The legendary guitarist brings his “Genesis Revisited: Foxtrot at Fifty + Hackett Highlights” tour to West Michigan on Saturday night. The Local Spins interview.

Returning to Michigan: Steve Hackett will make a Kalamazoo stop on his spring North American tour. (Photo/Jamie Geysbeek)
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Steve Hackett could be forgiven for resting on his laurels.
With more than 50 releases under his name or as collaborative efforts, plus numerous guest spots and seven albums with rock legend Genesis during its golden progressive era, he doesn’t have anything left to prove.
He does, however, still have plenty to say. The 73-year-old shows no sign of slowing down, and has just released his latest album, “The Circus and the Nightwhale.”
He’s also returned to the States to continue the seemingly never-ending “Genesis Revisited” tour dates, supporting the 1972 album, “Foxtrot.” The “Foxtrot at Fifty and Hackett Highlights” show will touch down at the State Theatre in Kalamazoo on Saturday (March 23). Advance tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show are $35 to $105, available online here. Day-of-show tickets are $40.50-$110.50.

A Terrific Achievement for Genesis: Hackett’s take on ‘Foxtrot.’ (Photo/Jamie Geysbeek)
“Foxtrot” was the first Genesis album to make the charts in the United Kingdom, and included the epic “Supper’s Ready,” still a fan favorite. Other standout tracks include “Can Utility and the Coastliners” and “Horizons,” Hackett’s guitar solo.
It opens with “Watcher of the Skies,” a sci-fi sojourn that became the set opener for Genesis for many years, with lead singer Peter Gabriel donning bat wings and a robe for the tune featuring the Phantom of the Opera-esque mellotron intro by Tony Banks.
“I think ‘Foxtrot’ was a terrific achievement for Genesis at that time,” Hackett says on his website. Fans do as well, as the cheers for the opening notes of both “Supper’s Ready” and “Watcher of the Skies” are some of the loudest at any Hackett concert. The dramatic rendition of the latter by Hackett and company features dynamic vocalist Nad Sylvan bringing the tale to life.
While fans of a certain age revel in the revitalization of the songs Genesis mostly disavowed as it became a pop juggernaut, Hackett’s solo material stands out in concert as well.
Over the years he’s played with folk icon Richie Havens, pop jazz vocalist Randy Crawford, Phil Ehart and Steve Walsh from Kansas, Yes stalwarts Steve Howe (in GTR) and Chris Squire (Squackett), and with a group featuring former members of Yes, King Crimson, Asia, Weather Report and Foreigner. His touring bands have evolved over the years to include musicians from across the musical pantheon.
His astonishing body of work includes the expected prog sounds, blues and various acoustic/classical albums. That includes “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” his interpretation of Shakespeare’s classic tale, which hit No. 1 on the classical charts. Hackett also has released a number of live albums, including one with his touring band accompanied by an orchestra. Many of his albums incorporate progressive rock, classical and world-beat influences.
That’s still the case with “The Circus and the Nightwhale,” which includes his current working band: Roger King (keyboards, programming, arrangements), Rob Townsend (sax, flute), Jonas Reingold (bass), Craig Blundell (drums), Amanda Lehmann (vocals) and Sylvan (vocals).
‘A TOUGH CHORE’ IN PICKING GENESIS SONGS & PLAYING NEW PLACES
Various guests beamed in their parts from Sweden, Austria, the U.S., Azerbaijan and Denmark, such as longtime friend and one-time Genesis drummer Nick D’Virgilio and Hackett’s former drummer Hugo Degenhardt, engineer Ben Fenner on keyboards and Hackett’s brother John Hackett on flute. Malik Mansurov returns on tar, the long-necked plucked lute.
“Djabe (the Hungarian group with which Hackett has performed numerous times) introduced me to Malik. He’s an absolute virtuoso playing the tar,” he says.
“I’m very, very happy with the guys. I’d give them a one-word clue, (like) to Rob on sax, ‘Play something anarchic.’ Craig and Jonas sound fabulous. Hugo I’d not worked with for years, but he tracked me down. Nick had worked with Cirque du Soleil, Big Big Train and did one tour when Craig was unavailable. I loved working with him.”

His New Album: “The Circus & The Nightwale”
“The Circus and the Nightwhale” was released Feb. 16. While he was a part of Genesis when it created the “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway,” Hackett says this is the first of his solo recordings that he’d describe as a concept album.
He describes it as an autobiographical concept album, a rite-of-passage story. “Fifteen years ago I had to extricate myself from a situation personally and professionally,” he says, which ultimately prompted this recording.
Though he doesn’t offer any specifics, it’s easy to conclude he is referencing the period of his life when he was going through a divorce, and his ex-wife and former manager filed suit for half his royalties; the subsequent suits and countersuits precluded him from writing or recording for years.
He says the circus is a metaphor for everything that goes on in life, while the nightwhale represents times when things get overwhelming and a person feels like “they’re going under and being swallowed by circumstances. It’s a fight for survival. It’s like a surreal film.”
Though the sound varies from abrasive to gentle, Hackett says, “I think of it as one track.”
Hackett says with such a bounty of solo material from which to draw as well as the classic Genesis tracks, pulling together a set list even for a generous 2½-hour show is a challenge. “It’s a tough chore, but it’s a good problem to have.”
This is the first time Hackett will play the historic confines of Kalamazoo’s State Theatre. His most recent shows in the area have been at GLC Live at 20 Monroe.
He says it’s up to management and promoters to find the best venue available for the open dates when he tours. He also tries to perform in areas where he hasn’t recently toured. “We want to play places we didn’t (before),” says Hackett.
He adds that he simply enjoys performing music for an appreciative audience, regardless of the circumstances.
“In London, we’re playing the Royal Albert Hall. That’s a biggie. On the other hand, with Djabe, we played a small club. For me, it’s all good.”
VIDEO: Steve Hackett, “Genesis Revisited” at Royal Albert Hall

On Tour: Steve Hackett and his band. (Photo/Lee Millward)