Genesis (band)Genesis is a progressive rock group that was formed in 1967 when founding members Peter Gabriel, Mike Rutherford, and Tony Banks were still students at Charterhouse School. The band enjoyed considerable success in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Genesis broke up in 1998. MembersOriginal MembersPeter Gabriel - vocals (1967 - 1975) Tony Banks - keyboards (1967 - 1998) Mike Rutherford - guitar, bass (1967 - 1998) Anthony Phillips guitar (1967 - 1970) Chris Stewart - drums (1967 - 1969) Other Members
Supplemental Concert Musicians
Additional session musicians:
HistoryGenesis: (from top left, clockwise) Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett, Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks and Phil CollinsGenesis recorded its first album, 1968's From Genesis to Revelation, after striking a deal with Jonathan King, a songwriter and producer who had a hit single at the time called "Everyone's Gone to the Moon". The band recorded a series of songs reflecting the light pop style of the Bee Gees, of whom King was very fond, and King assembled these tracks into a pseudo-concept album, piling string arrangements on top of them. The album flopped terribly, and the band, feeling manipulated by King, told him they had broken up in order to get out of their contract with him. To this day, King is infamous among the band and its fans for bragging that he gave Genesis their name and trying to hawk the rights to the first album's songs for re-recording. Genesis soldiered on, playing what gigs they could get and eventually landing a new deal with the fledgling Charisma Records. Through live performances the band became known for hypnotic melodies that were often dark, haunting, and medieval sounding. Anthony Phillips left the band in 1970 after the release of Trespass over disagreements about the direction of Genesis' music, and reported bouts of stage fright. The departure of Phillips was traumatic for both Banks and Rutherford, as Phillips had been a founding member, and there was doubt over whether Genesis could go on without him. Eventually, the remaining members rallied and renewed their commitment to Genesis, sacking drummer John Mayhew in the bargain. Steve Hackett and Phil Collins both joined the band after successful auditions, both musicians having answered ads in Melody Maker. The first album Genesis released by the definitive line-up is Nursery Cryme in 1971. 1972's Foxtrot, which featured the 23-minute magnum opus "Supper's Ready" and the Arthur C. Clarke-inspired "Watcher of the Skies", solidified Genesis' reputation as songwriters and performers. Gabriel's flamboyant and theatrical stage presence, which involved numerous costume changes and surreal stories told as the introduction to each song, made the band one of the most talked-about live acts on the early-70s UK club scene. Selling England by the Pound followed in 1973 and received praise from critics and fans alike. It is regarded by many Genesis fans to be the finest of their albums. Classics such as "Firth of Fifth" and "Cinema Show" would be staples in live performances for years to come. Genesis would soon venture in a more ambitious project, the concept album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, released in November 1974. Peter Gabriel left the band in 1975, following the tour to support The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. He had been feeling more and more estranged from the band, and his marriage and birth of his first child only added to his personal strain. The other members of Genesis essentially wrote all of the music to Lamb without Gabriel's participation, and he wrote the story and lyrics on his own. Gabriel's first solo album (Peter Gabriel, 1977) featured the single "Solsbury Hill," an allegory about his breakup with Genesis. After considering various replacement lead singers — "We got quite a lot of weirdos, because of Peter and his costumes," Rutherford recalled in an interview — Genesis settled on using their drummer, Phil Collins, changing from a quintet to a quartet. Much to everyone's surprise, Collins proved to be the ideal singer for the band. Many believed that the band would fail miserably without Gabriel. A Trick of the Tail and Wind & Wuthering, released within a year of each other, were generally well received and demonstrated that the group were far more than a backing band for their theatrical former front-man. Bill Bruford, freshly out of King Crimson joined the band on tour in 1976 as drummer; later, the jazz fusion-trained Chester Thompson, a veteran of Weather Report and Frank Zappa, would take over live drumming