Spanish and Celtic sounds, romantic music promised for Hackett concerts

Steve Hackett, former guitarist of supergroup Genesis, has promised fans a unique acoustic set of Spanish and Celtic sounds with a dosage of romantic music during his two-night gig at the Manoel Theatre.

The guitar virtuoso said he was looking forward to "connect with his audience in every sense" as he plays his first ever concert in Malta.

"The trio is acoustic but occasionally sounds like a chamber orchestra. It will be evocative rather than threatening and in the main very peaceful, romantic music with an edge of production - but in a very subtle, subdued way," he said in an interview.

In an event organised by NnG Promotions, Hackett will play at the Manoel Theatre on Monday and, due to popular demand, an additional performance has been added on Tuesday.

Hackett was once one-fifth of Genesis in its heyday, when the band, composed of Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks as well as Hackett, sold albums by the millions.

During that period, the band released albums which have earned a name as all-time rock classics, such as Selling England by the Pound, Foxtrot and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.

Though he was often known as "the quiet one", Hackett was the first Genesis member to release a solo album, 1975's Voyage of the Acolyte.

Following Gabriel's departure from the band, Hackett followed suit and embarked on what turned out to be a successful career, lauded by critics for not having abandoned his creative style.

Credited with inventing the two-handed tapping technique, he has explored several musical ventures with a variety of diverse influences from classical to the progressive rock for which he is so well known.

Though he can be wildly experimental, the music somehow seems to remain accessible, from 1979's Spectral Mornings to 1986's A Midsummer Night's Dream, an interpretation of Shakespeare's play with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

"Fortunately I have already amassed many ideas I've yet to record. Change is a challenge for a musician, the same as an actor undertaking a different role," Steve said.

In fact, he has no regrets that he does not form part of a mainstream, chart-topping band.

"Music is always revealing itself in surprising ways and so I'm open to influence from every time and place. I don't understand commerciality when music is already such a rich reward in itself."

Hacket added that he did not miss 'band politics', adding that he had had his fair share of chart success when he teamed up with former Yes guitarist Steve Howe to form GTR.

"I'm not really a team player but more team leader or benevolent dictator. I always want my team members to shine individually."

These last few years have seen Hackett embark on a series of successful acoustic tours, playing in locations from Belgium to Estonia to Venezuela.

Asked how he felt about playing in the intimate surroundings of an old theatre in tiny Malta, Hackett was straight to the point:

"It's not the size that counts. We're all looking forward to Malta as there is such a brilliant heritage and we want to be 'in that postcard' and connect with people in every sense."

Renowned for his complex and distinctive guitar work, Hackett is currently touring with his brother John on flute, guitar and piano, and Roger King on keyboards.

Analysing the music scene today, Hackett believes that writers, players and performers now provided "quite separate functions", whereas back in the 70s, artists like Led Zeppelin, T Rex and David Bowie were ingrained with all the necessary skills.

But while several musicians of that era have packed it in, Hackett believes he still has a lot of music in him:

"Only when the good Lord himself pulls the plug on my activities will I give it all up. Hopefully, I'll be a fully functioning 100-year old one day - and perhaps that's the time to do a Rap record - or do I mean breakdancing?"