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Genesis are an , 2007 . In 1988 the band won a Grammy Award for Best Concept Music Video . Genesis' members have included Peter Gabriel , Mike Rutherford , Tony Banks , Steve Hackett and Phil Collins , all of whom have achieved success as solo artists. Genesis began as a 1960s pop band playing moody, simple keyboard-driven melodies. During the 1970s they evolved into a Progressive Rock band and began to incorporate complex song structures and elaborate instrumentation, while their concerts took on a more theatrical tone. This second phase was characterised by lengthy performances such as the twenty-three minute " Supper's Ready " and, in 1974, the concept album '' The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway ''. The 1980s saw the band produce more accessible pop music based on melodic Hook s; this change of direction gave them their first number one album in the United Kingdom, '' Duke '', and their only number one single in the United States, " Invisible Touch ". Genesis have changed personnel several times. Collins, previously the band's drummer, replaced Gabriel as lead singer in 1975, and was replaced by former , 2006 . Retrieved on 15 March , 2007 . HISTORY 1967–1969 , Mike Rutherford , Tony Banks , Peter Gabriel and Chris Stewart ]] The band was formed in the late 1960s when founding members Peter Gabriel and Tony Banks were students at Charterhouse School in Godalming . Formed out of school bands "the Garden Wall" and "the anon", the original line-up consisted of Gabriel (vocals), Anthony Phillips ( Guitar ), Banks ( Keyboards ), Rutherford ( Bass & guitar) and Chris Stewart ( Drums ).Welch, Chris (1995). The Complete Guide to the Music of Genesis. London: Omnibus Press. Genesis recorded their first album in 1969, '', 2007 . The album was released on Decca Records . During the sessions, Stewart left and was replaced by John Silver . The band recorded a series of songs influenced by the light pop style of the Bee Gees , one of King's favourite bands, and The Beatles . King assembled the tracks as a Concept Album , and added string arrangements during the production. Their first single, "The Silent Sun" (), was released in February 1968. The album sold poorly but the band, on advice from King, decided to pursue a career in music.King, Jonathan. "In the Beginning". '' From Genesis To Revelation '' (sleeve notes). 1993 release King still holds the rights to the songs on the ''From Genesis to Revelation'' album and has re-released it many times under a variety of names, including ''In the Beginning'', ''Where the Sour Turns to Sweet'', ''Rock Roots: Genesis'', ''...And the Word Was'' and, most recently, ''The Genesis of Genesis''. Silver was replaced by , 1974 . The band built a following through live performances which featured the band's hypnotic, dark and haunting melodies. ''Trespass'' was the template for Genesis albums in the 1970s: lengthy, sometimes operatic, pieces and occasional short, humorous numbers resembling the style of progressive rock bands such as King Crimson , Yes and Gentle Giant . ''Trespass'' includes progressive rock elements such as elaborate arrangements and Time Signature changes. ''Trespass'' features Gabriel's nine-minute "The Knife", which shows "how all violent revolutions inevitably end up with a dictator in power". Ill health and recurring , 2007 . However, the remaining members decided to continue with Phil Collins on drums and Steve Hackett , formerly of Quiet World , on guitar. 1970–1975 Collins and Hackett made their studio debut in 1971 on '', 2007 . Genesis Live , recorded on the ''Foxtrot'' tour, followed in 1973. '', 2007 . These virtuoso guitar techniques were incorporated in the song "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight". In . 1974 . During his adventure, Rael encounters several bizarre characters including the ''Slippermen'' and ''The Lamia '', the latter being borrowed from Greek mythology. The band embarked on a world tour to promote the album, performed it in its entirety, with Gabriel adding spoken narration. During their live performances, Genesis pioneered The Use Of Lasers and other light effects, most of which were built by the Dutch technician Theo Botschuijver. A customised handheld unit was used to channel laser light, which allowed Gabriel to sweep the audience with various light effects. Creating the ambitious ''The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway'' album strained relations between band members, particularly Banks and Gabriel. Gabriel wrote the lyrics, while the other band members wrote the music, with the exception of "Counting Out Time" and "The Carpet Crawlers". "The Light Dies Down on Broadway" was co-authored by Banks and Rutherford. The other-worldly, blurbling, sequenced synth sounds