book.
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GENESIS - 1970-1975 (U.S. CD + DVD) Box Set
Includes Trespass, Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot,
Selling England By The Pound, and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
in newly remixed and remastered stereo and 5.1 surround sound plus bonus
rare video footage, new band interviews, special packaging, and more!
1970-1975 also available as a
limited edition 200 gram 6 LP box set! |
Special thanks to Steve Hackett for granting this
interview. This
interview is © 2009 David Negrin and may not be reproduced in whole
or in part without permission. For more on Steve Hackett, please visit
his official website. |
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