Steve Hackett says 'joke' Genesis song is 'like Benny Hill put to music'

Don't expect him to perform it live

Genesis in 1975
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 27th Feb 2024

Ahead of his UK tour this October celebrating the 50th anniversary of ‘The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway’, Steve Hackett has admitted he doesn’t love every track the record.

Following the surreal story of Rael, a Puerto Rican youth living in New York City, ‘The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway’ features lyrics entirely written by Peter Gabriel amid fraught tensions within the band.

The concept album’s title track and seminal second single ‘The Carpet Crawlers’ remained live staples for Genesis over the decades, with the latter track being the final song performed at Genesis’ final gig at London’s The O2 in March 2022.

However, almost 50 years after the seminal record’s release, Steve Hackett says he’s still baffled by the decision to put out ‘Counting Out Time’ as the lead single.

Speaking to The Vulture, Hackett said: “‘Counting Out Time’ was about a first sexual encounter and all that comes with that — doing it by the book as if there was a manual for that sort of thing.

“I think the song was very much a one-trick horse, whereas ‘The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway’ as the opening song, might’ve made the better single because there’s more depth to it. The narrative is there. It’s more grown-up. I think the portrait of New York, albeit in a very surrealist kind of way, was far more complete.

“‘Counting Out Time’ was very much a joke or a novelty single. It’s almost like Benny Hill put to music. It didn’t quite make it as a single, and nobody was surprised, least of all me. I couldn’t see it becoming a hit.

“It didn’t have the depth of ‘Stairway to Heaven’ or even any of the Tommy songs from the Who. It was an adolescent song or a song about an adolescent, and that’s very difficult to find an audience for, because the adolescent isn’t going to understand it and those who are grown-up are either going to get the joke or not.”

Hackett continued: “I understand the record-buying public’s complete rejection of that (song). The band was kind of a runaway train at this point. It was pulling in at least two different directions: You had Peter’s direction, and then you had the direction of the rest of us, who were instrumentalists. Phil Collins was very much number two in the vocal department, although he had a great voice. I think the word ‘aberration’ comes to mind.”

Steve Hackett released his first conceptual studio album in almost five decades, ‘The Circus and the Nightwhale’, earlier this month.

Hackett will also embark on a fresh 15-date UK tour in October 2024.

The Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights & Solo tour celebrates the 50th anniversary of Genesis’ epic sixth studio album ‘The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway’ and the setlist will boast a selection of highlights from the album (presumably without ‘Counting Out Time’).

Alongside classic ‘The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway’ cuts, Steve Hackett will be performing other Genesis favourites and songs from his solo repertoire.

Tickets are on sale from Planet Rock Tickets now.

Steve Hackett’s Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights & Solo UK tour dates:

OCTOBER 2024

Aylesbury Friars Waterside – Wed 2nd

Portsmouth Guildhall – Thu 3rd

Bristol Beacon – Sat 5th

Cambridge Corn Exchange – Sun 6th

Birmingham Symphony Hall – Mon 7th

Liverpool Philharmonic – Wed 9th

Cardiff St David's Hall – Thu 10th

Guildford G Live – Sat 12th

Stoke Victoria Hall – Sun 13th

York Barbican – Tue 15th

Nottingham Royal Concert Hall – Wed 16th

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall – Fri 18th

Gateshead Glasshouse – Sat 19th

Manchester Bridgewater Hall – Sun 20th

Reading Hexagon – Tue 22nd

London Royal Albert Hall – Wed 23rd

Buy Steve Hackett UK tour tickets

Steve Hackett's Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights & Solo tour

Surprise rock star relations, including Phil Collins:

Ronnie Wood is the father-in-law of Fearne Cotton

Rolling Stones and Faces guitarist Ronnie Wood is the father-in-law of television and radio presenter Fearne Cotton. Ronnie's oldest son Jesse Wood began dating Fearne Cotton in 2011 and they married three years later. They have two children together.

Nita Strauss is a descendant of Johan Strauss

Guitar shredder Nita Strauss, perhaps best-known for being Alice Cooper's guitarist since 2014, is a descendant of 19th century Austrian composer Johann Strauss II. Explaining she's related to Johan on her father's side, Nita told Ultimate Guitar: "We have a lot of musicians, like, everyone on my dad's side of the family is all musicians, all the way back to the Viennese Strausses." Asked if she would consider performing Johan's music, Nita said: "You know, the waltz doesn't really sound good on the guitar. Like, I've sort of experimented a bit. I have to explore it more, because I would like to. And actually, we talked even about using 'The Blue Danube' as intro music for the tour or something, but it's so on the nose. It's sort of, like, so obvious, but I still want to explore it when I have a little more time."

Meat Loaf was the father-in-law of Scott Ian

Anthrax axeman Scott Ian married the late-great Meat Loaf's daughter Pearl Aday, who is also a rock musician, in 2011, and they have a 10-year-old son together called Revel. When Meat Loaf passed away in January 2022, the thrash musician paid poignant tribute, writing: "There are so many stories to tell, and I know they will all be told over time. For now, what I know is that Meat's legacy will live on through his family - Pearl, Amanda and Revel. Their forever love for their father/grandfather (Papa Meat) outweighs the heaviness of their hearts. Thank you to everyone for the outpouring of love, we feel it. I love you Meat."

