Genesis’ Steve Hackett revealed whether or not he hates heavy metal.
Appearing in a new interview with Ultimate Guitar to chat about his upcoming solo album, ‘The Circus and the Nightwhale,’ the rocker was asked if he hated heavy metal or not. As the founder of the tapping technique, he answered:
“Because I came up with tapping so early on, I was really handing something to a lot of the guitarists who were going to lead the charge with that type of band. I don’t dislike heavy metal, believe me. Whatever we choose to call it, whatever the subdivisions are – thrash this and death that and what have you.”
Hackett not only clarified that he does not hate heavy metal, in fact, he also explained that it was one of his influences:
“Metal, after all, that is what engaged me from the age of 12, 13, 14 onwards – getting to grips with steel. I discovered other types later on – nylon guitar, the feel of silk under your fingers. So yes, I am aware of those bands. I’ve been aware of heavy metal players very much.”
Hackett’s Involvements with Metal Musicians
Although Genesis was not considered metal, the band helped shape the progressive side of 80s thrash metal. Hackett himself too, was influenced by the heavy metal act. His influence helped him cross paths and even chat with a few metal musicians over the years, such as congratulating Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt for winning the European Guitar Awards. He also worked with Bettencourt, Paul Gilbert, and Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones on ‘Guitar Wars.’
‘You Can’t Do Anything New In Music’
In an earlier interview while sharing his thoughts about the composer who ‘invented’ heavy metal, the rocker claimed that nothing in music is new and that he does not believe anyone in music can do something completely original. However, he did say that one can adopt something from the past and make it feel fresh:
“So, it would be a mistake to think that anything that one could do in music is new. All you do is you put your own slant on it. So I’d like to demystify it and say that whatever I’ve done, I think with enough patient attention to detail, and working with great collaborators, I think that if everyone’s a detail freak, the music will get better.”
Chatting about the founder of heavy metal, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Hackett referred to his composition titled ‘1812 Overture,’ and explained it was metal because of the cannons going off. You can check out the track below.
