My guitar playing hero back in the day. Saw him with Gong and his own band many times, including what I think was the first gig of his band at Hyde park (Queen) in 1976. Fish Rising remains a classic album.
In 1977 I bought a Watkins Copicat echo machine because of Steve Hillage, sadly I still couldn't play guitar like him
One of my first concerts was Steve Hillage at Sheffield City Hall in 1979. His double album Live Herald (3 sides live, plus 1 side studio recordings) has been a favourite of mine ever since. Turn up the volume, close my eyes, and it's like time travel. Brilliant stuff.
I "modified" it when the tape tensioner broke and moved the no3 tape head to get a longer delay. I tried to sell it on eBay about 4 years ago but it didn't get any bids. Eventually took it to a car boot sale and got a fiver for it. It was alteady 2nd hand when I bought it in Newcastle in 1977.
First time I saw him was at Sheffield City Hall in 1972/3 with Gong. It was a Virgin Records tour with Gong and Hatfield and the North - with Tubular Bells film in the interval (featuring Steve). All for the princely sum of 50p.
I played ‘Fish Rising’ on the way back from an away game last season. My son who’s 28 likes his music, but I thought it would be a bit of a stretch for him to appreciate Steve Hillage, but he quite liked it.
I played all my stuff to my kids in the car when they were quite young. Their favourite was Pink Floyd's Echoes. They also liked Wishbone Ash. They've moved on now (both lads are in their 30s) but still like music outside the mainstream.
