Anyone who lived through the 70s and 80s will remember Genesis – one of the greatest rock acts of their time.
With an astounding 150 million records sold worldwide, the band made it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010, and has hundreds of thousands of fans of all ages spread around the globe.
Those in the Algarve will have their chance to rekindle old memories on May 30, when Steve Hackett, the band’s former songwriter guitarist, takes to the stage at Centro de Congressos do Arade in Lagoa, as part of the ‘Genesis Extended 2014 World Tour’.
A real Genesis legend – Hackett belonged to the band in the 70s heyday, performing with Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford – the 64-year-old was kind enough to tell us what impelled him onto this latest tour.
“Well, first of all I love playing live. Plus, Genesis is no longer an active band, but people still want to hear their songs. They go wild when they do,” he told us, “even more than when we were playing back in the 70s…”
Since then, Hackett has been busy pursuing a successful solo career. He explains this latest tour is all about reliving “a tremendous amount of passionate tunes”.
“I didn’t have to do this – but I really wanted to relive the Genesis’ earlier years, when there was more of a storytelling atmosphere as opposed to the pop singles the band launched later in their career,” he said.
His concert in Lagoa will be the last of this stretch of the tour in Europe, which he says has been going “very well”.
“It is the third time we’ve played some of these places in Europe, and still people can’t seem to get enough,” he said.
“I’m playing alongside a very experienced and gifted band,” he added, praising his crew for the “great stage production” they have been putting on night after night.
But how does he feel about the change in today’s music industry, with the dawn of online downloads, shrinking record sales, and the globalisation of music via the internet?
“It’s a much more competitive world these days,” he agreed. “It is still possible to ‘make it’, but you have to knock on all the doors – even the wrong ones.
“Still, I believe that if anyone is truly talented, they will be noticed.”
Hackett told us that he himself was halfway through the recording process of his next solo album, which should be completed in June and July this year.
But for now, he is focused on ending this leg of the Genesis Revisited tour “with a bang”.
“All I can tell my Portuguese fans is that I’m really looking forward to the show on May 30. It’s going to be great!”
The concert in the Algarve, scheduled to start at 9.30pm, is a Ritmos & Blues production, prom oted by the regional tourism board.
Tickets cost €25 and can be purchased online at www.blueticket.pt or at the venue on the day.
By MICHAEL BRUXO [email protected]
