Steve Hackett – former lead guitarist with prog rock giants Genesis –- is coming to the Cliffs Pavilion this month, to celebrate his latest chart album and his many years in the music business.

The set list will cover a huge part of his discography, with a selection of solo material from early album, including Voyage of the Acolyte – which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year – and a set of Genesis classics which he hasn’t played for years.

These days he tours and writes songs with his wife, Jo, a writer who he describes as a fantastic creative partner, as well as someone to hold hands with.

“Touring isn’t so great when you’re on your own” he said, “but having my wife with me makes it so much better.”

Steve, a renowned and skilled guitarist, first picked up the the instrument aged 12 when he dad bought him one.

He says: “For years before I played the harmonica, and then my dad realised I was getting serious about music when I asked for a chromatic model.

“We emigrated to Vancouver, but came back because my mum missed England. We brought a guitar back with us.

“I was frustrated with it because it was too big for me, but I just about got my arms around it and learned what chords I could.

“I realised I needed to be able to play the finger style so gradually converted to that over the decades.

“Although I never had a teacher, I was keen to learn and would watch a lot, so the people I was watching became my teachers in a way, like the young Peter Green, who I would watch, or John Mayall.

“It seemed different in those days looking back. The music scene took place across pubs, and no one was so big you couldn’t get up close and watch them.”

I asked Steve if, by having no formal tutor, the freedom contributed to the style which has become his.

He says: “I think you’re right. I was talking to a guy the other night about this.

“I think not having a teacher allowed me to find my own way.

“You need character as well as technique. I would have never come up with tapping if I had been taught properly. I was doing that in 1971. Eddie Van Halen said he was influenced by my tapping technique – and these were things I discovered by doing thing wrong.”

It was that time that Steve was in Genesis, helping them define their sound.

Even so he had an urge to create his own music and while still in the band, released Voyage of the Acolyte, which reached number 26 in the UK album chart and achieved silver sales status in the UK.

Assisting with the recording were Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford.

It was after its success and Steve’s taste of making it as a successful solo artist, that he started to become more frustrated with being in Genesis and the limitations he found in sharing the creative process.

He says: “There were four or five writers in Genesis so you couldn’t have it all your own way.

“After that the floodgates were open really. It was hard to go back, after having a hit album of my own.

“The fact is that there is only so long most bands are going to stay together, most of them won’t stay together forever because the members do develop and grow.

“It’s only when you’re about 19 you think that way, although I do think that’s great, being 19 Steve’s taste of making it as a successful solo artist, that he started to become more frustrated with being in Genesis and the limitations he found in sharing the creative process.

He says: “There were four or five writers in Genesis so you couldn’t have it all your own way.

“After that the floodgates were open really. It was hard to go back, after having a hit album of my own.

“The fact is that there is only so long most bands are going to stay together, most of them won’t stay together forever because the members do develop and grow.

“It’s only when you’re about 19 you think that way, although I do think that’s great, being 19 and it all being perfect for that time.”

The line-up for the tour will be Roger King on keyboards, Gary O’Toole on drums, Rob Townsend on sax, Roine Stolt on bass and 12- string guitar, Nad Sylvan on vocals and Steve on guitar and vocals. Vocalist and guitarist Amanda Lehmann will join some of the shows as special guest.

Steve says: “I’m looking forward tremendously to creating a show celebrating both early material and my latest album, using magical surround sound.

“We’re also involving a whole new set of Genesis Classics, including several numbers I’ve not played since the Seventies, such as Can-Utility and the Coastliners, Cinema Show, Lamb Lies Down On Broadway and Get 'em Out By Friday.”

“The first half will be my solo stuff, my albums and stuff from the box set of the Charisma recordings, such as the recently released box set Premonitions which includes my first six albums on the Charisma label, together with a wealth of previously unavailable recordings and remixes by Steven Wilson.

“The second half will be a set of Genesis songs.”

ýý The gig takes place at the Cliffs Pavilion on Saturday October 31 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £29.50 and £27.50. For further information and booking, visit southend theatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135.