Guitarist Steve Hackett Revisits Genesis
Steve Hackett's new album, Genesis Revisited II, is two-disc compilation containing nearly two and a half hours of monumental music from his tenure with Genesis in the 1970s. It's a look back into the music that laid the foundation for what is now known as progressive rock.
Newly recorded versions of songs like “Horizons," “Supper’s Ready” and “The Musical Box” sound as fresh and exciting today as they did 40 years ago. No small undertaking, Genesis Revisited II includes no fewer than 35 guest musicians and took nearly six months to complete. Genesis Revisited II is a must have for fans of Steve, Genesis and progressive rock.
I spoke with Steve and discussed Genesis Revisited II and his plans to take the “new” music out on the road. I also asked him about another of his successful projects, GTR - the super group he formed with Yes guitarist Steve Howe.
What do you remember most about your tenure with Genesis?
It was an interesting period in time, and I think the band with Peter [Gabriel] was particularly interesting. That’s the period I’m going back to on this album. I’ve done quite a lot of other types of music since Genesis. Most of it has been rock, but there have also been occasional albums of nylon guitar work and everything from Bach to blues and beyond. I’m going back to an early love of mine, which is this Genesis music. I’m very proud of it. It was great music. Complicated and complex, but still very soulful at heart.
Was there a reason you decided to revisit these songs?
It was the desire to tour this work again. I wanted to take it out on the road and show people what great songs they were and present them in a certain way. But rather than get into a rehearsal straight away, I figured the best way to get the band to remember this music was by recording it. Once they’ve done the definitive versions of these songs from their own point of view, it makes it that much easier to go back and relearn what you’ve already done. I tried to lay it out like a journey. It’s two CD’s, both of which are roughly 73 minutes long. It took six months to put together; the longest project I’ve ever been involved with.
You have a lot of guests that contribute to the album as well.
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