Steve Hackett experienced his first studio sessions as guitarist on Quiet World's only album, The Road, in 1970. He achieved fame as a member of the progressive rock band Genesis, with whom he played between 1971 and 1977, when he left to pursue his solo career full time.

He released his first solo album, Voyage of the Acolyte, in 1975 while still with Genesis, and has maintained a steady output since. He is a distinctive and versatile guitarist who also performs classical concerts and has released five classical albums in addition to many rock, progressive, and blues albums. He participated in the 1986 formation of GTR with Steve Howe.