The irrepressible former Genesis guitarist STEVE HACKETT announces his 2020 North America Tour. Setting off February 26th, 2020, Steve and his band will perform 17 shows in the U.S and Canada.
For the first time ever, Steve will perform the seminal Genesis album Selling England By The Pound in its entirety. Released in 1973, the album went to No. 3 in the UK charts and has been described as ‘the definitive Genesis album.’ It includes fan favorites such as Dancing with the Moonlit Knight, Firth of Fifth, Cinema Show and, of course, I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe). Other favorite classic Genesis tracks will also feature in the show.
2019 marked the 40th anniversary of one of Steve’s most popular solo albums Spectral Mornings, and Steve will rightly celebrate this milestone by performing masterpieces from the album.
Steve explains, “I’m thrilled to be performing the whole of my favourite Genesis album, SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND, which caught the attention of John Lennon in 1973. I felt that I was now playing guitar in the world’s best band, and everything was opening up for us… Also I look forward to playing all the favorite songs from SPECTRAL MORNINGS, marking its anniversary, plus new album tasters, as well as additional Genesis gems in a terrific grand slam!”
Canada and U.S Tour dates are as follows:
2/26/2020 Jubilee Auditorium Calgary, Alberta, Canada
2/27/2020 Winspear Centre Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
3/1/2020 Burton Cummings Theatre Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
3/4/20 The Fillmore Detroit Detroit, MI
3/6/20 Warner Theatre Washington, DC
3/7/20 Bergen Performing Arts Center Englewood, NJ
3/11/20 The Academy of Music Northampton, MA
3/12/20 Miller Symphony Hall Allentown, PA
3/13&14/20 Scottish Rite Auditorium Collingswood, NJ
3/15/20 Whitaker Center Harrisburg, PA
3/17/20 Carolina Theatre Durham, NC
3/19/20 The Variety Playhouse Atlanta, GA
3/20/20 Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Ponte Vedra, FL
3/21/20 The Plaza Live Orlando, FL
3/22/20 Capitol Theatre Clearwater, FL
3/24/20 Parker Playhouse Ft Lauderdale, FL
Joining Steve on the tour are his regular musicians Roger King (keyboards), Jonas Reingold (bass), Rob Townsend (saxes/flutes) with Nad Sylvan on vocals. Craig Blundell (Steven Wilson, King Crimson, Iron Maiden) will be on drums & percussion – he was voted by Modern Drummer and Rhythm Magazine readers as one of the top progressive and forward thinking drummers in the world…
Canadian heavy music artist Devin Townsend recently announced the release of his forthcoming new album ‘EMPATH’ for the 29th March 2019, and today sees the launch of the first single from the album.
Watch the epic new video for ‘Genesis’ here:
Devin comments:
Hey all 🙂
It’s with great pride (and a healthy dose of trepidation) that I can finally present to you a song from the EMPATH record. In each album cycle there is the dilemma over which track we ‘lead’ with, not only to get people excited, but also to give an accurate overview of the project.
As the musical nature of EMPATH shifts from track to track, (from musical theater, death metal, prog free jazz and more commercial things) it was a hard decision. Some people wanted the relatively straightforward song ‘Spirits Will Collide’ while others wanted a more cinematic banging track like ‘Evermore’. We ultimately chose to go with the opening track ‘Genesis’ as it not only features around 5 different stylistic shifts (some quite jarring, to be fair 🙂 but also includes all three drummers, the choir, the orchestra, and basically the kitchen sink as well.
This song is ultimately about facing fear, as well as analysing one’s relationship with one’s past in order to progress. The record has an overarching theme of what I like to view as ‘hope’ in chaotic times. I have been working on this record for more than a year, and it represents a kind of shift for me in my personal and professional world that I am quite proud of. It’s the first time in quite a few years I have made an album like this, and I think if nothing else, ‘Genesis’ represents the chaotic nature of the project (and the world at large currently) in the most accurate way I can do at this stage of life.
I’d like to thank the entire team of wonderful musicians and artists who helped me actualize this material, as well as Inside Out records and Northern Music for their help and support.
Mid-life-crisis-core!
