Progressive rock guitar legends Steve Hackett and Steve Rothery are teaming up for a long-awaited collaborative album that promises cinematic soundscapes and deep musical chemistry. Titled The Roaring Waves, the all-instrumental project will drop on August 28, 2026, marking a special moment for fans of Genesis and Marillion.
The pair, who have been friends for years, spent time crafting the record in a refreshingly organic way. Sessions took place at Marillion’s Racket Club in Buckinghamshire starting in 2023, between their busy solo schedules. “When you’re friends first, and the music comes later, you know it’s non-competitive and something else starts to happen,” Hackett shared with Prog magazine.
The seven-track album draws inspiration from Rothery’s childhood in the seaside town of Whitby, England. “In winter you could hear the roaring of the waves during the stormy weather,” the Marillion guitarist explained. “Whitby was a very evocative place to live, a very poetic and powerful place to grow up.” This personal connection infuses the music with a sense of drama and atmosphere.
Hackett, the former Genesis virtuoso who joined the band in 1971 and contributed to classics like Nursery Cryme and Wind & Wuthering, continues to thrive with Genesis-focused live shows and solo work. His most recent original album, 2024’s The Circus and the Nightwhale, hit the UK Top 40. Meanwhile, Rothery — Marillion’s longest-serving member and co-founder — has been more selective with solo outings, with his 2014 release The Ghosts of Pripyat standing out.
Rothery reflected on the full-circle nature of the collaboration: “If you’d have told the 15-year-old me, who was just discovering Genesis and starting to learn to play guitar, that one day this legendary guitarist would be a great friend of mine 40-odd years later, I’d have fallen over.”
The project’s old-school vibe — mates jamming and hanging out — stands in contrast to today’s often isolated recording processes. Pre-orders for The Roaring Waves begin June 26, 2026, when fans will also get their first taste of the music.
This release arrives as both artists maintain active careers. Hackett recently brought his acclaimed The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway show to the Royal Albert Hall in 2025, while Marillion continues to deliver thoughtful progressive rock. The partnership highlights the enduring bonds and creative spirit within the prog community.
