Lockdown and looking ahead... June 2020

Back to recording with Roger
Photo © Jo Hackett

Practising in lockdown
Photo © Jo Hackett

Having had to stop the North American tour mid-flow, Jo and I returned to the UK on the last flight from Philadelphia to London. A week later, lockdown began. It felt like being suddenly sucked through a strange wormhole, arriving on the other side in a parallel universe where everything looked the same, but it was all different... Realising just how dangerous the Covid 19 situation was in the UK, we battened down the hatches.

Initially, it was hard to do anything because my equipment took several weeks to arrive via a slow boat to Liverpool, followed by difficulties moving it down to London and on to our storage place. But I started to put out You Tube lockdown videos to help fans through the tough time. I'm still putting out several of these now. I also used that time to prepare for a new album, with a view to an acoustic project involving orchestral forces and some unusual influences and instruments which I've never involved before with this kind of album. So, we're breaking new ground here!

As soon as it was possible, Roger and I got together to begin recording. We're already half way through, and starting to reach out to musicians who can get involved remotely. It's a challenge, but an exciting project which is already bursting into life. Even if you're stuck in one place physically, music can lift you out and take you on that sonic magic carpet to any place you care to dream about...

I'll keep you informed as this whole new creation progresses. In the meantime, I'm relieved that all cancelled shows have been rescheduled and I'm excited that my autobiography will be out next month. I feel it's important to have things to aim for and look forward to at times like these.

Stay safe everyone...

Lockdown video collection

Steve discusses favourite Genesis & solo tracks