Devin 🙂
He also recently announced dates for the ‘EMPATH Europe – Volume 1’tour. The full list of dates are as follows:
15th November – Salle Pleyel, Paris, France
16th November – Trix, Antwerp, Belgium
17th November – 013, Tilburg, Netherlands
18th November – Grunspan, Hamburg, Germany
20th November – Logomo, Turku, Finland
21st November – Cirkus, Helsinki, Finland
23rd November – Münchenbryggeriet, Stockholm, Sweden
24th November – Sentrum Scene, Oslo, Norway
25th November – Amager Bio, Copenhagen, Denmark
27th November – Astra, Berlin, Germany
28th November – Roxy, Prague, Czech Republic
29th November – A2, Wroclaw, Poland
30th November – Barba Negra, Budapest, Hungary
2nd December – Simm City, Vienna, Austria
3rd December – X Tra, Zurich, Switzerland
6th December – Academy, Dublin, Ireland
7th December – Limelight, Belfast, UK
9th December – SWG3 Galvanisers, Glasgow, UK
10th December – Albert Hall, Manchester, UK
12th December – Roundhouse, London, UK
13th December – Rock City, Nottingham, UK
In the lead up to the album’s release, Devin will walk fans through how EMPATH came together with a series of documentary episodes recorded as phone conversations during the course of the albums recording. Watch the first episode of that series here: https://youtu.be/y4sJ8odko2Y
Two days prior to the release of EMPATH, on 27th March, a special cinema screening of the documentary will take place in London at the Everyman Screen on the Green. Devin will be in attendance to give a live commentary to the film, and to answer fans questions afterwards. Tickets are available here: https://www.everymancinema.com/screen-on-the-green/film-info/devin-townsend-empath-documentary
Over the past few years, the success that Devin has slowly worked for has fortunately come with the power to control his own creative destiny. The recent successes with the DVD from a sold-out Royal Albert hall, or his 2012 ‘Retinal Circus’, or last year’s ‘Ocean Machine’ live DVD with the Orchestra and Choir of State Opera Plovdiv has put him in a position where with the new album EMPATH, he will once and for all define himself as a musical force outside of any particular genre classification.
On this album Devin has decided to see what would happen if all the styles that make up his current interests were finally represented in one place. To finally shake the fear of expectation, and just do what it is he was meant to do creatively, EMPATH, true to the name, is about allowing the audience a feeling for a variety of musical emotions. The musical dynamics represented on this single album are broad, challenging, and immense. To approach this sort of work with a long history of what makes heavy music ‘heavy’, allows this to be done with a type of power rarely heard.
Joining Devin on this album is Frank Zappa alumni Mike Keneally as music director, as well as Morgan Ågren (Mats And Morgan, Frank Zappa, Fredrik Thordendal), Anup Sastry (Monuments, Periphery), Samus Paulicelli (Decrepit Birth, Abigail Williams), Nathan Navarro, Elliot Desagnes, Steve Vai, Chad Kroeger,Anneke Van Giersbergen, Ché Aimee Dorval, Ryan Dhale and the Elektra Women’s Choir.
A bold statement with massive production values and dynamic, uncompromised musicality. This is a statement about not only pursuing creative freedom in a conservative scene, but also trying to show that heavy music is truly a valid musical tool.
‘EMPATH’ will be released on Limited 2 CD Digipak in O-Card (including an entire disc of bonus material), Standard CD Jewelcase, Gatefold 180G 2LP Vinyl + CD + LP-booklet & as digital album. Pre-order now here: https://devin-townsend.lnk.to/Empath
The full track-listing is as follows:
1. Castaway
2. Genesis
3. Spirits Will Collide
4. Evermore
5. Sprite
6. Hear Me
7. Why
8. Borderlands
9. Requiem
10. Singularity Part 1 – Adrift
11. Singularity Part 2 – I Am I
12. Singularity Part 3 – There Be Monsters
13. Singularity Part 4 – Curious Gods
14. Singularity Part 5 – Silicon Scientists
15. Singularity Part 6 – Here Comes The Sun
Last year Devin announced a special ‘An Evening With’ tour that would see him performing acoustically, as well as taking part in a fan Q&A at each show.