and shattering glass loops in the track "The Waiting Room", coined "Enossifications", were produced by the ambient composer Brian Eno . In August 1975, following the ''Lamb'' tour, Gabriel announced that he was leaving the band,, 2007 . Collins later remarked that the other members "...were not stunned by Peter's departure because we had known about it for quite a while." The band decided to carry on without Gabriel. Welch, Chris. "Peter Gabriel Quits Genesis". ''Melody Maker'', 23 August , 1975 . Gabriel's first solo album,'' Peter Gabriel '' 1977, features the hit single " Solsbury Hill ", an Allegory that refers to his departure from the band. 1976–1977 The group began to audition lead singers to find a replacement for Gabriel. Collins, who had provided backing vocals, coached prospective replacements. Eventually, the band decided to consider using Collins as the lead vocalist "Genesis Archive #2". Gelring Limited. Atlantic Recording Corporation, 2000. for 1976's '', 2007 . Despite the success of the album, the group remained concerned with their live shows, which now lacked Gabriel's elaborate costume changes and dramatic behavior. Since Collins required the assistance of a second drummer while he sang, , 2007 . for the 1976 tour. Genesis' first live performance without Peter Gabriel was on March 26, 1976, in London, Ontario Canada . Later that year, Genesis recorded '' Wind & Wuthering '', the first of two albums recorded at the Relight Studios in Hilvarenbeek in the Netherlands. Released in December 1976, the album took its name from Emily Brontë 's novel '' Wuthering Heights '', whose last lines—"how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth"—inspired the titles of the seventh and eighth tracks.McMahan, p. 371 ''Wind & Wuthering'' features the songs "Blood on the Rooftops" and "Afterglow", as well as the complex multi-part suite "One for the Vine". The animated film '' B.C. Rock '' features sections of "Afterglow". The band signed with new manager Tony Smith , who published all subsequent Genesis songs through his company Hit & Run Music Publishing . For the 1977 Genesis tour, the Jazz Fusion -trained Chester Thompson —a veteran of Weather Report and Frank Zappa —took on live drumming duties. Collins's approach to Genesis shows differed from the theatrical performances of Gabriel, and his interpretations of older songs were lighter and more subtle. At the 1982 Milton Keynes reunion show, Gabriel admitted that Collins sang the songs "better", though never "quite like" him.Genesis. Inside Genesis 1975–1980. "Classic Rock Legends", 2004 Guitarist Hackett had become increasingly disenchanted with the band by the time of ''Wind & Wuthering'''s release, and he felt confined. He was the first member of the band to record a solo album, 1975's '', 2007 . While Hackett was given songwriting credits on the two instrumental tracks "Unquiet Slumbers for the Sleepers..."/"...In That Quiet Earth" , Hackett's "Blood on the Rooftops" was never performed live, and his song "Please Don't Touch" (which appeared as the title track to his next solo album released in 1978) was replaced by the three-minute instrumental "Wot Gorilla?". Hackett left the band following the release of the 1977 '' Spot The Pigeon '' E.P. while the band was in the studio mixing together the live album '' Seconds Out ''. The '' Seconds Out '' live album was recorded during the 1977 tour, and was to be Hackett's final release with Genesis. Rutherford took on guitar duties in the studio, and during live performances alternated guitar and bass with the session musician Daryl Stuermer . 1978–1979 Following the departure of Hackett, Rutherford took on guitar duties in the studio and the band was getting closer to a balance of what each member provided from a creative standpoint. The group decided to continue as a trio, a fact they acknowledged in the title of the 1978 album '' ...And Then There Were Three... ''. The album was a further move away from lengthy progressive epics, and yielded their first American radio hit, " Follow You, Follow Me ", whose popularity led to ''...And Then There Were Three...'' being the band's first U.S. Gold-certified Album . For live performances that year, Rutherford alternated between guitar and bass with the session musician Daryl Stuermer . Generally, Rutherford played the guitar pieces he composed during the most recent album, but stuck with bass playing for all of the material recorded prior to 1978. Stuermer effectively played everything that Hackett would have performed had he remained with the band. Genesis' 1978 world tour took them across North America, over to Europe, back to North America, and, eventually, to their first performances in Japan at the end of 1978. As the band had been recording and touring constantly since the winter of 1969-70, it was decided by Messrs. Banks, Collins, and Rutherford to take the majority of 1979 off. Collins had previously informed his bandmates that he needed to attempt to save his marriage by following his wife to her new home in Vancouver. If they planned to go back into the studio, they were going to have to count him out. Banks and Rutherford responded by proposing that the band go into hiatus for the majority of 1979 while he sorted out his family issues and they would record solo material in the meanwhile. 