HACKETT'S TRAVELS

STEVE HACKETT HAS HAD A WONDERFUL MUSICAL CAREER, FROM GENESIS TO THE ‘SUPERGROUP’ GTR TO HIS AMASSED SOLO WORK. HACKETT’S NEWEST RELEASE, UNDER A MEDITERRANEAN SKY, IS AN ACOUSTIC SOLO ALBUM, WHICH TAKES INSPIRATION FROM THE GUITARIST’S MEDITERRANEAN TRAVELS.

- JOE MATERA

Since leaving prog rock-ers Genesis in the later part of 1977, guitarist Steve Hackett forged a successful solo career during the ensuing five decades. His back catalog now spans more than 30 albums, covering a range of diverse musical styling. And this prolific output demonstrates the extraordinary versatility of Hackett within both the electric and acoustic guitar realm.

While along the way he has dabbled in various other projects, such as the short-lived supergroup GTR he co-founded with Yes guitarist Steve Howe in 1985, but it’s his solo career that has remained a constant throughout.

His newest release, Under a Mediterranean Sky, is Hackett’s first acoustic solo album since Tribute in 2008 and takes inspiration from his extensive travels around the Mediterranean with his wife, Jo. Goldmine recently spoke to Hackett to discuss the new album and to reflect on some of his past glories.

GOLDMINE: Listening to Under a Mediterranean Sky took me on a sonic journey, painting visual imagery with its music, and creating a yearning to travel or tour to distant lands, something that due to the pandemic is not possible.