The full list of dates are as follows, many of which are already sold out:
7th March – The Piano Man Jazz Club, New Delhi, India SOLD OUT
8th March – Levi’s Lounge, Mumbai, India SOLD OUT
22nd March – Prognosis Festival, Eindhoven, Netherlands – Guitar Clinic
23rd March – Prognosis Festival, Eindhoven, Netherlands – Production Clinic & performance
29th March – Savoy Theater, Helsinki, Finland SOLD OUT
30th March – Savoy Theater, Helsinki, Finland SOLD OUT
31st March – Sodra Teatern, Stockholm, Sweden SOLD OUT
1st April – Edderkoppen, Oslo, Norway SOLD OUT
2nd April – Bremen Theater, Copenhagen, Denmark SOLD OUT
4th April – PassionKirchhe, Berlin, Germany
5th April – Stodola, Warsaw, Poland
6th April – La Fabrica, Prague, Czech Republic SOLD OUT
7th April – Freiheiz, Munich, Germany SOLD OUT
9th April – Kulturkirche, Cologne, Germany SOLD OUT
10th April – Grunspan, Hamburg, Germany SOLD OUT
11th April – Bravo Kerk, Haarlem, Netherlands SOLD OUT
13th April – Reading 3, Tel Aviv, Israel
24th April – Bush Hall, London, UK SOLD OUT
25th April – Bush Hall, London, UK SOLD OUT
26th April – St George’s, Bristol, UK SOLD OUT
27th April – City Varieties, Leeds, UK SOLD OUT
29th April – Jam House, Edinburgh, UK SOLD OUT
30th April – Glee Club, Birmingham, UK SOLD OUT
Guitar virtuoso and rock legend, Steve Hackett (formerly of Genesis), is set to release his latest album ‘The Night Siren’ on March 24th, 2017 through InsideOut Music (Sony). As implied in the title, ‘The Night Siren’ is a wake-up call… the warning of a siren sounding in this era of strife and division.
Just recently Steve Hackett revealed the first track from the album, titled ‘In The Skeleton Gallery’, which you can hear below:
Steve had this to say about the song: “I’m excited by the imminent release of my new album, The Night Siren, which includes this track, “In The Skeleton Gallery”. You know that ancient childhood night terror which creeps up on you in a dark moment when you’re least expecting it… This track moves from a dream-like groove with a Middle Eastern tinged accompaniment through to a sinister march and on to an out-there nightmare ride, before the child’s box of tricks reclaims it and the lid is finally closed…”
‘The Night Siren’ showcases Steve’s incredible guitar playing as strongly as ever, along with musicians from several different countries who Steve invited to join him in celebrating multicultural diversity and unity. This includes singers from Israel and Palestine, who both actively campaign to bring Jewish and Arabic people together. There are also instrumentals from the USA and Iraq and a multiplicity of sounds, including the exotic strains of Indian sitar and Middle Eastern tar and oud, the ethnic beauty of the Peruvian charango and the haunting Celtic Uilleann pipes.
Steve is widely travelled, making friends everywhere he goes and has always embraced multicultural diversity. In these times of unrest, he has been inspired to express his belief that the world needs more empathy and unity. His wish to involve a range of musical sounds, instruments, musicians and singers from different parts of the world is both a development of his eclectic approach to music and shows how people can be brought together, even from war torn regions.
Talking about his latest work, Steve says, “This latest waxing represents a bird’s eye view of the world of a musical migrant ignoring borders and celebrating our common ancestry with a unity of spirit, featuring musicians, singers and instruments from all over the world. From territorial frontiers to walled-up gateways, boundaries often hold back the tide. But while the night siren wails, music breaches all defences. To quote Plato, ‘When the music changes, the walls of the city shake’.”
The musical journey takes us from ‘Behind the Smoke’, focusing on the plight of refugees throughout the ages, to the penultimate track ‘West to East’ which reflects on the damage of war and the hope for a better world. From personal to universal, the themes celebrate the life force, breaking free from chains of repression.
‘The Night Siren’ will be available as a special edition CD/Blu-Ray Mediabook featuring 5.1 surround sound & “making of” documentary, Standard jewelcase CD, Gatefold 2LP vinyl + CD & digital download.
Behind The Smoke
Martian Sea
Fifty Miles from the North Pole
El Niño
Other Side of the Wall
Anything But Love
Inca Terra
In Another Life
In The Skeleton Gallery
West to East
The Gift
In addition to singers Kobi and Mira (Israeli and Palestinian), also featured on the album are Nick D’Virgilio (drums) from the USA, Malik Mansurov (Tar) from Azerbaijan & Gulli Breim (drums & percussion) from Iceland, along with regular Hackett collaborators: Roger King, Nad Sylvan, Gary O’Toole, Rob Townsend and Amanda Lehmann. Additional musicians who add to the rich flavour of the album are Christine Townsend (violin & viola), Dick Driver (double bass) and Troy Donockley (Celtic Uilleann).