duties, leaving Collins to step into the spotlight. In 1977, Steve Hackett left the band. Mike Rutherford took over his guitar duties, and the group continued as a trio, a fact reflected in the title of their 1978 album ...And Then There Were Three. This album began yet another change in Genesis' musical direction, away from their 10-minute-plus progressive epics and towards shorter, more radio-friendly tracks. It yielded their first American radio hit, "Follow You Follow Me". The platinum-selling Duke followed, and created two huge hits for the band, "Turn It On Again" and "Misunderstanding". Genesis' course into the 1980s as a pop singles outfit was assured — though some fans of their Gabriel-era music felt alienated. Each successive album saw their music become more commercial and their audience expand. By the late 80s and early 90s, Genesis regularly played stadiums worldwide. In July 1987 they became the first band to play 4 consecutive nights at Wembley Stadium. The band's live performances were augmented by a commitment to cutting edge technology. Genesis were the first band to use Vari*Lites, Jumbotron screens and the Prism sound system, all of which are now standard features of arena rock concerts. Meanwhile, Collins had become a superstar in his own right with a hugely successful solo career, studio production work, acting stints (including the then popular TV show Miami Vice), and guest drumming on tours for Robert Plant and Eric Clapton. Collins' own success as a solo artist may have influenced the success and musical direction of Genesis. Certainly many saw his departure from the group in 1996 as the band's death knell. Rutherford and Banks elected to go on, and replaced Collins with ex-Stiltskin singer Ray Wilson. The album Calling All Stations sold well in Europe but went nowhere in America, where hip-hop, alternative rock, and teen pop were supplanting classic rock on the charts. Genesis cancelled a planned American tour due to the album's commercial failure. Genesis has, for all intents and purposes, disbanded, but the individual members (including Phillips and Hackett, but excluding Gabriel) are in regular contact, and have not ruled out some sort of reunion. Tony Banks describes Genesis as "resting," and Collins (who has begun to lose his hearing in one ear) has even expressed hope that the entire original lineup, including Gabriel, might play together again. The classic lineup did record a new version of "Carpet Crawlers" (though this was done over many separate sessions) for a 1999 greatest hits CD, and most of the original members were involved in the two Archive boxed-set compilations. SACD re-releases of most of Genesis' studio albums have been announced as of 2004. DiscographyStudio albums
Live recordings and compilations
Hit singles
Other releases of interest
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SACD re-releases of most of Genesis' studio albums have been announced as of 2004. The band regularly updates a road journal on their website (http://www.guster.com/), and can often be found after shows for autographs. The classic lineup did record a new version of "Carpet Crawlers" (though this was done over many separate sessions) for a 1999 greatest hits CD, and most of the original members were involved in the two Archive boxed-set compilations. The band is also known for their connection with their fans. Tony Banks describes Genesis as "resting," and Collins (who has begun to lose his hearing in one ear) has even expressed hope that the entire original lineup, including Gabriel, might play together again. Guster's sound is also defined by their vocal harmonies, with both Ryan and Adam singing lead vocals on different songs; in "What You Wish For," all three sing different lyrics simultaneously. Genesis has, for all intents and purposes, disbanded, but the individual members (including Phillips and Hackett, but excluding Gabriel) are in regular contact, and have not ruled out some sort of reunion. Ryan playing bass, Brian playing drum kit). Genesis cancelled a planned American tour due to the album's commercial failure. The complexity of the new album required the addition of Joe Pisapia (guitar, keyboards, backup vocals), as well as allowed the original members to diversify their instrument choice (e.g. The album Calling All Stations sold well in Europe but went nowhere in America, where hip-hop, alternative rock, and teen pop were supplanting classic rock on the charts. violin, bass, drum kit), their live shows generally kept this line up until the Keep It Together tour. Rutherford and Banks elected to go on, and replaced Collins with ex-Stiltskin singer Ray Wilson. While