Steve Hillage

Here are some interesting facts about Steve Hillage best known as the guitarist of "Khan", "Gong" and "System 7".

= He was born in the name of Stephen Simpson Hillage on August 2, 1951, in Chingford, Essex London, England.

= While attending the City of London School, formed his first band "Uriel" in 1967 with Dave Stewart, Mont Campbell, and Clive Brooks. They later reunited as "Arzachel" and recorded a self-titled psychedelic rock album in 1969.

= In 1969, Hillage began studying philosophy and history at the University of Kent, where he mingled with "Caravan" and "Spirogyra", early members of the Canterbury scene.

= He formed "Khan" in 1971 with Nick Greenwood (ex–Crazy World of Arthur Brown), releasing the album "Space Shanty" in 1972. Dave Stewart joined the band for recording and touring.

= Hillage disbanded Khan in October 1972 after creative disagreements.

= He played in Kevin Ayers’ live band Decadence in early 1973 and appeared on Ayers’ album "Bananamour".

= Hillage joined "Gong" in January 1973, contributing to the "Radio Gnome Invisible" trilogy:

"Flying Teapot" (1973), "Angel’s Egg" (1973), "You" (1974), featuring his future partner Miquette Giraudy.

= He performed live with Mike Oldfield and Pierre Moerlen on "Tubular Bells" at Queen Elizabeth Hall (1973) and in the BBC's Second House broadcast.

= Hillage recorded his debut solo album "Fish Rising" (1975) at The Manor Studios with "Gong" members and Dave Stewart.

= He departed "Gong" in December 1975 due to creative tensions and pressure to lead the band after Daevid Allen's exit.

= He moved to the U.S. to record "L" (1976) with Todd Rundgren and "Utopia". The album included covers of "Hurdy Gurdy Man" and "It’s All Too Much".

= Hillage toured with a new band featuring Clive Bunker ("Jethro Tull"), Colin Bass ("Camel"), Christian Boulé, and Giraudy. Debuted live supporting "Queen" in Hyde Park (1976) and later toured the U.S. supporting "Electric Light Orchestra".

= On 20th March 1977, Hillage gave a concert as part of the “L” tour at the Otto Hahn School in Bensberg, Germany, which was recorded by WDR and broadcast on German television.

= He performed again with Mike Oldfield and the Scottish National Orchestra on "Tubular Bells" in 1977.

= He produced and performed on Nik Turner’s 1978 album "Xitintoday", also collaborated with "The Radio Actors", recording "Nuclear Waste" lead vocals by Sting.

= Hillage embraced funk and fusion influences and recorded "Motivation Radio" (1977) in L.A. with Malcolm Cecil of "TONTO".

= He released "Green" (1978), co-produced with Nick Mason of "Pink Floyd", featuring ambient textures and live electronics.

= Hillage performed at "Reading Festival" 1978 with "Sham 69", showing stylistic openness beyond prog.

= In 1979 he issued the double LP "Live Herald", blending live performances and studio tracks.

= The same year he created ambient milestone "Rainbow Dome Musick" with Giraudy, commissioned for the Festival for Mind, Body and Spirit.

=More in the same year - he released "Open", featuring Jean-Philippe Rykiel, and toured across Europe.

= Also in 1979, he performed at Glastonbury Festival, after which he reassessed the "guitar hero" persona and shifted focus to studio production.

= Hillage released two studio albums with Giraudy in 1982: "For To Next" and "And Not Or" – both named after BASIC programming commands, featuring electronic textures.

= He worked as a record producer during the 1980s for acts including "Simple Minds", "It Bites", Murray Head, Cock Robin, Tony Banks, and Robyn Hitchcock.

= After hearing "The Orb" playing his 1979 ambient record "Rainbow Dome Musick", Hillage and Giraudy began performing in the early 1990s as ambient dance act, merging trance, techno, and ambient.

= "System 7's" debut from 1991 featured collaborators such as Paul Oakenfold, Derrick May, and Alex Paterson of "The Orb".

= Hillage helped establish the "Dance Tent" at Glastonbury Festival in the early '90s, bridging psychedelia and rave culture.

= He released numerous albums under "System 7" across the '90s and 2000s, collaborating with Youth, Steve Broughton, and Mick MacNeil.

= Hillage returned to "Gong" for the "Gong Family Unconvention" in Amsterdam (2006), performing "Radio Gnome Trilogy" material.

= He participated in "Gong’s" 2008 and 2009 concerts and produced their 2009 album "2032". The same year he also came to Israel for live shows with "Gong".

= After leaving "Gong" again post-2010, guested on "Rejoice! I'm Dead" (2016), the first "Gong" album after Daevid Allen’s death.

= He collaborated live with "Ozric Tentacles" on the album "Spirals in Hyperspace" (2004).

= In the years 2015-2018 He performed with "Hawkwind" at several events, including :"Hawkeaster festival" (2018).

= Hillage reunited with "Gong's" current lineup in 2019 for a Steve Hillage Band tour where "Gong" served as his backing band.

= He was awarded the "Visionary" award at the 2013 Progressive Music Awards.

= His song "Light in the Sky" from "Motivation Radio" was used as the theme for The Sunday Night Project on Channel 4.

= He contributed guitar to William Shatner’s 2011 cover of "Rocket Man".

= Hillage is known for cosmic themes, soaring glissando guitar solos, ambient textures, and fusing psychedelia with electronic dance music.

= He is a key figure linking Canterbury Scene, progressive rock, ambient, and trance.

"Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog

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