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Steve Hillage learned to play the electric guitar at an early age, forming his
first band, Uriel, whilst still at school. After leaving the band to
study history and philosophy at Kent University, he returned to London to play in several
short lived bands (Khan, Egg) before meeting up with Gong.
Joining Gong in January 1973, he played an important part in the band’s rise to prominence.
He appeared on all the Gong Trilogy albums, and found time to compose his own
solo albums (Fish Rising and L). The rest of the decade was spent alternatively
writing and gigging with Gong, and writing and performing his own material.
However, events at the Glastonbury festival in 1979 prompted him to reassess his role of ‘guitar hero’ and
live playing, and he decided to concentrate on studio work and production. And at the start of the 1980s,
he was Virgin’s in-house producer, and was selected to produce the new album of the
new signings to the label, Simple Minds.
After producing other acts as Murray Head, Robin Hitchcock and
Cock Robin, he met the Orb’s Alex Patterson when they
were both DJ-ing at the Land Of Oz club in 1989. This lead to Steve and long term
collaborator and partner Miquette Giraudy joining the collective of DJs, producers and musicians
called System 7. Informal jams lead to their first self-titled debut System 7.
It was also Mick MacNeil’s first post-Minds project, when he accepted
Hillage’s invitation to play on a track.
Steve Hillage is currently in great demand as a producer and remixer, as well as the front man of System 7.
discography
family tree
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