Steve Hackett is an English guitarist, songwriter, and composer with an estimated net worth of $20 million. He is best known as the lead guitarist of the legendary progressive rock band Genesis, where he performed between 1971 and 1977.
Beyond Genesis, Hackett has built a highly successful solo career spanning five decades. He has released dozens of albums, toured internationally, collaborated with renowned musicians, and earned recognition as one of progressive rock’s most innovative guitarists.
| Steve Hackett Net Worth | $20 Million |
| Date of Birth | February 12, 1950 |
| Place of Birth | London, England |
Early Life
Steve Hackett was born on February 12, 1950, in London, England, to parents June and Peter Hackett.
He grew up alongside his younger brother, John Hackett, who also became a professional musician.
During part of his childhood, the family lived in Vancouver, Canada, before returning to England.
Hackett began playing guitar at the age of 12 and was influenced by a wide range of music, including classical composer Johann Sebastian Bach and Italian tenor Mario Lanza.
Early Music Career
Before joining Genesis, Hackett played with several bands during the late 1960s, including:
- Canterbury Glass
- Heel Pier
- Sarabande
He later joined Quiet World, performing on the group’s only studio album, The Road, before leaving in search of new opportunities.
Joining Genesis
In 1970, Hackett placed an advertisement in Melody Maker magazine looking for a new band.
The advert caught the attention of Peter Gabriel, who invited him to audition for Genesis following the departure of guitarist Anthony Phillips.
Hackett successfully joined the group, becoming part of the classic lineup alongside:
- Peter Gabriel
- Tony Banks
- Mike Rutherford
- Phil Collins
His first Genesis album was Nursery Cryme (1971), where his distinctive guitar style immediately stood out.
Success with Genesis
Hackett played on several of Genesis’ most celebrated albums, including:
- Nursery Cryme (1971)
- Foxtrot (1972)
- Selling England by the Pound (1973)
- The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974)
- A Trick of the Tail (1976)
- Wind & Wuthering (1976)
His innovative use of tapping and sweep picking techniques helped shape progressive rock guitar playing.
One of his most acclaimed performances is the iconic guitar solo on Firth of Fifth, which remains one of Genesis’ signature recordings.
After growing frustrated with limited creative input, Hackett left Genesis in 1977 during the production of the live album Seconds Out.
In 2010, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis.
Solo Career
Hackett began his solo career while still a member of Genesis with Voyage of the Acolyte (1975).
The album featured fellow Genesis members Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford and became a commercial success.
Following his departure from Genesis, Hackett continued releasing acclaimed albums, including:
- Please Don’t Touch!
- Spectral Mornings
- Defector
- Cured
- Highly Strung
- Bay of Kings
- Till We Have Faces
His 1980 album Defector became his highest-charting solo release in the UK.
Throughout the following decades, Hackett continued expanding his musical style with rock, classical, blues, and acoustic projects.
Among his notable later releases are:
- Genesis Revisited
- Darktown
- Beyond the Shrouded Horizon
- Genesis Revisited II
- Wolflight
- The Night Siren
- At the Edge of Light
- Under a Mediterranean Sky
- Surrender of Silence
- The Circus and the Nightwhale
His Genesis Revisited albums have become fan favorites, allowing him to reinterpret classic Genesis songs with modern musicians.
Other Musical Projects
In 1985, Hackett formed the supergroup GTR with guitarist Steve Howe.
The band’s self-titled album reached the Top 20 in the United States and featured the successful single When the Heart Rules the Mind.
Hackett has also enjoyed a long-running collaboration with Hungarian jazz-rock group Djabe, performing on numerous studio and live recordings.
He has also worked with his brother John on several classical and acoustic projects, including the tribute album Sketches of Satie.
Personal Life
Steve Hackett married Ellen Busse in 1972, and the couple had a son named Oliver before divorcing two years later.
In 1981, he married Brazilian artist Kim Poor. Their marriage ended in 2007 and was followed by a lengthy legal dispute involving royalty payments.
Hackett married author Jo Lehmann in 2011.
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