FORTY years have passed since Steve Hackett released his first solo album and he is celebrating the anniversary with a nationwide autumn tour that visits York Barbican on October 14.

That first album, Voyage Of The Acolyte, set the scene for many more solo works, most notably Spectral Mornings. At the time of his early solo outings, Steve was better known as the guitarist with Genesis, who he had joined in 1970 as a fresh-faced 20 year old.

Genesis had just ridden the storm of singer Peter Gabriel’s departure in 1975, when Steve left in 1977 after the success of his solo work. The ensuing years have seen both Genesis and Steve enjoying success and he has decided to go out on the road to mark both the 40 years since the launch of Acolyte and the release of his latest album, Wolflight.

As well as his solo work, Steve will be performing a new Genesis Revisited set, which has become a key part of his live shows in recent years, hence the tour title of Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited, The Total Expcrience.

In effect, the York audience will be enjoying a Best of Steve Hackett evening. "I think that’s a very good way of putting it," he says. "It’s the very early years and the show is in two halves: solo and Genesis.”

Steve is keen to point out that even though his records go out under his name, he has expert help. “That’s right,” he affirms. “Even with the solo work, there’s always a team. I've worked with some special talents and I have to be a fan of the people I work with.”

York Press:

Steve Hackett's album cover for Wolflight

One such person being Chris Squire of Yes, who recently passed away. "Chris was a great bassist and he never played the bass guitar like a bass; he played it more like a lead guitar,” says Steve. "We made a album together a couple of years ago under the name Squackett which I’m very proud of.”

Steve’s guitar work appears to be an infusion of many styles, but what were his influences? “Well, in the early days, my father played a number of instruments and got me playing guitar and harmonica,” he says. "Then, as I got older, I bought every Shadows record going and I also liked The Beatles and The Stones and by the age of 12 I was an avid radio listener. When you’re hungry for music, you tend to have a different way of listening and I took it all in.”

Then other influences came in. "Yes, I became interested in the blues; then I heard the album Segovia Plays Bach and I thought it was a miracle how the guitar could be played like that. But basically I listen to and like everything.”

So, what can we expect in this tour? "I’ll be playing two separate sets; the first set will be my solo material and I’ll be cherry-picking pieces from my entire career including a few from my new album Wolflight. I hope to perform the title track, Out Of The Body, Wheels Turning, Love Song To A Vampire and Loving Sea," says Steve.

“It’s difficult to pick which songs to do because I can’t do everything. There’ll be some surprises, though, because I don’t like to be always doing the same thing. For instance, I’m not the kind of person who would go out and just do hits. Although it's always great to have a hit record.”

The Genesis Revisited set has proved so popular that Steve has been putting together a brand new set of early Genesis classics. "That’s right, some of the songs I haven’t done in a long time and some not at all," he says.

“Some of the songs have been asked for and I’m aiming to do tracks like Can-Utility And The Coastliners, Cinema Show, Get‘em Out By Friday and The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway.

“Everyone has their own favourites and although I’ve done a lot of the epic elements, I want to give the audiences something different. Plus it’ll all be in surround-sound so it’ll sound great.”

As regards the future, Steve has plenty of plans. "After the UK dates, I’ll be touring up to Christmas and then I’m building a new studio in the garden and will start making records there."

By Martin Hutchinson

Steve Hackett, Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Revisited Tour, The Total Experience, York Barbican, October 14, 7.30pm; no support. Box office: 0844 854 2757 or at yorkbarbican.co.uk. Hackett also plays Leeds Town Hall on October 20; 0113 224 3801.