Overview

Stephen Richard "Steve" Hackett is an English guitarist, singer and songwriter whose music spans progressive rock, classical, ambient and world influences. Best known for his tenure with the rock band Genesis from 1971 to 1977, Hackett helped shape the guitar voice of early progressive rock and has sustained a prolific solo career since the mid-1970s.

Musical characteristics

Hackett is noted for combining electric and acoustic textures, ornate melodic lines and experimental effects. He used techniques such as two-handed tapping, harmonics, fingerpicking and use of guitar synthesizers to expand the instrument’s timbral range. His playing often balances concise solos with atmospheric layers that serve a song's arrangement rather than purely showmanship.

Career with Genesis

Joining Genesis in 1971, Hackett contributed to several of the group's classic albums, bringing a distinctive guitar palette to records like Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, Selling England by the Pound and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. He wrote memorable solos and instrumental passages that helped define the band's shift toward more theatrical and complex compositions before leaving in 1977 to focus on solo work.

Solo work and collaborations

Hackett released his first solo album while still in Genesis and subsequently built a varied catalogue that includes rock, instrumental, classical guitar and orchestral projects. His solo records often mix concise songs with instrumental explorations. He has collaborated with many musicians across genres, revisited Genesis material in tribute projects and remained an active touring performer.

Legacy and notable facts

Regarded as an influential figure in progressive music, Hackett inspired guitarists interested in atmosphere, composition and extended techniques. His body of work demonstrates a willingness to cross stylistic boundaries and to reinterpret older material for new audiences, cementing his reputation as a versatile composer and performer.

  • Key genres: progressive rock, classical crossover, ambient.
  • Instruments: electric and acoustic guitar, guitar synths.
  • Notable periods: Genesis (1971–1977); long solo career thereafter.