Guster's studio albums include more instruments (e.g. Certainly many saw his departure from the group in 1996 as the band's death knell. Brian Rosenworcel, the band's primary percussionist, adds to Guster's unique sound with a combination of bongos, cymbals, and other drums, playing many live shows using only his bare hands. Collins' own success as a solo artist may have influenced the success and musical direction of Genesis. The characteristic usually first brought up about the band is their choice of instruments: two members playing acoustic guitars, and one member playing drums and various percussion. Meanwhile, Collins had become a superstar in his own right with a hugely successful solo career, studio production work, acting stints (including the then popular TV show Miami Vice), and guest drumming on tours for Robert Plant and Eric Clapton. A live album, Guster on Ice, compiled from two shows at Portland, Maine in December, 2003, was released in 2004. Genesis were the first band to use Vari*Lites, Jumbotron screens and the Prism sound system, all of which are now standard features of arena rock concerts. The band released their fourth album, Keep It Together in 2003, with the first single, "Amsterdam", getting significant play on the radio. The band's live performances were augmented by a commitment to cutting edge technology. The band also released their first video, a song from L&GF entitled "Fa Fa". In July 1987 they became the first band to play 4 consecutive nights at Wembley Stadium. With the backing of a major label, the band appeared on late night shows like David Letterman. By the late 80s and early 90s, Genesis regularly played stadiums worldwide. A year later, the band released the album Lost and Gone Forever, produced by Steve Lillywhite. Each successive album saw their music become more commercial and their audience expand. In 1998 the band signed to Sire Records and re-released Goldfly. Genesis' course into the 1980s as a pop singles outfit was assured — though some fans of their Gabriel-era music felt alienated. Shortly after the release of Parachute another artist called Gus signed a deal with a major record company, forcing the band to rename themselves "Guster." In 1996, the band independently recorded their second album, Goldfly, releasing it early the next year. The platinum-selling Duke followed, and created two huge hits for the band, "Turn It On Again" and "Misunderstanding". The band independently recorded their first album in 1994, entitled Parachute, while still in college. It yielded their first American radio hit, "Follow You Follow Me". A year later, after writing a few songs in their dorm rooms, the band named themselves "Gus" and booked their first gig. This album began yet another change in Genesis' musical direction, away from their 10-minute-plus progressive epics and towards shorter, more radio-friendly tracks. The band members met during freshman orientation at Tufts University in 1991. Mike Rutherford took over his guitar duties, and the group continued as a trio, a fact reflected in the title of their 1978 album ...And Then There Were Three. Guster is an acoustic rock band, originally formed in Boston, Massachusetts by members Ryan Miller (guitar/vocals), Adam Gardner (guitar/vocals), and Brian Rosenworcel (drums/percussion). In 1977, Steve Hackett left the band. 1994 - Parachute. Bill Bruford, freshly out of King Crimson joined the band on tour in 1976 as drummer; later, the jazz fusion-trained Chester Thompson, a veteran of Weather Report and Frank Zappa, would take over live drumming duties, leaving Collins to step into the spotlight. 1997 - Goldfly. Many believed that the band would fail miserably without Gabriel. A Trick of the Tail and Wind & Wuthering, released within a year of each other, were generally well received and demonstrated that the group were far more than a backing band for their theatrical former front-man. 1999 - Lost and Gone Forever. Much to everyone's surprise, Collins proved to be the ideal singer for the band. 2003 - Keep It Together. After considering various replacement lead singers — "We got quite a lot of weirdos, because of Peter and his costumes," Rutherford recalled in an interview — Genesis settled on using their drummer, Phil Collins, changing from a quintet to a quartet. 