Steve Hackett: 'Why I left Genesis'

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Steve Hackett is a guitar legend, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee with Genesis, a band who during his time were one of the top prog bands in the world. But in 1977 he decided to leave. Here he explains why this happened.

[briancherry]

Like Phil said, it's a very diplomatic band as long as you agree with Tony.

[loucontino]

Steve Hackett is shamefully underrated. His tone, choice of rhythm & chords, solos...all spectacular. I could listen to anything he plays on and especially love his solo material outside of Genesis. And with Genesis Revisited...he brings you right back to the old days all over again. His musicianship is stellar!

[Egill]

Without Steve, Genesis never was the same as before. This loss was irreparable.

[philiptennant]

So glad I wrote this post. It just goes to prove my point about Genesis being controversial. Just want to put this out there I LOVE GENESIS IN ALL THEIR VARIOUS INCARNATIONS. Buy my preference is for the Steve Hackett years. Firth of Fifth has probably one of the great guitar solos ever. But I grew up during the Gabriel years and love the theatre and sheet insanity of it all.

[keithf_]

Look, this was 45 years ago now. Stop asking the great Steve Hackett THIS question. It's done and dusted.
He left cos he needed to leave.
Great guitarist and songwriter. He's had a great career, much respected.
We love you Steve ... Every Day !

[Richcanvas]

The best period for Genesis was the 'Steve Hackett' era.

[peteketners]

I think that when Steve joined Genesis after the departure of Anthony Phillips, they realized that they had a uniquely talented musician and songwriter who was on a level of his own, and had much to offer. He was probably seen as someone who was as creative with a guitar as Peter Gabriel was at story writing and vocalizations. I read somewhere that Steve Hackett played in 'atmospheres' and emotions rather than riffs or chords. That was a perfect description, because with all the recordings I've listened to and all of the live performances I've downloaded and enjoyed all have the same effect on me - I'm transported to a very pleasant and special place. I think those qualities caused some concern, especially after Gabriel left and Steve had a successful solo LP. He wrote great songs and had offered this as a member of Genesis, and maybe felt that he had to contribute more with the loss of their frontman. It could have been misconstrued as an attempt at moving up towards the front of the line. I'm so happy that Steve is doing so phenomenally well. He is prolific, always trying new things, and is just a really great guy.

[darrinwilson]

Funny how he left yet he's been the one carrying on the bands 70's legacy for the last decade plus

[AlfredMansfield-fprc]

I’m a huge Genesis fan and have seen them many times play around Surrey especially Guildford in their early days. It was quite sad when Steve left and then Peter, but they managed to survive quite well when there was three. I have to say that since Steve has been covering the Genesis repertoire the sound is as good as what I remembered and the replication is absolutely spot on, it’s almost like listening to Genesis play all over again.

[carl]

Steve Hackett : why i left Genesis in two words : Tony Banks.

[Nikioko]

The turning point of Genesis was when Steve left, not when Peter left. The two 1976 albums were still great prog rock.

[pascalsolal]

Yes... These guys brought us to the stars, to the limits of what music can do on an emotional level, and yet... they're just humans, as poor as anyone, on a human level.

[tgsiii]

I feel I was fortunate to see Genesis twice before Steve left, and then once afterwards. All the shows were fantastic, but the ones with Steve are my favorites. That said....his solo work, while VERY good, never quite achieved the level of Genesis. I love the fact that he has lately returned to doing Genesis material, and does it very well. As a guitarist myself, I can say Steve is an inspiration to many players. He has a sense of subtlety and finesse that most guitarists lack.

[ElwoodBlues]

There are facts. The band was articulated around Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford. They were the artistic driving force after the departure of Peter Gabriel, who made the extravagant and charismatic substance of Genesis. Phil Collins enriched the songs with its wonderful skills at drums, and took a growing part into the band, although he was originally a patch. Stevie was a shy and self-effacing man, with his own universe, lot of ideas, who spoke with his guitar, and added some poetry and originality with its guitar abilities. But he could never impose his compositions, somewhat too "offset" and bizarre, but only add his personal touch to a whole. Frustrated by the way he felt confined, the artistic divergences and the internal squabbles between egos, he decided to leave a band, and give free rein to all his musical ideas, with freedom, and no constraints or judging. As simple as that IMHO. It was inevitable.

[TheOldgeezah]

Interesting that Peter and Steve were the most creative and radical musicians.

[tentruesummers]

You have to remember that back in the 70's you had a record which could only hold about 38 mins of music. It was always going to be difficult to accomodate all the songwriters. I respect Steve for leaving so that he could be true to his own compositions.

[adrianbrowne]

Lovely guy and an extremely courteous One!! I saw and met Steve last year and he very kindly signed my copies of "Foxtrot"" and "Selling England By The Pound" !! Steve has influenced countless other guitar greats including of course Brian May who has been characteristically generous in acknowledging that !!! From Adrian 1965

[papajohn]

They need to do some shows with Hackett and Gabriel.

[sanehumanbeing]

This competitive attitude is so distasteful when it's between artists. I much prefer the attitude of say, jazz musicians, who know they're not going to achieve huge commercial success but are in it to make good music together.

[zmor]

"We have democracy in Genesis. Of course, as long as we all agree with Tony" (Phil Collins smiling) ;-)
Needles to say, all members of the band are very talented composers. However, if I had to pick the most talented one I would point to Banks. Which is interesting because his solo career has not been successful (comparing with other memebrs of the group).