Famed Prog-Rock Guitar Virtuoso Steve Hackett Takes Us All Around The World Without Ever Having to Leave Home

His latest, Surrender of Silence, is a journey from the Far East to Africa, comforting, heart-wrenching, uplifting, all at the same time

From the LifeMinute.TV Team

October 24, 2021

Famed prog-rock guitar virtuoso, singer, composer, and producer Steve Hackett first gained notoriety in 1971 when he joined Genesis. He rounded out, considered by many, the classic line-up that included Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, and Phil Collins.

His guitar work with the band shows most prominently on early pre-MTV Genesis albums such as Nursery Cryme (1971), Selling England by the Pound (1973), and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974).

Upon his departure from the group at the end of 1977, his solo career took off in earnest, and to date, spans more than 30 fabulous albums.

Well renowned for his versatility with electric and acoustic guitars and other instruments, Hackett has produced albums with a wide variety of musical styles and influences from all over the world. He dipped his toe in the AOR market with great success when he teamed up with Steve Howe from YES to form the supergroup GTR in 1986. 

In 2010, Hackett achieved Rock’s highest honor for being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame as a member of Genesis.

Today, Hackett's "greatest" collaborator in life and music is Jo Lehmann, his wife of ten years. He says she guides and advises him on everything he does.

Recorded during Covid lockdown, Surrender Of Silence is his second release in 2021, showing a much heavier electric side than the more gentle acoustic sounds of Under A Mediterranean Sky released earlier in the year. Several musicians and singers contributed from around the world to both albums.

"Born from a need to explore and blast through boundaries, we're starting to embrace life again," Hackett says. This latest album travels from the Far East to Africa with beautiful vocals, extraordinary dutar, and exotic tar. It's bound together with orchestral textures highlighted by a sublime violin and viola, a monster rhythm section, soaring sax and bass clarinet, a powerful organ, and Hackett's guitar. “We plunge full-pelt into that wild release of energy,” he says. 

Hackett is currently back on the road supporting these releases in the UK and is happy to be playing in person for his fans again. We were fortunate to catch up with him virtually from his home in the UK, on one of his rare days off, to hear all about it and much more.