Steve Hackett: A Lifetime of Musical Discovery, Collaboration, and Expression
Steve Hackett has spent decades exploring what the guitar can express. From his groundbreaking work with Genesis to his celebrated solo career, his approach has always been centered on melody, atmosphere, and emotion rather than simply showing off technical ability. In his conversation with Press Play Radio Conversations, Hackett opened up about his latest collaboration with Steve Rothery of Marillion, the musicians who shaped his journey, and the songs that continue to inspire him.
A Collaboration That Took Eight Years
Hackett's collaboration with Steve Rothery developed naturally from a friendship and a shared love of music. What began as casual jamming sessions gradually became a project that took nearly eight years to fully develop.
One of the inspirations behind the album was the early instrumental work of Fleetwood Mac, particularly “Albatross.” Hackett was drawn to the peaceful and spacious quality of the track, an approach that helped shape the atmosphere of the new music.
Rather than approaching the project as a competition between two legendary guitarists, Hackett describes it as a musical conversation. The emphasis is on listening, responding, and allowing the melodies to develop naturally.
Making the Guitar Sing
Throughout the album, Hackett explores the expressive possibilities of the guitar. He discusses using a Fernandez guitar equipped with a sustainer pickup, allowing notes to bloom and continue almost like a human voice.
He also brought several distinctive instruments into the recordings, including a Brian May Red Special, a 12 string guitar from Tony Zamat, and a Gibson Les Paul.
That variety of instruments helped give each piece its own character, from delicate and atmospheric passages to more unusual sounds.
Stories Told Without Words
Several of the album's tracks demonstrate Hackett's ability to tell stories through instrumental music.
“The Black Sea” has a beautiful and spacious quality, with Hackett describing its mournful and cold atmosphere as being influenced by the soundtracks of composer John Barry.
“K129” tells the story of a Russian submarine that sank off the coast of Hawaii with significant loss of life. Rather than explaining the story through lyrics, Hackett allows the music itself to communicate the emotion and weight of the tragedy.
“Red Dragon” explores the history of the first clipper ship of the East India Trading Company. The track takes on an unusual character through Hackett's use of a reissue baby sitar guitar, bringing an Indian inspired quality to the composition.
The Music That Shaped Steve Hackett
Hackett's musical influences stretch across generations and genres. One of his earliest significant concert experiences came when he was just 16 years old, when he bought a ticket to see John Mayall's Bluesbreakers shortly after Eric Clapton had left the group. The guitarist on stage was a young Peter Green.
That experience became part of a lifelong connection to blues guitar. Today, Hackett continues to discover and appreciate guitarists from younger generations, including Joe Bonamassa, whose dynamic blues playing has recently caught his attention.
His admiration extends far beyond guitar music. Hackett speaks highly of Matt Bellamy and Muse, as well as Guy Garvey of Elbow. Classical music has also played an important role in his musical development, particularly the work of Andrés Segovia and Maurice Ravel.
Ravel's Boléro holds a particularly special place in his musical history. Hackett recalls that it was the first classical album he ever purchased.
A Song for the World
When asked what song he would dedicate to the world at this moment, Hackett chose Peter, Paul and Mary's version of “Blowin' in the Wind.”
The choice reflects something that runs throughout Hackett's musical philosophy. Even after decades of performing and creating music, his connection to music remains rooted in emotion, humanity, and the ability of a song to communicate something larger than itself.
From blues guitar heroes and classical composers to modern rock musicians, Hackett continues to approach music with the curiosity of someone still discovering what is possible.
His collaboration with Steve Rothery is another chapter in that journey, built not around competition, but around two musicians listening to one another and allowing the music to lead the way.