Steve Hackett is returning with an exciting new show Genesis Revisited with Classic Hackett for both UK/European & US tour dates. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the classic Genesis album ‘Wind and Wuthering’, Steve and his band will be performing several tracks from the album as well as fan favourites such as ‘The Musical Box’ and other Genesis numbers never performed before by Steve’s band including ‘Inside & Out’ and ‘Anyway’ as well as material from ‘The Night Siren’.
Genesis Revisited with Classic Hackett 2017 Canada and U.S tour dates:
Tuesday, February 14th City Winery Nashville, TN
Wednesday, February 15th City Winery Nashville, TN
Friday, February 17th Victoria Theater Newark, NJ
Saturday, February 18th State Theatre Ithaca, NY
Wednesday,February 22nd Ridgefield Playhouse Ridgefield, CT
Thursday, February, 23rd NYCB Westbury, NY
Friday, February 24th Santander PAC Reading, PA,
Saturday, February 25th Playstation Theater New York, NY
Sunday, February 26th Wilbur Theatre Boston, MA
Tuesday, February 28th 20 Monroe Live Grand Rapids, MI
Wednesday, March 1st Royal Oak Music Theatre Royal Oak, MI
Thursday, March 2nd The Oakville Centre Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Friday, March 3rd Kleinhans Music Hall Buffalo, NY
When Experimental Post Metallers KRAKOW walked into the Solslottet and Duper Studio with producer Iver Sandøy to record what would become “amaran”, their 3rd full-length album, they had a total of ten tracks in mind – seven of which made it onto the finished album. The remaining three tracks proved to be perfect examples of the more aggressive and direct side of the band, but did not really fit in with the overall atmosphere of the album, so they were put to one side, ready to be used when the time was right, whilst everyone sat back and watched the plaudits come rolling in when “amaran” hit the streets in February of 2015 on Dark Essence Records.
And the time is now right to let the fans hear those three, never-before heard, tracks . Dark Essence will release them, together with the track “genesis” from “amaran” on the 7th August as a 7″ EP, which will be strictly limited to 300 copies, as well as in digital format. The EP, which is titled “genesis” will hit the streets just in time for the band’s appearance at Oslo’s Øya Festival on Saturday 15 August, and is now available to pre-order from http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/artist/krakow
Artwork for the “Genesis” is by Thomas Hooper. Track listing as follows:
Founding member of GENESIS, Tony Banks, is to release A Chord Too Far as a four-disc boxset, that brings together selected songs from his celebrated solo career. Released on Esoteric Recordings, a Cherry Red Records label, on July 31st.
With a tracklist personally selected by Tony, this special edition set consists of 49 songs and pieces, many of which have been remixed exclusively for this collection, and are from his seven solo and two orchestral albums – A Curious Feeling (1979), The Fugitive (1983), The Wicked Lady (1983) (film score), Soundtracks (1986) (a combination of original scores Tony wrote for films Starship and Quicksilver), Bankstatement (1989), Still (1991), Strictly Inc (1995), and his orchestral albums Seven: A Suite for Orchestra (2004) and SIX Pieces for Orchestra (2012) – culminating in this unique collection of his eclectic and diverse music. Also included are four unreleased pieces, three of which are keyboard demos of from his orchestral suites. The other is a piece originally written for the ‘Still’ album.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010 as a member of Genesis, Tony is one of the most respected songwriters and keyboardists in the world. His career spans almost 50 years and has seen him sell in excess of 130 million albums. His body of work is as innovative as it is eclectic. Genesis’ avant-garde style made them one of progressive rock’s founding fathers in the 1970s, creating an experimental style of rock music never before seen. They went on to produce music with a greater pop sensibility in the 1980s that saw them become one of the biggest selling bands of the decade, and play stadiums throughout the world.
