Genesis transformed from an experimental progressive rock group into one of the biggest pop bands on the planet. While most bands crumble after losing a charismatic lead singer, this British group defied the odds and achieved even greater commercial success with a new frontman. Their music evolved from twenty-minute epics about mythology to radio-friendly hits that dominated the charts in the eighties. Furthermore, the members launched incredibly successful solo careers that often competed with the band itself. Prepare to turn it on again with these musical pioneers.
Genesis
The band formed at the prestigious Charterhouse School in England. Founding members Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, and Anthony Phillips met as teenagers while studying at the historic boarding school. Consequently, they used their lunch breaks to write songs and escape the strict discipline of the institution.
Their first album failed because record shops put it in the religious section. Jonathan King, their producer, named the album From Genesis to Revelation without realizing the confusion it would cause. Therefore, shoppers assumed it was a collection of hymns rather than a psychedelic rock record.
Peter Gabriel started wearing wild costumes to get the press to write about them. During a concert, he slipped away and returned wearing a red dress and a fox head, shocking his bandmates who had no idea he planned to do it. The stunt worked perfectly, and a photo of the “Fox” appeared on the front page of a music magazine the next day.
Phil Collins auditioned 400 other singers before taking the job himself. After Peter Gabriel left the group, the band struggled to find a replacement vocalist. eventually, Phil, who had been teaching the applicants the songs, realized he could sing them better than anyone else.
The famous “I Can’t Dance” walk was a joke about male models. Phil Collins invented the stiff, awkward march to mock models in jeans commercials who looked cool but couldn’t actually move. The band found it hilarious and decided to use the silly walk in the music video and on stage.
They are one of the few bands to have two members with massive solo careers simultaneously. While Genesis topped the charts, both Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel released multi-platinum solo albums. Additionally, Mike Rutherford found huge success with his own side project, Mike + The Mechanics.
Steve Hackett joined the band after placing a very pretentious classified ad. The guitarist advertised himself as a musician “determined to strive beyond existing stagnant music forms.” Peter Gabriel loved the wording and immediately invited him to join the group.
“Invisible Touch” became their only single to reach number one in the United States. Despite having dozens of hits, this 1986 track stands as their sole chart-topper on the Billboard Hot 100. It defeated Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer,” which sat at number two the very same week.
The album Abacab got its strange name from the musical structure of the title track. The band arranged the song in sections labeled A, B, and C to keep track of the order. When they finished, the final arrangement spelled out “Abacab,” and they decided to keep it as the title.
Phil Collins played the drums for both the London and Philadelphia Live Aid concerts on the same day. He performed in England, then hopped on a Concorde jet to fly across the Atlantic to perform in the US. Although Genesis did not play as a full band, this stunt highlighted the global dominance of the group’s members at the time.
A short-lived era featured a singer named Ray Wilson. After Phil Collins left in 1996, the remaining members hired the stylistic grunge singer to record the album Calling All Stations. Unfortunately, the album did not sell well in America, and the tour was canceled.
They used a “Drum Duet” as a centerpiece of their live shows. Phil Collins and touring drummer Chester Thompson would perform a synchronized drum battle every night. This high-energy interlude became a fan favorite tradition that lasted for decades.
The song “Supper’s Ready” lasts for nearly twenty-three minutes. This seven-part epic from the album Foxtrot remains a masterpiece of the progressive rock genre. It features surreal lyrics about the apocalypse, Winston Churchill, and flower creatures.
Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford are the only members to appear on every album. While singers and drummers changed over the years, the keyboardist and bassist remained the constant foundation of the group. They steered the ship from the 1960s all the way to their final tour in 2022.
Finally, the band reunited one last time for “The Last Domino?” tour. Due to health issues, Phil Collins performed the entire tour while sitting in a chair. His son, Nic Collins, took over the drumming duties, allowing the legendary band to say a proper goodbye to their fans.
