Genesis was an enormous creative band that explored many untouched avenues in music. Known for their witty lyrics/storytelling, bizarre and elaborate stage show, the band was best seen live to experience their power, sophistication and talent.
Genesis was formed in January 1967 at Charterhouse Public School, England, through a fusion between a local band called: The Anon,' and a school rock band. The lineup composed of: Peter Gabriel (flute, vocals), Tony Banks (keys, Mike Rutherford (bass/guitar), Anthony Phillips (guitar) and Chris Stewart (drums).
Their first album 'From Genesis to Revelations' along with three singles failed to make a commercial impact for Decca records and both hit-maker Jonathan King and the label lost interest in the band.
Upset how the first album was `enhanced,' the group and Tony Stratton-Smith, (creator of 'The Famous Charisma Label'), began working on what the band would call their first 'real' Genesis album.
'Trespass' was made in late 1970, and showed the bands fondness for eclectic lyrical themes and oddly structured compositions. They started to pick up a small but loyal following. After replacing drummers, John Mayhew left and after auditions, an ex-child actor and 'Flaming Youth' member Phil Collins dazzled the band with his skills at the auditions.
Playing live showed off the power of the band, but unfortunately Anthony Phillips, one of the founders (and main contributors to writing), left because of extreme stage-fright playing live.
Ex- 'Quiet World' guitarist Steve Hackett, put an ad in Melody Maker for a guitarist looking for a band to make go beyond the borders of the days stagnate music. He was hired.
On tour, Peter Gabriel started to wear enormous costumes and huge papier-mache masks, chatting surreal stories and poems between songs (so the band could tune their instruments), hence their live show, though elaborate, cost next to nothing. "The challenge was to create something visually striking that was also cheap," Banks remembers, "which was a good discipline."
After 'Nursery Cryme', (1971) Genesis third album; the band released their masterpiece 'Foxtrot' (1972) to critical success. An ambitious album both musically and lyrically, the songs included the 22 minute masterpiece 'Suppers Ready' and the eerie 'Watcher of the Skies'.
'Selling England by the Pound', created in 1973 climbed to #3 on the UK charts and gave the band a reputation in America. `I Know What I Like' was their first `hit' single.
By 1974, Peter Gabriel wanted to move Genesis away from the very British sweet songs and create a more harder-edged, urban sound. At the end of the year the concept double album 'The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway' was released. It focused on a New York street hustler named Rael stuck in a tragic, surreal, bizarre world of Slippermen and such. This album was followed swiftly by an elaborate tour of theatrics, costumes, effects and strange visuals. Audiences were over-whelmed.
In May 1975 Peter Gabriel announced his departure from the group. The bands two albums, `A Trick of the Tale,' a much simpler and contrasting album to The Lamb with Phil Collins taking up the lead vocals (Bill Bruford filled in on drumkit during the tour), and the outstanding `Wind & Wuthering,' which was taken on tour with banks of airplane runway lights, massive lasers, projections and amazing lighting. Chester Thompson joined the touring band to drum when Phil sang and to add complexity (and a drum duet), when Phil grabbed his sticks.
Seeing the band start to repeat themselves as well seeing his worthy material being voted off the album, in June 1977, guitarist Steve Hackett left to embark upon a solo career, leaving the line-up - Phil Collins, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford. During the time off Banks & company released their finest live album- `Second's Out,' An interesting EP `Spot the Pigeon' was also released.
In 1978 after attempting to hire a new guitarist to replace Hackett's haunting sounds, Mike Rutherford decided to give it a try and keep the band a threesome. `Follow You, Follow Me,' was a successful single that hinted on the commercial direction that Genesis was heading for. The band quickly moved away from their prog-rock roots towards a more light rock sound of the type that would dominate the worldwide charts in the 1980s. With the exception of `Duke,' most albums packed in exclusively hit-oriented songs though there are some good songs in this catagory. Compositions never again approached the complex writings of the seventies.
On tour in the eighties (and nineties), gone were the lasers, the moody dark lighting and the theatrics. The band played sellout after sellout, breaking attendance and box-office records around the world. A total of 3 million people worldwide attended the 'Invisible Touch' tour. In 1987 Genesis were voted Band Of The Year in Rolling Stone Magazine's Reader's poll. The 'We Can't Dance' album sold over 10 million copies to become Genesis' biggest seller so far. In 1992, the group was at their pinnacle of success.
