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GENESIS
- 1969
COUNTRY:
UNITED KINGDOM
GENRE(S):
PROGRESSIVE ROCK
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SIMILAR BANDS:
DISCIPLINE, GHIRIBIZZI, STEVE COCHRANE, PREMIATA FORNERIA MARCONI, IL BACIO DELLA MEDUSA, PUPPET SHOW, UNITOPIA, US, BALLOON ASTRONOMY, RAY WILSON
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A hugely successful British band in the 1970s and 1980s, Genesis remains an undisputed legend in the history of progressive rock, and rock in general.
THIBAUTK
- 05.11.2023
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Genesis is born into a bleak educational institution. Charterhouse College, in Surrey, is a caricature of the English school system. It is here that two twelve-year-old toddlers, who will become the band's main driving forces, are interned: Peter Gabriel and Tony Banks. Peter plays the flute, piano and drums, but it's singing above all that attracts him. Tony plays the piano and discovers that the Beatles are as much fun to play as Rachmaninov. They become the best of friends, often playing together on the school piano and composing songs.
At the same time, another duo of friends formed. Michael Rutherford played the cello before taking up the guitar. He can play 12-string, electric and bass. No wonder he becomes the inseparable accomplice of Anthony Philips, also a folk guitar addict. At the age of fifteen, the two buddy duos each set up a band, with great difficulty and a lot of "system D". Then, Tony and Peter got closer to Mike and Anthony, and decide to merge. Tony Banks keeps the keyboards, Peter Gabriel takes over vocals and flute, Mike Rutherford bass and 12-string guitar, Anthony Philips electric guitar. The quartet recruits drummer Chris Stewart, formerly of Tony and Peter's band. The four active members compose songs and timidly approach Charterhouse alumnus Jonathan King, who has become a singer. He agrees to produce them, even though they are still minors, have no name, and their drummer refuses to get seriously involved! The single is an obvious failure. Chris Stewart leaves the band and becomes a farmer, replaced by John Silver. The four compose an album, very naive and childish, spoiled by Jonathan King's pompous production. The album, "From genesis to revelation" (1969), is a bitter failure. Some record shops shelve it in the "religious music" section...
While John Silver leaves the band to continue his studies, Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford and Anthony Philips leave Jonathan King, in whom they have lost all confidence. They, however, inherit their name: Genesis.
After recruiting a new drummer, John Mayhew, Genesis locks himself away for a year in the cottage of their friend Richard MacPhail, rehearsing tirelessly. Progress are enormous, and they compose the bulk of their future album. Then they meet Tony Stratton-Smith, producer of Charisma, and it is love at first sight. Genesis goes pro and releases his first proper album: "Trespass" (1970).
Success is modest, but sufficient. Unfortunately, the "pro" career frightens Anthony Philips, who decides to return to anonymity and become a music teacher. What's more, John Mayhew mysteriously disappears, and to this day his family doesn't know what happened to him, or even if he's still alive. Nothing is yet certain for Genesis.
Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford advertise for a drummer. Phil Collins, a born artist, responds. Funny, imaginative and full of talent, he is accepted. Then an advert catches the eye of the three thieves: "guitarist looking for a band determined to fight against the stagnation of today's music". Steve Hackett, the dark one, is recruited.
Gabriel-Hackett-Banks-Collins-Rutherford, the historic Genesis line-up. The group is tight-knit and creative, even though it is very young. They collectively compose three albums: "Nursery Cryme" (1971), "Foxtrot" (1972), and "Selling England by the pound" (1973). These three masterpieces ensure the band's immense success. Peter Gabriel also adds a theatrical dimension by dressing up on stage. Genesis is the band of wicked tales and dramatic virtuosity.
Peter Gabriel, the band's unwitting leader, matures before his comrades. He writes the libretto and text for a rock opera, "The lamb lies down on Broadway" (1974), which crownes the band's career. Then, wanting to continue creating without being locked up, he decides to go solo. It is the most amicable and bitter-free split in Rock history.
Phil Collins replaces Peter on vocals. On stage, great drummers like Chester Thompson and especially Bill Brufford take over. The band remains prog with two albums, "A trick of the tail" and "Wind & Wuthering" (1976).
But Genesis is now an old-fashioned band, about to be erased by the rising punk wave. Steve Hackett, who has always been a bit of an outsider in the band, is too shy to survive its evolution. He decides to embark on a solo career, modest, too little known, but very honorable.
Left on their own, Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford attempt a final album, "...and then there were three..." (1978). Make no mistake, it's progressive, but bad. Undermined by the singer-drummer's marital problems, the trio takes a break.
In 1980, the three musicians begin producing again. Almost for fun, they put together a simple, fun concept album, recycling their old recipes with modern instruments. The result is "Duke" (1980), the band's last progressive album, already tinged with 80s sounds.
Phil Collins then takes the helm. Undermined by his divorce, he takes refuge in songwriting, a field he has by then largely neglected. Not only does he begin his enormous solo career without pretension, but he also becomes the leader of a revitalized band.
It is no longer progressive, but Genesis comes back to the spotlight with three albums: "Abacab" (1981), "Genesis" (1983), and "Invisible Touch" (1986). You can criticize this career turnaround all you like, but Genesis at least has the merit of continuing to progress (!) without repeating itself. And a few typical progressive stylistic tricks are occasionally used: the instrumental reprise of a theme ("Second home by the sea" on the "Genesis" album), the multi-part song ("Domino part 1 & 2" on "Invisible Touch")... The overall quality remains high, and the soul of Genesis is intact.
Plagued by Phil Collins' career, which has become too important to allow him the time to keep up with his band, Genesis takes a break. Then the trio releases an album, "We Can't Dance" (1991), which is full of nods to fans of all eras.
After a colossal world tour, Phil Collins leaves the band to devote himself entirely to his career. In 1997, Genesis returns, with Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford and a new singer named Ray Wilson, who has made a notable appearance in the band Stilskin. The album, "Calling all stations", and the tour that followed, are respectable performances and ultimately closer to the Gabriel period.
The Genesis biography could be much longer, as the life of this band is so fascinating and rich in anecdotes. Don't miss "Genesis-la boîte à musiques", written by Frédéric Delâge. It's the most accurate and complete Genesis biography, and above all, it's written like the wonderful novel that was the story of this genius band.
More informations on http://www.genesis-music.com
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DID YOU KNOW?
 Genesis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010 in recognition of their influence and contribution to the music industry.
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