His solo work has continued in the same vein. As well as his rock albums which has included collaborations with some of the world’s most respected musicians including singers Toyah Wilcox, Fish and Nick Kershaw, bassist Pino Pallodino, and drummers Steve Gadd and Vinnie Colaiuta, as well as long time Genesis collaborators Daryl Stuermer and Chester Thompson. He has done original scores for four films – The Shout (1978), The Wicked Lady (1983), Starship (1985) and Quicksilver (1986) and most recently his orchestral albums, Seven: A Suite for Orchestra and SIX Pieces for Orchestra, that were performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra respectively. Both were met with critical acclaim with classical music aficionados, Gramaphone Magazine, saying “A rock musician goes ‘classical’ – with pleasing and often effective results… for Banks has a genuine melodic gift… The recording is good, … acceptably spacious …”.
A Chord Too Far is a celebration of Tony’s work outside of Genesis, and the beginning of re-releases of remixed versions of his entire solo and orchestral catalog… A Curious Feeling and The Fugitive are set to be released at the end of October, with The Wicked Lady and Soundtracks at the end of January 2016. Further detail will be announced soon on his other albums.
A Chord Too Far, is released on July 31st, 2015 on Esoteric Recordings, a Cherry Red Records label.
CD One
Rebirth – Taken From Soundtracks
At The Edge Of Night – Taken From The Fugitive
Walls Of Sound – Taken From Strictly Inc.
Lion Of Symmetry – Taken From Soundtracks
The More I Hide It – Taken From Bankstatement
Shortcut To Somewhere – Taken From Soundtracks
The Waters Of Lethe – Taken From A Curious Feeling
I Wanna Change The Score – Taken From Still
Water Out Of Wine – Taken From Still
Something To Live For – Taken From Strictly Inc.
By You – Taken From The Fugitive
Never Let Me Know – Taken From Strictly Inc.
Thirty Three’s – Taken From The Fugitive
CD Two
Charity Balls – Taken From Strictly Inc.
An Island In The Darkness – Taken From Strictly Inc.
The Border – Taken From Bankstatement
Lucky Me – Taken From A Curious Feeling
Another Murder Of A Day – Taken From Still
Moving Under – Taken From The Fugitive
Still It Takes Me By Surprise – Taken From Still
Red Day On Blue Street – Taken From Still
After The Lie – Taken From A Curious Feeling
Redwing – Taken From Soundtracks
CD Three
Queen Of Darkness – Taken From Bankstatement
A Piece Of You – Taken From Strictly Inc.
Big Man – Taken From Bankstatement
Angel Face – Taken From Still
This Is Love – Taken From The Fugitive
I’ll Be Waiting – Taken From Bankstatement
Back To Back – Taken From Still
For A While – Taken From A Curious Feeling
Throwback – Taken From Bankstatement
You Call This Victory – Taken From Soundtracks
And The Wheels Keep Turning – Taken From The Fugitive
You – Taken From A Curious Feeling
The Final Curtain – Taken From Still
CD Four
Blade – Taken From Six Pieces For Orchestra
Black Down – Taken From Seven
Siren – Taken From Six Pieces For Orchestra
Earthlight – Taken From Seven
From The Undertow – Taken From A Curious Feeling
Spring Tide**
Neap Tide**
City Of Gold**
The Chase Taken From The Wicked Lady
Kit Taken From The Wicked Lady
Poppet
The Wicked Lady – Taken From The Wicked Lady
According to Bravewords.com, Four years after back injuries caused him to stop playing the drums, and three years since the release of his last solo album, PHIL COLLINS says he’s considering returning to the stage, possibly even as part of a GENESIS reunion, reports Vic’s Drum Shop.
Collins revealed that he has “…started thinking about doing new stuff… maybe playing some shows again, even with Genesis. Everything is possible. We could tour in Australia and South America. We haven’t been there yet.”
Besides the spinal injuries that caused him to put down his drumsticks, Colllins’ retirement came about partially so he could spend more time with his young children. However it’s those two sons, 12-year-old Nicholas and 8-year-old Matthew, who are reportedly most eager to see their father take the stage again.
Collins has not played live since 2010 and not with the rest of Genesis since 2007. His most recent solo effort was the 2010 covers set Going Back, with his last set of originals being 2002’s Testify.
Collins’s tenure with Genesis runs all the way back to 1971’s Nursery Cryme and found him jumping from behind the drum kit into frontman duties following the departure of PETER GABRIEL in 1976. Over the years, the band eased from their early prog leanings into a smoother, soft rock sound. Genesis’s last official studio album was 1997’s Calling All Stations.