In March 1996, Phil Collins suddenly announced that he had left the band, the Genesis-era finally seemed to have reached an end until Tony and Mike started writing and hired a new singer- Ray Wilson. On September 1998, they released 'Calling All Stations.' The album was a tad darker in tone to accommodate Ray's voice. The album achieved moderate success (for Genesis standards), around Europe reaching number 2 in the UK album charts, but due to the sudden change in America's music scene (i.e. rap/grunge), the album was poorly marketed and promoted and the North American leg of the 'Calling All Stations' tour was sadly terminated.
Besides the 1982 `reunion show' for Peter Gabriel's `Womad' event at Milton Keynes (which did not include Anthony Phillips and Steve Hackett wasn't invited till the last hour and played the last two tunes); reunion rumors still remain rumors. Each band member expressed the interest in playing together again. Phil Collins has talked about the possibility of recording something new with Banks and Rutherford. Will it be the real Genesis or the corporate, commercial money-making machine this remains to be seen...
Genesis released a double DVD live set from the `We Can't Dance' tour, performed at Earls Court in London in 1992. The disc contains exclusive footage and still photographs, interviews with the band and even a running (yet sporatic), multiplae camera views and even a commentary from the band. Songs on the DVD are: Land of Confusion, No Son Of Mine, Driving The Last Spike, Old Medley (Dance On A Volcano, The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, The Musical Box, Firth Of Fifth, I Know What I Like, That's All, Illegal Alien, Follow You, Follow Me), Fading Lights, Jesus He Knows Me, Dreaming While You Sleep, Home By The Sea, Hold On My Heart, Domino (The Domino Principle [Phils' Intro], In The Glow Of The Night, The Last Domino), The Drum Thing, I Can't Dance, Tonight, Tonight, Tonight, Invisible Touch, Turn It On Again.
The DVD Genesis Interactive Songbook' was also released and includes interviews, history of the band, a few acoustic performances and fingering charts for guitar and piano. The DVD will also allow you to play back the songs without either the guitar, keyboard or drum parts allowing you to play along on your chosen instrument.
2007 gave way to a Genesis reunion, not a classic 5 man lineup band, but the 80's/90's; then there were three brand. The group toyed around with the idea of adding Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett, but talks dissolved when Gabriel wanted to do his own tour. Because the old Genesis icon was now unwilling to do a reunion, Steve Hackett was dropped as well (shades of Milton Keynes).
Surprisingly, the band has included quite a few older numbers and some shocks in their set. Along with horrible songs like - I Can't Dance, No Son of Mine, the band has added: In the Cage, A Firth of Fifth medley, Los Endos and even Ripples.
Live, Phil Collins seems to be having to most fun, with a very unrelaxed Mike Rutherford, bringing out his double string guitar/bass on the classic tunes. Daryl Stuermer, a longtime friend of Phil Collins has toned down his technical flashiness to fit in better with the group and with Chester Thompson helping out Collins on the kit, the band still has the talent and ability to play some good instrumentals.
Visually, Genesis has gotten back into the past to produce rather awe-inspiring stage show. Though many of the older tunes' cues cried for dramatic presentation, more emphasis was put on the visuals for the more conventional songs, yet the stage was creative and interesting.
Still, Collins is as personal as ever, even though the band has to lower the key to many of the songs so as to not stress his vocal chords. And though the band seems more like a corporation in terms of presentation and such, the group still has some of that special magic. Perhaps Peter and Steve can join the group, if only for a special concert.
On April 25, 2008, Phil Collins casually announced his retirement from music. Phil is an avid collector of the Alamo memorabilia.
On March 15, 2010, Genesis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Peter Gabriel, did not attend. Talk about forgetting your roots.
In 2015, Collins announced an end to his retirement, and hinted of a reunion with Banks and Rutherford . Hackett said he would like a reunion of Genesis's 1971–1975 line-up, but stressed it was very unlikely, adding "I won't say any more because I don't want to raise expectations."