2004 - Guster on Ice. Gabriel's first solo album (Peter Gabriel, 1977) featured the single "Solsbury Hill," an allegory about his breakup with Genesis. The other members of Genesis essentially wrote all of the music to Lamb without Gabriel's participation, and he wrote the story and lyrics on his own. He had been feeling more and more estranged from the band, and his marriage and birth of his first child only added to his personal strain. Peter Gabriel left the band in 1975, following the tour to support The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Genesis would soon venture in a more ambitious project, the concept album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, released in November 1974. Classics such as "Firth of Fifth" and "Cinema Show" would be staples in live performances for years to come. It is regarded by many Genesis fans to be the finest of their albums. Selling England by the Pound followed in 1973 and received praise from critics and fans alike. Gabriel's flamboyant and theatrical stage presence, which involved numerous costume changes and surreal stories told as the introduction to each song, made the band one of the most talked-about live acts on the early-70s UK club scene. Clarke-inspired "Watcher of the Skies", solidified Genesis' reputation as songwriters and performers. 1972's Foxtrot, which featured the 23-minute magnum opus "Supper's Ready" and the Arthur C. The first album Genesis released by the definitive line-up is Nursery Cryme in 1971. Steve Hackett and Phil Collins both joined the band after successful auditions, both musicians having answered ads in Melody Maker. Eventually, the remaining members rallied and renewed their commitment to Genesis, sacking drummer John Mayhew in the bargain. The departure of Phillips was traumatic for both Banks and Rutherford, as Phillips had been a founding member, and there was doubt over whether Genesis could go on without him. Anthony Phillips left the band in 1970 after the release of Trespass over disagreements about the direction of Genesis' music, and reported bouts of stage fright. Through live performances the band became known for hypnotic melodies that were often dark, haunting, and medieval sounding. Genesis soldiered on, playing what gigs they could get and eventually landing a new deal with the fledgling Charisma Records. To this day, King is infamous among the band and its fans for bragging that he gave Genesis their name and trying to hawk the rights to the first album's songs for re-recording. The album flopped terribly, and the band, feeling manipulated by King, told him they had broken up in order to get out of their contract with him. The band recorded a series of songs reflecting the light pop style of the Bee Gees, of whom King was very fond, and King assembled these tracks into a pseudo-concept album, piling string arrangements on top of them. Genesis recorded its first album, 1968's From Genesis to Revelation, after striking a deal with Jonathan King, a songwriter and producer who had a hit single at the time called "Everyone's Gone to the Moon". Additional session musicians:. Chris Stewart - drums (1967 - 1969). Anthony Phillips guitar (1967 - 1970). Mike Rutherford - guitar, bass (1967 - 1998). Tony Banks - keyboards (1967 - 1998). Peter Gabriel - vocals (1967 - 1975). Genesis broke up in 1998. The band enjoyed considerable success in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Genesis is a progressive rock group that was formed in 1967 when founding members Peter Gabriel, Mike Rutherford, and Tony Banks were still students at Charterhouse School. 2001 The Genesis Songbook (Documentary DVD). Incorporating an orchestra and some artists affiliated with Genesis and its members in the past (such as Paul Carrack, vocalist in Mike & The Mechanics) the album is a tribute as well as an effort to fresh up some old Genesis songs and present them in a more modern context. Another Steve Hackett solo album, but this album includes only remakes of earlier Genesis songs. 1996 Steve Hackett: Genesis Revisited. 1991 Genesis: A History (Documentary video). Steve Hackett - Genesis Revisited (Genesis songs reinterpreted, plus one he co-wrote with Garbriel in 1973, but which was never recorded). The album contains songs composed by Phillips and Mike Rutherford, such as the title track. Phil Collins guest sings in a couple of songs and John Hackett plays the flute. 1977 The Geese and the Ghost is the first solo album by Anthony Phillips, former Genesis member. The Enid were forced to retitle their album In
the Region of the Summer Stars, which Godfrey contends was a better title anyway. 1975 Voyage of the Acolyte is a Steve Hackett solo album, but
is regarded by some as a quasi-Genesis album; it features Hackett, Rutherford and Collins in addition to John Hackett
(flute, ARP synthesizer, bells); Nigel Warren-Green (cello); Robin Miller (oboe, cor anglais); John Acock (Mellotron, harmonium, piano) John Gustafson (bass) and Sally Oldfield (vocals).
