It's Steve Hackett's birthday!
Hackett gained fame with Genesis, playing lead guitar throughout their progressive rock years, and stayed with the band after Peter Gabriel, left to go solo. By the end of the 70's, however Hackett would also go solo and leave the band as the power pop trio that it became in the 80's led by Phil Collins.
Hackett would stay solo until 1986, when he would join the supergroup GTR with Steve Howe of Yes & Asia fame in 1986. The group's self-titled album, peaked at No. 11 on the charts and spawned the Top 20 single "When the Heart Rules the Mind". The group would eventually disband, when Hackett left, as he resumed his solo career.
Hackett is a rare guitarist that has tipped had the opportunity to explore progressive rock, pop, blues, world music and classical music, as he recorded on his own terms making music where and when he was truly inspired. His mark on the guitar world is truly under appreciated, yet his influence on other great guitarists can be heard still to this day.
Happy Birthday Steve, yours is a rare legend in Rock.