www.thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk OUT&ABOUT 3 MagpieWESTERN MORNING NEWS FRIDAY NOVEMBER 62of009 music is always on lookout

Steve Hackett loves Bach, blues and everything in between. The ex-Genesis guitarist tells Jackie Butler why Irish trio Ash hit the Westcountry Ash are burning as TSEEMS inevitable thatSteve Twickenham, is testament to his love brightly as ever on IHackett will forever be described for blurring the boundaries. as the “former Genesis guitarist”, “We have a substantially new set and even though the 32 yearssince he it seems to be going down really well,” their alphabet trail parted company with the famed prog says Steve, on the road in Germany rock outfit have overflowed with a ahead of his Westcountry dates this IRISH trio Ash are nearing the halfway mark in wealth of solo projects and innovative month. their unique A-Z tour of the UK which brings collaborations. “There’s amix of ancient Hackett their crunching guitar-fuelled sound to four Not that Steve is complaining; he is stuff and the more guitaryGenesis Westcountry venues this month, including The proud of his contribution to the mix from my era, too.We must be doing Hippo, Plymouth on Sunday. The tour ends during the seven years he spent in the something right because the audiences with a sell-out show in the village hall at company of Peter Gabriel, Phil seem to respond as well to the new Zennor, near St Ives in West Cornwall, and also Collins, Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks songs as the old ones.” stops off at Exmouth and Ye ovil. et al. And he does still playsome old He appreciates the emotional The alphabet theme is reflected in the Genesis numbers in his live shows –to significance of music,with each incredible tally of 26 Ash singles –each title the delight of loyal fans. generation responding to artists of beginning with a different letter of the alphabet But there is so much more in the their own era. –to be released fortnightly over the next 12 musical repertoire of this highly “For my mother’s generation it was months. respected guitarist and songwriter Frank Sinatra –hecould do no Rick McMurray, the band’s drummer, who delights in hopping from genre to wrong,” he says. “It’s nice to be part of explains: “It was pretty easy to come up with genre –everything from rock and blues that feeling.” the concept –all the hard work in sorting out the logistics was done by our agent. The songs to jazz and classical –and taking a Steve, who grew up in London’s have been locked away in a New Yo rk studio for magpie-like approach to combining Pimlico, recalls the life-changing about a year, while the tour was sorted –our them. experience of buying his very first biggest worry was that someone would come Steve’s considered and skilful guitar record –byThe Shadows –and later up with the idea ahead of us! playing lies at the centre of it all. No being able to tell Hank Marvin how getting over-excited and hanging from special that was to him. “Wereally like the idea of playing out of the the rafters or plucking strings with his way places where bigger bands don’t normally “It’s a powerful thing,” he adds. teeth for this mild-mannered musician go because people usually really appreciate it “When I went to see Buffy St Marie who started his Genesis years and the shows can be really special.” performing back in the early 1990s I conspicuously bespectacled, seated Sometimes, however, the concept can told her that I was listening to her and floor-gazing. backfire. when I was 15.” “I grew up listening to Bach and “We once asked fans to vote on our website to blues and I didn’t think there could be The SteveHackett liveshow is less suggest where we should performand found aband thatcombined the two, butin of aspectacle and more of a feast for ourselves in Ullapool in Scotland. I think there the 1970s it was all the rage,” he says. the imagination, with the music at its were far more votes (probably all from one fan!) “There was pressure to be a guitar heart –hedescribes his music as “a than people at the gig and those who did turn hero at the time, and a lot of bands film for the ear rather than the eye”. So up loved their whisky so much thatafter the were picking up the crumbs that while the performance may be static, show they were to be found asleep, in T- shirts, Hendrix left at the table. But the the atmosphere can be mesmerising. outside in the rain-drenched street…” goalposts were changing and I was “Our home is on the road. I have no As for coming up with a batch of new songs, interested in things that were more plans to retire –in fact I’m probably Rick says the process this time around was tightly arranged.” getting louder as I get older. really liberating. He placed an ad in amusic paper “I love playing in front of people and “When you write for an album, you try to looking for like-minded bandmates meeting them afterwards, chatting and make all the songs fit together somehow, but and Genesis, in need of anew signing things.Sometimes they turn just writing abunch of singles freed us up to guitarist, responded. Since parting up with 50 vinyl albums to sign, which create a really eclectic collection.” company he has worked with is a bit much! They initially picked out three tracks to try countless top-notch artists, from “And then there are fans who dig up out live to gauge some sort of response. Return Randy Crawford to Evelyn Glennie, things from my past that I’d be happy of the White Rabbit showcases their angular and in supergroup GTR with Steve to forget,” he laughs. guitars and growling bass lines while True Love Howe of Ye s, as well as ploughing his 1980 is a beautiful pop ballad. own furrow, surrounded by a changing ● Steve Hackett and his band play the “True Love is very synth-driven which cast of musicians. Princess Pavilion, Falmouth (01326 breaks new territory for us, though it’s still Steve’s latest and newly released 211222) on We dnesday, November 11 essentially guitar-driven pop. Returnofthe album, Out of the Tunnel’s Mouth, and at The Phoenix, Exeter (01392 White Rabbit has been very well received as it’s recorded with an eminent cast, mostly 667080 or www.exeterboxoffice.com) on more dancey, but probably most exciting for us in the living room of his home in Thursday, November 12. Steve Hackett brings his band to Falmouth and Exeter has been Space Shot. We weren’t sure howit would go down, butit’s abit like OutKast, infectious and dancey and seems to be an instant hit live. By the end of the song Experience the joy of performance art everybody’s singing the chorus!” says Rick. This current tour is Ash’s first for two years, and their longest in the UK ever. THERE’S a final chance to witness the unique Joy atmospheric soundtrack written and performed “Back in 2001 we had been practically Collective showcase when Exeter’s Phoenix plays live. JoyCollective currently comprises seven written off by the press after our second album host to the last date of the group’s Westcountry visual artists, five choreographersor dance artists (Nu-Clear Sounds) didn’t fare so well as 1977. tour on November 15. The concept is anew and three digital media artists and filmmakers When we were writing our third album we were platform and production initiative for exceptional from across the South West, including Alice pretty low and all but bankrupt –we knew it was artists of any discipline, devised by Exeter-based, Leach, Beth Carter, Clair Beckett, Carl Shanahan, the last roll of the dice and if we didn’t get it critically acclaimed, subversive electronic musical CurtHennells, Darren HarveyRegan, Eleanor right we were finished. We put our heads down duo Kris Jager and Mila Oshin (aka Drunk With Carr, Emma Molony, Helen Snell, Ione Rucquoi, to make the best album we could. So then to get Joy, pictured). Jane Castree, Joanna Cartwright, Oliver back to number one with Free All Angels was Using latest technologies and with the aid of Hornsby-Sayer, Roger Lewis and StuM. insane!” says Rick. digital media artist Stuart Mitchell, the duo CLARE ROBINSON promote the work of a hand-picked selection of emerging or mid-career artists against adarkly ● Box office: 01392 667 080. ● Box office: www.hippolive.co.uk