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Special reports

Steve Hackett and guests

Thursday May 9th 2013

 

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....

Oh yes what a gig indeed ! Big thanks to Dave Stopps and all at Friars for putting on another great night.

Brilliant Friars. More of the same please.

That was awesome!!! Again! Again!

Absolutely brilliant concert Genesis music at its very best

 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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