1993 "Tell Me Why" #40 UK. from "We Can't Dance"
from "The Way We Walk, Vol. 1992 "Never a Time" #21 US. 1992 "Jesus He Knows Me" #20 UK, #23 US. 1992 "Hold on My Heart" #16 UK, #12 US. 1992 "I Can't Dance" #7 UK, #7 US. 1991 "No Son of Mine" #6 UK, #12 US. from "We Can't Dance"
1986 "Throwing It All Away" #22 UK (1987 release), #4 US. 1986 "Land of Confusion" #14 UK, #4 US. 1986 "In Too Deep" #19 UK, #3 US (1987 release). 1986 "Invisible Touch" #15 UK, #1 US. from "Invisible Touch"
1982 "Paperlate" #32 US. 1982 "3 x 3 EP" (Paperlate/Me and Virgil/You Might Recall) #10 UK. from "Three Sides Live"
1981 "No Reply at All" #29 US. 1981 "Keep It Dark" #33 UK. 1981 "Abacab" #9 UK, #26 US (1982 release). from "Abacab"
1980 "Turn It On Again" #8 UK. 1980 "Misunderstanding" #14 US. from "Duke"
from "...And Then There Were Three"
from "Selling England by the Pound"
2000 Archive #2 — 1976-1992 (3-CD box set compilation of live and rare material). 1999 Turn It On Again: The Hits #4 UK, #65 US, US Sales: 500,000. 1998 Genesis Archive — 1967-1975 (4-CD box set compilation of live and rare material) #35 UK. 2: The Longs #1 UK, #20 US. 1992 The Way We Walk, Vol. 1: The Shorts #3 UK, #35 US, US Sales: 500,000. 1992 The Way We Walk, Vol. 1992 The Way We Walk — Live in Concert (Video). 1984 The Mama Tour (Video). The outdoor concert was a benefit for Gabriel's WOMAD Festival, and was a huge success despite torrential rain. In October 1982, Gabriel and Hackett performed with Genesis at a one-off reunion concert, "Six of the best", which has been widely bootlegged. 1982 Three Sides Live (Video). When the "Definitive Edition Remaster" of this album came out on CD in the late 1990s, all editions worldwide used the live tracks, and the studio tracks were reissued in the box set Archive #2 — 1976-1992.) #2 UK, #10 US, US Sales: 500,000. 1982 Three Sides Live (Side 4 of the US release featured studio tracks, but the UK release featured live tracks from the 1976 and 1978 tours. 1977 Seconds Out #4 UK, #47 US. 1976 Genesis in Concert (Concert film). 1973 Genesis Live #9 UK, #105 US (charted in 1974). 1997 Calling All Stations (Banks, Rutherford, Wilson) #2 UK, #54 US. 1991 We Can't Dance (Banks, Rutherford, Collins) #1 UK, #4 US, US Sales: 4,000,000. 1986 Invisible Touch (Banks, Rutherford, Collins) #1 UK, #3 US, US Sales: 6,000,000. 1983 Genesis (Banks, Rutherford, Collins) #1 UK, #9 US, US Sales: 4,000,000. 1981 Abacab (Banks, Rutherford, Collins) #1 UK, #7 US, US Sales: 2,000,000. 1980 Duke (Banks, Rutherford, Collins) #1 UK, #11 US, US Sales: 1,000,000. 1978 ...And Then There Were Three (Banks, Rutherford, Collins) #3 UK, #14 US, US Sales: 1,000,000. 1977 Spot the Pigeon EP (Banks, Rutherford, Hackett, Collins). 1976 Wind & Wuthering (Banks, Rutherford, Hackett, Collins) #7 UK, #26 US (charted in 1977), US Sales: 500,000. 1976 A Trick of the Tail (Banks, Rutherford, Hackett, Collins) #3 UK, #31 US, US Sales: 500,000. 1974 The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (Gabriel, Banks, Rutherford, Hackett, Collins) #10 UK, #41 US (charted in 1975), US Sales: 500,000. 1973 Selling England by the Pound (Gabriel, Banks, Rutherford, Hackett, Collins) #3 UK, #70 US (charted in 1974), US Sales: 500,000. 1972 Foxtrot (Gabriel, Banks, Rutherford, Hackett, Collins) #12 UK. 1971 Nursery Cryme (Gabriel, Banks, Rutherford, Hackett, Collins) #39 UK (charted in 1974). 1970 Trespass (Gabriel, Banks, Rutherford, Phillips, Mayhew). rereleased in 1980 as Where The Sour Turns To Sweet. rereleased in 1974 as In The Beginning. 1969 From Genesis to Revelation (Gabriel, Banks, Rutherford, Phillips, Silver) #170 US (charted in 1974)
Nick D'Virgilio: drums on 1997 album Calling All Stations. Nir Zidkyahu (drums) 1998. Anthony Drennan (guitars, bass) 1998. Daryl Stuermer (guitars) 1978 - 1992. Chester Thompson (drums) 1977 - 1992. Bill Bruford (drums) 1976. Jon Mayhew - drums (1970). Jonathan Silver - drums (1969). Ray Wilson - vocals (1996 - 1998). Steve Hackett - guitar (1971 - 1977). Phil Collins - drums, vocals (1971 - 1995). |