Suzi Quatro is the aunt of Sherilyn Fenn

Detroit rock icon Suzi Quatro is the auntie of actor and author Sherilyn Fenn, who is best known for playing Audrey Horne in David Lynch's cult TV series Twin Peaks. Fenn's mum is keyboardist Arlene Quatro who was a member of the rock band The Pleasure Seekers with her younger sister Suzi in the 1960s.

Joe Walsh and Ringo Starr's wives are sisters

Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh became Ringo Star's relative in 2008 when he married Marjorie Bach, who is the sister of Ringo's wife Barbara Bach. Already good friends before becoming relatives, Joe was previously a member of Ringo's All-Starr Band from 1989 and into the early 90s, and Ringo appeared on Joe's 1991 solo album 'Ordinary Average Guy.'

Ian Anderson is the father-in-law of Andrew Lincoln

Jethro Tull vocalist, flautist, multi-instrumentalist, founder and sole constant member, Ian Anderson, is the father-in-law of Walking Dead and Teachers actor Andrew Lincoln. Ian's daughter, Gael, married Andrew Lincoln in 2006 and the couple have two children together.

Mick Jones is the stepfather of Mark Ronson

Foreigner guitarist, songwriter and only constant member Mick Jones is the stepfather of phenomenally successful musician and producer Mark Ronson. Mick Jones married Ann Dexter-Jones in the early 1980s and became stepfather to her three children Mark, Samantha and Charlotte Ronson. Mark Ronson has stated in interviews that he was surrounded by music throughout his childhood thanks to Mick, which led him to pursue a career in the music industry.

Mick Jones is the father of Annabelle Dexter-Jones

Succession actor Annabelle Dexter-Jones is the daughter of Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones and jewellery designer Ann Dexter-Jones. Through her mum, she is also the half-sister of Mark Ronson, Charlotte Ronson and Samantha Ronson.

Brody Dalle is the half-sister of Morgana Robinson

The Distillers' Brody Dalle (real name Bree Joanna Alice Robinson) is the older half-sister of Australian-born English impressionist, comedian, writer and actor, Morgana Robinson. Brody and Morgana have the same father, however they didn't have much contact until they met backstage at a Distillers show at London's Brixton Academy in 2004.

Axl Rose was briefly the son-in-law of Don Everly

Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose was very briefly the son-in-law of Don Everly of The Everly Brothers fame. Axl began dating Don's daughter Erin Everly in 1986 and wrote the lyrics for Guns N' Roses' enduring anthem 'Sweet Child O' Mine' about her before she appeared in the 1988 music video for the track. Axl and Erin got hitched in 1990 and split the following year.

Mat Osman is the brother of Richard Osman

Suede bassist and co-founding member Mat Osman is the older brother of TV presenter and novelist Richard Osman. Richard says one of his proudest moments was seeing his sibling on Top of the Pops for the first time 30 years ago in 1992: "I said to him: 'You're on Top of the Pops, mate.' I was so proud of him."

Bill Wyman was almost his own son’s son-in-law

In a truly mind-boggling scenario, ex Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman almost became his own son's son-in-law and his own step-grandfather. When Bill separated from his first wife Mandy Smith (pictured, who was 18 at the time of marriage), his 30-year-old son Stephen married Mandy's mother, Patsy. Had Bill's marriage remained intact, he would have become his son's son-in-law, because he was married to his son's stepdaughter. Mandy Smith would have become Stephen Wyman's mother because she would be his father's wife. Thanks to his marriage to Mandy's mother, Stephen Wyman would have become both Mandy's son and father. Similarly, Patsy Smith would have been Mandy's daughter as well as her mother.

Phil Collins is the father of Lily Collins

Genesis icon and solo musician Phil Collins is the father of esteemed British-American actor Lily Collins. Lily is the only child from Phil's second marriage to Jill Tavelman. Following Genesis' final show at London's The O2 in March 2022, Lily paid tribute to her dad and half-brother Nicolas, writing: "Thank you dad for being such an inspiration and thank you @nic_collins for making me the proudest sister there is."

Joel Madden is the son-in-law of Lionel Richie

Joel Madden, vocalist for pop-punk band Good Charlotte, became Lionel Richie's son-in-law in 2010 when he married Lionel's daughter Nicole Richie. On Lionel's 71st birthday in 2020, Joel Madden paid tribute on Instagram calling the 'Hello' singer a "legendary father, mentor and friend" and "a rock in my life."

Lenny Kravitz and Al Roker are second cousins

Rock icon Lenny Kravitz the second cousin of US weatherman and television personality, Al Roker. Lenny's actress mother Roxie Roker is Al's first cousin.

Robert Smith was the brother-in-law of his bandmate Porl Thompson

The Cure's Robert Smith was once related by marriage to his former band mate Porl Thompson (later Pearl Thompson). Guitarist Porl Thompson married Robert Smith's younger sister Janet in 1990 and they stayed together for a decade before divorcing shortly after the millennium.

Gavin Rossdale is the father of Daisy Lowe

Shortly after English fashion model Daisy Lowe was born in 1989, Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale was named her godfather. Lowe was believed to be the daughter of Pearl Lowe's former partner Bronner Handwerger. However, in 2004, Daisy Lowe discovered her godfather was in fact her biological father thanks to a paternity test.

Listen to Planet Rock on DAB nationwide, on our Rayo app, online or via your smart speaker (“Play Planet Rock”).