On March, 4th, 2023 the three members of Genesis announced their reformation and The Last Domino? Tour. Daryl Stuermer was asked again to play guitar, and Collins's son Nic on drums. Their usual touring drummer, Chester Thompson, was not invited. The tour was rescheduled twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The tour began on 20 September 2021. on October 8, with four dates remaining, the UK leg was postponed due to a positive test for COVID-19 in the band. The dates were rescheduled for March 2022, ending with three shows in London Genesis performed their final concert of The Last Domino? Tour on 26 March in London. Gabriel was in attendance for the show, but he did not join the band on stage. The tour included sellout shows in America. My take was Collins could have been utilized better besides a swiveling chair. He can stand, and could havew done that a bit with help from ma podium with handles. A singer does not sound the same sitting. Regardless, Nic Collins is an amazing drummer abd the the light-show was top-notch. And Gabriel and Hackett should have been invited on stage at some time.
In September 2022, Genesis announced that they had sold a portion of their music rights to Concord for an estimated £270 million. The deal includes publishing copyrights and streaming income from their post-1978 output, and solo albums by Banks, Rutherford, and Collins. Their earnings from the deal with Concord and The Last Domino? Tour was $230 million.
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On 3 March 2023, the 5 CD live box set BBC Broadcasts was released, featuring material originally broadcast between 1970 and 1998.
My final thoughts. It seems that the band did the final sell-out of their music. It seems that the bands simply ignored and wanted to bury the memory of Steve Hackett, Daryl Stuermer a great guy and extremely talented fusion guitarist was a horrible choice to mesh with classic Genesis material. Rutherford and Gabriel were always the road block to a proper reunion. Rutherford with his evolving dislike of classic material, and Gabriel for ignoting his past, and not impressing me in the slightest with the same old. Sledge Hammer? Just as bad a Misunderstanding. in my book.
Steve Hackett has remained more faithful to his progressive roots (though sometimes substituting an eccectic diversity of styles and polish over being progressive and daring), yet, he's still more likey to take a risk than all the other members. He has exploded as a masterful guitar player and composer, just as happy playing classical acoustic performances as heavy electronic music. Though he tries to singer on many of his albums, his brilliant guitar work (he invented `tapping),' and writing skills approach the level of genius. Steve's most progressive releases are his classic albums: `Spectral Mornings' and `Defector.' He isn't afraid to experiment, work with orchestras, or simply use is acoustic guitar to create an orchestra of sounds, experiment with jazz and blues or produce raw power. His Regenesis album was an homage to his years in Genesis, obviously respecting what they had accomplished in the 70's. He also had no problems rearranging some of the compositions. See the Steve Hackett section for more information. ... click here... Steve has released a 4 CD-disk boxed set of his live material. Two disks are from the 1979 shows, while the other two performances are from 1981 and 1993 as well as added two more live gigs. He has released several excellent DVD shows of electric as well as acoustic and orchestral performances. Steve autographed the first thousand copies. Steve continues to be one of the most respected guitarists in the world.
Mike Rutherford created a brilliant solo album- `Small Creep's Day,' which also includes Anthony Phillips on keyboards. Rutherford's other band is Mike and the Mechanics, which has produced hit albums and singles such as `All I Need is a Miracle.'
Peter Gabriel has made various eclectic albums that even include Brian Eno, Kate Bush and Robert Fripp. He has ventured into many African themes and rhythms and has embraced and helped promote third world music. His emotional composition- `Biko,' still stirs powerful feelings. His startling video for popish tunes: `Sledgehammer' and `Bigtime,' were revolutionary and played frequently on Mtv. Peter has worked on many different projects, from CD-Roms, to a proposed European themepark to charity work. His live shows are an audio and visual treat. The last tour, Peter traveled with his daughter who sang with the band.
Anthony Phillips went back to teaching children music and perfecting his musicianship. His `Geese and the Ghost' album with Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins is a masterpiece of medieval rock with amazing dynamics. He also was the keyboardist for Rutherford's excellent `Smallcreep's Day album. Anthony has created two big-budget rock albums (`Wise After the Event' and `Sides'), many personal albums of acoustic guitar, piano and sometimes electronics (some that include never before heard Genesis tunes/bits). Anthony has found success creating soundtracks for television, film and other projects, many are part of his `Parts and Pieces' series.
