Steve Hackett – Shadow Of The Hierophant

British guitarist, composer and arranger. In the years 1971 (actually from December 1970) – 1977 he was a member of the band Genesis. Then he decided on a solo career. A precursor of tapping (especially two-handed) – a technique of playing stringed instruments, widespread primarily in playing the electric guitar. Alex Lifeson (Rush) and Brian May admit their fascination with his work.

Hackett was born on February 12, 1950, in London’s Pimlico district. He grew up in a musical environment, from an early age in contact with the harmonica and flute. Interestingly, he began to show interest in the guitar at the age of twelve.

He took his first professional steps in two bands – Canterbury Glass and in Saraband. Both played rock music with elements of progressive music.

In December 1970, Peter Gabriel invited Steve Hackett to a Genesis concert. It was then that cooperation with this band began. The first Genesis album on which we can hear Steve Hacket is “Nursery Cryme”. Recording released in November 1971.

In 1973, the group recorded the album “Selling England by the Pound”, which is one of the most important long plays in rock music of the 20th century. It was also an opportunity to present again the perfected tapping technique. The first time we can hear on this album “sweep picking”. When sweep picking, the guitarist plays single notes on consecutive strings with a ‘sweeping’ motion of the pick, while using the fretting hand to produce a specific series of notes that are fast and fluid in sound. Both hands essentially perform an integral motion in unison to achieve the desired effect.

In October 1977 Hackett left Genesis and began a solo career. He successfully continues his solo career, adding more electronic and acoustic sounds since the 90s.

Watched it over and over again, goose bumps! What a performance!