Steve Hackett: Genesis Reunion Could Work Despite Phil Collins' Health

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett says a Genesis reunion would not necessarily require Phil Collins to take up his seat behind the drums again.

Collins has wrestled with back problems in recent years which have limited his ability to play drums. In his recent solo performances, Collins sings from a chair for most of his set, while his son Nicholas plays drums.

Hackett was asked on a recent Ken Dashow's Beatles Revolution podcast if a similar arrangement could work in Genesis.

"Theoretically it's possible," Hackett said, "but there are no plans [of a reunion]."

You can listen to the full podcast below.

Hackett assured the show that he's open to one more go-around with Genesis, just like keyboardist Tony Banks recently declared.

Banks recently said he was considering a reunion after seeing Collins' live. 

"Phil is out there again, which is fantastic...a year or two ago I would have thought he was never going to be out there again," said Banks. "He found a way to do it. It involves quite a static performance, but his voice sounds great, and his music still sounds fantastic and everything."

Banks added that he, Collins and bassist Mike Rutherford have remained close over the years. 

Even if the band never again performs as a unit, Hackett says he's proud of what it accomplished. 

"I prefer to concentrate on the positives, and say what a fine collection of songwriters they were, [not just] collectively, but individually as well," Hackett said of his former bandmates. "I can't really be anymore positive than that. I know we'd all love to turn the clock back."

Hackett joined Genesis in 1971 and left in 1976 to pursue his own solo career. 

He says that after a prolific career outside of Genesis in which he mostly shied away from the band's music, he's enjoyed revisiting those songs in his live repertoire.  

Hackett just released his Wuthering Nights: Live in Birmingham album, in which he celebrates Genesis' 1976 Wind & Wuthering album

"I do honor the music," Hackett says. "Fifty percent of what I play live is Genesis these days; that's how it's been now for a number of years."

Get more information about Hackett's new tour and latest releases here


Photo: Getty Images


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