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It's been 35 years since Steve
Hackett played Aylesbury so it was long overdue!
An astonishing gig on many levels,
the music was Genesis 1971-1977, the musicianship was such that it *was*
Genesis up there and one of the biggest productions we've ever seen at
Friars, if not the biggest.
Steve acknowledged from the stage the
contribution of Aylesbury and David Stopps to his career and he didn't
put a foot wrong all night with 2.5 hrs of amazing music and people
being transported back to a "time" in their lives when this music
mattered and why it still does. For many, it was a truly emotional
evening.
We'll keep this page updated
as stuff comes in as we're expecting more.
Steve
Hackett Genesis Revisited interview for Friars 2013
THE SETLIST
Photo: Nik Gibson
THE FANS
Some of the feedback we've had!
The webmaster:
I've
seen Genesis a few times, but this was different - this was the classic
sounds of the 70s Genesis with the master himself on guitar. What an
amazing gig. The weather on Thursday May 9th 2013 was well.....Wind and
Wuthering.
Nik Gibson's review (used by
permission)
The Date - May 9th 2013… The Venue - Friars
Aylesbury… The Legend - Steve Hackett
On a slightly damp and windy day, fans from
all over migrated towards Aylesbury be it by car, train, bus or shanks
pony. It was to The Waterside Theatre to be precise. Not in any great
rush, but a more dignified amble befitting their age. The Waterside
Theatre is a venue Aylesbury should be very proud of, whoever designed
it actually put some thought into it’s development, an attractive
building with quite a pleasant atmosphere. It’s been well over 30 years
since I have been to Friars, ok it’s a new venue, but it is still
essentially Friars
As the crowd slowly swelled in the foyer, friends meeting old friends
for the first time in years the buzz of anticipation slowly grew.
Steve, kindly came out to sign paraphernalia and have a few brief words
to the fans, I was honoured to be able to shake his hand (very
carefully).
After a short wait the doors were finally opened to let the masses into
the arena.
Everyone calmly picked their best vantage point, without pushing and
shoving, and waited for the appointed hour.
Having been shocked but a massive increase in the volume for Sandy
Nelson’s Let there be drums, which took everyone by surprise, we knew it
wouldn’t be long.
Dave Stopps came on to say welcome to everyone, the buzz of anticipation
grew, we weren’t to be disappointed.
The first chords of Watcher of the Skies filled the Waterfront heralding
just over two and a half hours of a magical evening. With his band,
Steve gave us a masterclass in how to play a guitar, and playing the
material from his latest album Genesis Revisited II, demonstrating you
don’t have to be able to shred a guitar and make it sound good, and make
it easy (though I know it wasn’t).
A string of guests ably complimented the performance from Nik Kershaw,
Steve Rothery, John Wetton amongst others, though I suspected a lot of
people were hoping a certain Mr Gabriel might have been secretly hiding
in the wings (which wasn’t to be, but one could hope).
Moving into The Chamber of 32 Doors I was cast back to the Early 70’s
when I saw Genesis perform The Lamb Lies Down at Wembley (An easy trip
from Aylesbury) and I was pushed further back in time with Dancing the
Moonlit Knight.
I am not going to list all the tracks played (see my photos for the set
list) but to say we all sang along wholeheartedly would be an
understatement (apologies to the people stood next to me for my bad
singing) .
Sadly, Supper’s Ready seemed to signify the beginning of the end,
magnificent in its entirety it was the end of the main set. For the
Encore, we had the Bewitching Firth of Fifth and a finale of Los Endos.
And then it was over, the last echos of the concert died down in the
auditorium and faded to memory. Was it worth waiting for? Yes! Was it
worth queuing in the snow for a ticket? Yes! Was it value for Money? I
thought so. Did any of us wish it to finish? No! Did we leave with happy
memories? Too bloody right we did!
The only unanswered question I have is… When are you coming back, Steve?
There is a
thriving
Friars community on Facebook
with hundreds of members!
Here's a selection of
comments:
Very emotional....
THE GALLERY
All pictures: Mike
O'Connor and ©
2013 www.aylesburyfriars.co.uk except where noted
Special thanks to
Nik Gibson Joe Stopps Neale Wareham John Edwards
Mark Jordan
EVEN MORE! - see Neale Wareham's FULL brilliant
gallery
EVEN MORE! - see John Edwards' FULL brilliant
gallery
EVEN MORE! - see Peter Luck's FULL brilliant
gallery
EVEN MORE! - see Mark Jordan's FULL brilliant
gallery
Relaxing before the gig, Marillion's
Steve Rothery with Friars and Jam Central's Stuart Robb
Photo: Mike O'Connor
With David Stopps is Genesis
biographer/photographer legend Armando Gallo.
Armando's Genesis book app can be
found
here
Photo: Mike O'Connor
A couple of lovely fans I chatted
with early evening who had travelled up from Brighton.
Photo: Mike O'Connor
Photo: Mike O'Connor
Our own John Braley in the rain!
Photo: Mike O'Connor
A bit of a first for Friars - Steve
autographing in the foyer
before the gig.
Photo: Nik Gibson
It was a huge multi coloured production and
screens, possibly the biggest seen at Friars
Steve announced that he was playing
the songs in what he thought would be a good running order rather than
in "chronic disorder" (!!!!)
Photo: Mike O'Connor
Photo: Mike O'Connor
Photo: Joe Stopps
Photo: Nik Gibson
Photo: Mike O'Connor
Photo: Joe Stopps
The amazing Nad Sylvan who brought
the 1970s Genesis songbook to life in a huge way
Photo: Mike O'Connor
Photo: Neale Wareham
Lee Pomeroy
Photo: Mike O'Connor
Photo: Joe Stopps
Photo: Nik Gibson
Photo: Mike O'Connor
Photo: Joe Stopps
Photo: Joe Stopps
Photo: Neale Wareham
Special guest Steve Rothery on The
Lamia
Photo: Nik Gibson
Photo: Neale Wareham
Photo: John Edwards
Rob Townsend
Photo: Mike O'Connor
Photo: Joe Stopps
Roger King
Photo: Mike O'Connor
Now THAT's a pedalboard!
Photo: Mike O'Connor
Special guest Nik Kershaw
Photo: Mike O'Connor
Photo: Neale Wareham
Photo: John Edwards
Photo: Mike O'Connor
Special guests Jakko Jacszyk and
Amanda Lehmann
Photo: Mike O'Connor
Photo: Mike O'Connor
Photo: John Edwards
Photo: Mike O'Connor
Photo: John Edwards
Photo: Joe Stopps
Photo: Mike O'Connor
Photo: Joe Stopps
Photo: Joe Stopps
Special guest John Wetton.
Photo: Nik Gibson
Photo: John Edwards
Photo: Nik Gibson
Photo: Mike O'Connor
Special guest Amanda Lehmann
Photo: Nik Gibson
Photo: Neale Wareham
Photo: Neale Wareham
Photo: Nik Gibson
The immense Entangled with special
guests Jakko Jaczyk and Amanda Lehmann
Photo: Nik Gibson
Photo: Neale Wareham
Photo: John Edwards
Mr Hackett has spotted something on
Amanda Lehmann's shoe and gives it a quick clean....:O)
Photo: Nik Gibson
Photo: Nik Gibson
Photo: Mike O'Connor
After a 2 hour and 35 minutes set,
the final bow from a brilliant night.
Photo: Nik Gibson
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