Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett discussed the band’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and why the evening was complex for a number of reasons, speaking on Ultimate Classic Rock.
Hackett was asked about the band’s decision not to perform at the ceremony. He explained that Phil Collins was unwell at the time, and the particular lineup had not worked together for many years.
The guitarist also reflected on what happened during the induction itself. “I know they wanted the band to perform, and at that point, you know, Phil was very unwell,” Hackett said. “That particular lineup of the band [also] had not worked together for very many years.”
Another artist spoke on behalf of Genesis at the event. “But the lovely thing was, you know, [Anastasio] got up and started saying nice things about not just Genesis, but also some of the techniques I’d come up with, and this was [his] opening salvo,” Hackett said. “I thought that the guys are sitting here having to listen to this, and they’re probably getting really peeved about this.”
Hackett then offered his perspective on the broader occasion. “But the fact is, we weren’t performing, and another band [that] was an American band was. Let me say straight away, I think that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a great American institution,” he continued. “We haven’t got anything like that in the U.K. The wonderful thing is that people are not just celebrated while they’re living, but also, when they pass. Some people get inducted too late to attend the ceremony, literally.”
Hackett’s comments came in the context of Genesis’s 2010 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The guitarist’s remarks highlight the various factors that shaped how the band’s honor was celebrated.
Genesis was inducted on March 15, 2010, with Trey Anastasio of Phish giving the induction speech and performing “Watcher of the Skies” and “No Reply at All” at the ceremony. Peter Gabriel, who sang lead on Genesis’s early albums, did not attend the event.
By 2010, Genesis had not worked together for several years. The band had toured in 2007 across Europe and North America, but Collins suffered a serious spinal injury during that tour that required surgery. The health complications from that injury affected him in the years that followed, contributing to the band’s decision not to perform at the induction ceremony.
The band would not tour again until 2021, when they launched The Last Domino? Tour. That reunion tour featured 47 shows across Europe and North America and marked their return to the stage after a 14-year gap following the 2007 performances.