Tony Banks' first solo album was the brilliant- `A Curious Feeling,' a wonderful album of strong lyric content and instrumentation based around a person going insane. Tony has done many solo albums, some which contain Fish on vocals. He has scored movie soundtracks and has worked with television. Tony's latest works was a classical inspired project.
Phil Collins worked on Steve Hackett's first solo album `Voyage of the Acolyte,' and formed a fanastic improvisational jazz fusion group- `Brand X.' After Genesis and Brand X, Collins' commercial successes towers over the rest of Genesis, probably due to concentrating on pop-oriented compositions. Phil has diversified to incorporating brass (Earth Wind & Fire), jazz, R & B, soul and pop remakes into his repertoire. A drummers, drummers, he now pens many songs for movies, including Disney's animated hit- Tarzan. His pet project- The Phil Collins Big Band suprised fans and played some Genesis tunes; including more Proggish pieces: Afterglow, Wot Gorilla and Los Endos and the pop songs: That's All, Hold On My Heart and Invisible Touch. Collins has worked with the Walt Disney Studios on a number of projects, most notably, the Tarzan animated features.
n May 2015, Collins signed a deal with Warner Music Group to have his solo albums remastered and reissued with previously unreleased material. In October of that year, he announced that he was no longer retired and had started plans to tour and make a new album.
In October 2016, Collins announced his Not Dead Yet Tour which initially took form as a short European trek from June 2017. The tour included five nights at the Royal Albert Hall which sold out in fifteen seconds, prompting the announcement of Collins's headline spot at the 2017 BST Hyde Park festival which became his largest solo concert.
His band included his son Nicolas on the drums. A review in The Telegraph stated: "Unlike the body, the voice is largely unravaged by time. It's still soulful, sometimes silky, occasionally bruised."[165] In 2017, the tour was extended worldwide and ran until October 2019 for a total of 97 shows.
Discography:
From Genesis to Revelation March 1969
Nursery Cryme November 1971
Selling England By the Pound November 1973
The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway November 18, 1974
A Trick of the Tail February 2, 1976
Wind & Wuthering December 27, 1976
Seconds Out November 1977
and then there were three March 23, 1978
Abacab September 14, 1981
Three Sides Live June 1982
Invisible Touch June 1986
We Can't Dance November 12, 1991
Live / The Way We Walk Volume One: The Shorts November 17, 1992
Live / The Way We Walk Volume One: The Longs February 9, 1993
Calling All Stations September 2, 1997
Genesis Archive: 1967-1975 (boxed set #1) June 16, 1998
Turn It On Again - The Hits October 26, 1999
Genesis Archive II: 1976-1992 (boxed set #2) November 6, 2000
Platinum Collection November 29, 2004
Genesis 1976-1982 April 2, 2007
Turn It On Again: The Hits - Tour Edition June 4, 2007
Genesis 1983-1998 October 1, 2007
Live Over Europe 2007 November 26, 2007
When In Rome 2007 (DVD) May, 2008
Former Members:
Tony Banks – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals (1967–2000, 2006–2007, 2020–2022)
Mike Rutherford – bass, guitar, bass pedals, backing vocals (1967–2000, 2006–2007, 2020–2022)
Peter Gabriel – lead vocals, flute, oboe, percussion (1967–1975)
Anthony Phillips – guitar, backing vocals (1967–1970)
Chris Stewart – drums, percussion (1967–1968)
John Silver – drums, percussion (1968–1969)
John Mayhew – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1969–1970; died 2009)
Phil Collins – lead and backing vocals, drums, percussion (1970–1996, 2000, 2006–2007, 2020–2022)
Mick Barnard – guitar (1970–1971)
Steve Hackett – guitar (1971–1977)
Ray Wilson – lead vocals (1996–2000)
Former touring musicians
Bill Bruford – drums, percussion (1976)
Chester Thompson – drums, percussion (1976–1992, 2006–2007)
Daryl Stuermer – guitar, bass, backing vocals (1978–1992, 2006–2007, 2020–2022)
Nir Zidkyahu – drums, percussion (1997–1998)
Anthony Drennan – guitar, bass, backing vocals (1997–1998)
Nic Collins – drums, percussion (2020–2022)
Daniel Pearce – backing vocals (2020–2022)
Patrick Smyth – backing vocals (2020–2022)
