Genesis, The #60 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

 "Great music.  I could listen to them all day."

"Outstanding band."

"One of the best bands ever."

"Great songwriting and musicianship."

"Genesis is a major part of the soundtrack of my life."

"Phenomenal band.  The voice of Collins and the brilliant talents of Rutherford and Banks put Genesis in a league of their own. Genesis left us with a lifetime of great music."

"All their albums are amazing, help you through things, help you grow up and are there with you."

"Just can't get enough of their music."

"I love this band."

"There was something magical about this band."

There are two sides to this amazing British group.  In their beginnings, they were a leading Progressive Rock group led by a wild front man.  They then evolved with superb songwriting into one of the top acts of the 80's led by a different lead singer.  One must understand both sides of the story to fully appreciate them!

In 1967, five students at the Charterhouse School in Godalming, Surrey (keyboardist Tony Banks, bassist/guitarist Mike Rutherford and guitarist Anthony Phillips, lead singer Peter Gabriel and drummer Chris Stewart) formed this great group.  When the members ranged in age from 15 to 17, they signed a recording contract with Decca Records.  

After two singles were unsuccessful, Stewart left the group to focus on his studies, while another classmate, John Silver, took his place.  While they were on summer break from school, the band recorded their debut album, From Genesis to Revelation.  But the album failed to sell when record stores mistakenly placed the LP in the religious section after seeing the title!

After graduating, the members went to different universities, but Banks, Phillips, Rutherford and Gabriel decided to concentrate full-time on music.  They recorded four demos with Silver, which were rejected by every label that heard it. Silver left after this bad news, replaced by John Mayhew.

Genesis began practicing hard to prepare for live performances, and when the group played at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho, members of the group Rare Bird recommended Genesis to their producer, John Anthony of Charisma Records.  Within a few weeks, Genesis signed a recording contract with the label.

 

In 1970, Genesis recorded the album Trespass at Trident Studios in London.  "Knife" often closes Genesis concerts and features a double-tracked guitar solo from Phillips.

After Phillips contracted bronchial pneumonia, he left the group.  Banks, Gabriel and Rutherford felt Phillips would be tough to replace, but after Banks demanded that Genesis find a new drummer, Mayhew was fired.

Genesis took out an advertisement in Melody Maker, which Phil Collins spotted.  Collins auditioned for the spot and was hired in August.  The group briefly hired Mick Barnard on guitar, but soon opened up auditions.  Steve Hackett tried out and joined the group in January of 1971.  The new lineup toured the U.K., opening for Lindisfarne and Van der Graaf Generator and played at the famous Reading Festival in June.  

 

Later in the year, Genesis released their third album Nursery Cryme.  This track is high up on their list of best songs--"The Musical Box".  

 

They toured England, Italy and Belgium and again played at the Reading Festival, a performance that drew raves from critics.  The following year, the group released the album Foxtrot, which contains this masterpiece, created when members were 21 years old--"Supper's Ready".

Genesis toured North America and Europe and, unbeknownst to the other members, Gabriel began wearing a costume on stage, soon expanding his act to include fluorescent face paint and a cape loaded with bat wings.  "Watcher Of The Skies" is highlighted by an amazing bass line from Rutherford, great work behind the kit by Collins, and the extraordinary keyboard work of Banks.

Genesis released the album Selling England by the Pound in 1973, which went to #3 in the U.K.  "Dancing With The Moonlit Knight" is a progressive rock masterpiece.

Despite their success in Europe, the band was £150,000 in debt.  They hired Tony Smith as their new manager, and a successful tour of North America and Europe followed.  "Firth Of Fifth", composed mostly by Banks, is a pun on the estuary of the River Forth in Scotland, known as the Firth of Forth.  With its tasty grand piano opening by Banks leading into the flute melody by Gabriel, it also ranks high in their catalog.

Gabriel wrote all the lyrics for the group's double album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, their first concept album, telling the story of a Puerto Rican hustler named Rael living in New York City.  "The Carpet Crawlers" is the point in the story when Rael goes past people who are kneeled on a red carpet crawling towards a wooden door.  A candlelit feast awaits inside with a spiral staircase that winds out of sight.  

Gabriel left the group when he was asked to write a screenplay, but returned when that project was scrapped.  Genesis released the album in 1974, which peaked at #10 in the U.K.  The title song features more keyboard wizardry from Banks.

 

The band had an extensive tour of North America and Europe with a set that included even more wild costumes worn by Gabriel.  During a show in Cleveland, Ohio, Gabriel told the group he was leaving at the end of the tour.  Gabriel's vocals, Banks' otherworldly keyboard solos, Rutherford's bass, Collins' drumming...all combine for this fantastic track--"In The Cage".

Genesis began recording a new album in October, 1975, but since a new lead singer had not been hired, only the backing track was recorded.  The band took out an ad in Melody Maker, which received close to 400 replies.  But none of those met approval of the group, so Collins recorded vocals for one of the songs on the album.  The other members liked it so much that they decided Phil would be the new lead singer.  After the period in which Gabriel was the lead singer, the group was £400,000 in debt.

Genesis released the album early in 1976, and A Trick of the Tail reached #3 in the U.K.  

Bill Bruford was brought on board to play drums on tour while Collins sang, and Genesis performed before enthusiastic crowds.  The group released the album Wind & Wuthering in 1976, a #6 album in the U.K.

Genesis employed Chester Thompson on drums for an accompanying tour of North America, Europe and Brazil.  They played three nights at Earls Court, then the biggest arena in Great Britain, and also played Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Up to this point, Genesis had failed to generate any enthusiasm outside of England on 12 consecutive singles, and none of their British hits reached the Top 10.  That was about to change.

Hackett left the group to focus on a solo career, leaving Genesis as a three-piece.  Banks, Rutherford and Collins wasted no time in releasing the album ...And Then There Were Three, which gave Genesis their first worldwide hit., "Follow You, Follow Me".  It reached #5 in Switzerland, #7 in the U.K., #8 in West Germany and an underrated #22 in the U.S.

Genesis hired guitarist Daryl Stuermer for a tour of North America, Europe and Japan, and they headlined the Knebworth Festival.  But when Collins' marriage began falling apart, he made a concerted attempt to save it.  He was unsuccessful, and the three members of Genesis used this time to release solo albums.


 

In 1980, Genesis released the album Duke, their first #1 album in the U.K.  The single "Turn It On Again" soared to #2 in Australia and #8 in the U.K., but only reached #55 in the United States.  It is one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.

"Misunderstanding", surprisingly, was a bigger hit, #1 in Canada and #14 in the U.S.

Tune in for Part Two below!