Genesis

Genesis originally consisted of singer Peter Gabriel, guitarist Anthony Phillips, keyboardist Tony Banks, bassist/guitarist Mike Rutherford and drummer Chris Stewart, but would take on many forms during its life span. The band released its debut album “From Genesis to Revelation,” on March 7th, 1969. It was not an impressive first album, sales wise, by any means, but would slowly start the process that would grow the band’s popularity and momentum. The next year “Trespass” would be the band’s second attempt. It included the songs “White Mountain,” and “The Knife” which would help the band reach the #98 spot on the UK charts. Guitarist Anthony Philips left the band at this point, reportedly due to stage fright, and was replaced by Steve Hackett. Phil Collins also stepped in and took on the band’s drumming duties. The next year the band released the album “Nursery Crime.” The track “For Absent Friends,” would mark the first time that Phil Collins would contribute vocally.

The band released “Foxtrot” on October 6th, 1972 and supported the album with a tour in 1973. Peter Gabriel was a larger than life character on stage, and this earned the band a great reputation for their live performances. In November of that year, they released “Selling England by the Pound,” which included the songs “Firth of Fifth,” and “I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe),” which made it all the way to #17 on the UK charts. The album itself made it to the #3 spot in the UK and became their first album to be certified Gold in the US. For their next act, Genesis released the double album “The Lam Lies Down on Broadway,” on November 18th, 1974 which lead to the epic stage shows that used special lighting techniques and lasers. The band performed the album in it’s entirety on tour and did so an amazing 102 times. As impressive as the album and performance had been, cracks in the relationship between Peter Gabriel and the rest of the band started to form. After finishing out the tour, Gabriel left the band to pursue his solo career.

With Gabriel out of the picture, the band struggled with the decision of how to fill his spot. They auditioned other singers, but eventually decided that Phil Collins would take over as vocalist. It turned out to be a great choice, and their next album “A Trick of the Tail,” which was released in 1976, became their best selling and highest charting album thus far, reaching the #31 spot on the charts in the US. Steve Hackett left the band as well, which is documented by the title of their 1978 album “…And Then There Were Three…” 3 appeared to be the magic number because for the first time, their album was certified Platinum in the US, selling over 1 million copies, a tradition that would continue for their next 5 albums. The guys toured in support of the album, playing in North America, Europe and even Japan, but success was not with out its consequences. Collins was having marital issues, and rather than record without him, the band took a break.

After Collins’ marriage ultimately ended in divorce, the band released the album “Duke” on March 28th, 1980. Ironically, it seemed that every time the group involved with Genesis got smaller, the band got more successful. “Duke” became their first #1 album in the UK, reaching the #11 spot in the US, and selling over 1 million units in America alone. The record also made the songs “Misunderstanding,” and “Turn it on Again,” famous. Their next album “Abacab” was even more popular and profitable than their last. Selling more than 2 million copies in the US alone, the album continued the band’s ascent of the American charts, reaching #7, and breaking into the top 10 for the first time. Continually progressing their sound, the song “No Reply at All,” was a collaboration with the band Earth Wind and Fire.

The international success of their self-titled record “Genesis,” lead the way to what would be the band’s most popular album, 1986’s “Invisible Touch.” The release of “Invisible Touch,” couldn’t have been timed any better because it coincided with the fact that Phil Collins’ solo career was also going incredibly well. The album produced some of the band’s most famous songs including “Throwing it all Away,” “Land of Confusion,” which would later be covered by the hard rock band Disturbed, and the title track “Invisible Touch.” The song “Invisible Touch,” went to the top of the charts in the US. After extensive promotion of the album, the band decided to take some time off. They returned triumphantly with the record “We Can’t Dance.” The album included many hits such as “Jesus He Knows Me,” and the unforgettable “I Can’t Dance.” This would be Phil Collins last album however, and he soon left the band to continue his solo career. Rutherford and Banks decided to continue the band, but after poor record sales that cut the tour supporting their album “Calling All Stations” short, the band went on “extended hiatus.” Fortunately for fans, in 2007, along with Phil Collins, the band reunited and undertook an extensive tour that included dates across Europe and North America. The band has not released any more studio albums since 1997, and currently does not have any tour dates scheduled.