Steve Hackett

Stephen Richard Hackett (born 12 February 1950) is an English guitarist known for his work as the lead guitarist of the progressive rock band Genesis from 1971 to 1977. During his tenure with Genesis, he contributed to six studio albums, three live albums, seven singles, and one EP. Hackett was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010.

While still with Genesis, Hackett released his first solo album, "Voyage of the Acolyte", in 1975. He continued to release solo albums from 1978 onward and co-founded the supergroup GTR with Steve Howe in 1986. GTR released a self-titled album that reached number 11 on the Billboard 200 and included the Top 20 single "When the Heart Rules the Mind". Hackett left GTR in 1987, after which the group disbanded, and he resumed his solo career, releasing albums and touring internationally.

Hackett’s solo work spans multiple styles, including progressive rock, pop, blues, world music, and classical music. Guitar World noted that his early use of two-handed tapping and sweep picking influenced guitarists such as Eddie Van Halen and Brian May. Other guitarists influenced by Hackett include Alex Lifeson and Steve Rothery.

Studio albums Voyage of the Acolyte (1975) Please Don't Touch! (1978) Spectral Mornings (1979) Defector (1980) Cured (1981) Highly Strung (1983) Bay of Kings (1983) Till We Have Faces (1984) Momentum (1988) Guitar Noir (1993) Blues with a Feeling (1994) Genesis Revisited (1996) A Midsummer Night's Dream (1997) Darktown (1999) Feedback 86 (2000) To Watch the Storms (2003) Metamorpheus (2005) Wild Orchids (2006) Tribute (2008) Out of the Tunnel's Mouth (2009) Beyond the Shrouded Horizon (2011) Genesis Revisited II (2012) Wolflight (2015) The Night Siren (2017) At the Edge of Light (2019) Under a Mediterranean Sky (2021) Surrender of Silence (2021) The Circus and the Nightwhale (2024)