1980–1984 After his attempt to save his marriage had ended in divorce, Collins returned to the UK in August of 1979, and found himself in a holding pattern while Banks and Rutherford were working on solo recordings. With time to spare and new equipment in his home, Collins immersed himself in the recording of home demos that would become his first solo album '' Face Value '' (released in 1981) and provide two songs for the upcoming Genesis project. When the three bandmates came back together to begin recording their next album '' Duke '' the product was much more the result of all three working together equally. ''Duke'' was real transition from their 1970s progressive rock sound to the 1980s pop era. The use of a drum machine became a consistent element on subsequent Genesis albums, as well as on Collins's solo releases. The first Genesis song to feature a drum machine was the ''Duke'' track "Duchess". The more commercial ''Duke'' was well received by the mainstream media, and was the band's first UK number one album, while the tracks "Misunderstanding" () and " Turn It On Again " became live performance favorites. ''Duke'' was followed by the minimalist '', 2005 . Retrieved on 25 March , 2007 . In 1982, the band released the live double album '', 2007 . 1983s eponymous '' Genesis '' album became their third consecutive number one album in the UK. The album includes the radio-friendly tracks " Mama " and " That's All ", and re-introduced the band's flair for lengthy pieces in "Home by the Sea". The track "Just a Job to Do" was later used as the theme song for the 1985's ABC detective drama '' The Insiders ''. Although the album was a success worldwide, all three members were suffering from a bit of writer's block and had precious little material "extra" at the end of the recording sessions. The sessions from the previous five studio albums dating back to 1976's '' A Trick Of The Tail '' had all generated excess material that would be released as b-sides to singles or on EPs. 1986–1992 " single. The cover is inspired by the Beatles' album '', 2007 .]] Genesis's highest-selling album, '', 2007 . and the Prism sound system, all of which are now standard features of arena rock concerts. " in Knebworth , England ( 2 August 1992 )]] Earlier that year, Collins viewed a spoof of himself on '' Spitting Image '', a satirical British television show which used puppets to lampoon politicians and celebrities. He was impressed with the representation, and commissioned the show's creators, Peter Fluck and Roger Law , to work on the video for the "Land of Confusion" single. The video was formed as an ironic commentary on the Cold War , and played on the perception that the coalition's leaders were "trigger happy" with the Nuclear "button". In addition to puppet representations of Banks, Collins and Rutherford, the video showed Ronald Reagan dressed as Superman . It was nominated for the MTV Video of the Year, losing to Gabriel's " Sledgehammer ". "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight" was used in a Michelob commercial—as was Collins's " In The Air Tonight "—while "In Too Deep" was featured in the film '' Mona Lisa ''.McMahan, p. 307 The instrumental "The Brazilian", appreared in the Animated Movie '' When The Wind Blows '', alongside a score written by Roger Waters . At the 1988 Prince's Trust concert held in the Royal Albert Hall , Collins and Gabriel performed together for the first time since 1982. Collins was drummer for the house band, while Gabriel performed his hit single "Sledgehammer". It was to be the last time the two Genesis frontmen publicly played together. After a hiatus of five years, Genesis reconvened for the 1991 release of '' We Can't Dance '', which was to be Collins's last studio album with the group. The album features the hit singles " Jesus He Knows Me ", " I Can't Dance ", " No Son Of Mine ", " Hold On My Heart ", " Tell Me Why " and "Never a Time" (a U.S. release only), as well as lengthy pieces such as "Driving the Last Spike" and "Fading Lights". The album which was produced by Nick Davis includes "Since I Lost You", which Collins wrote in memory of Eric Clapton 's son Conor. Collins left in March 1996, having served in Genesis for over 25 years. He later admitted that he "felt it time to change direction in my musical life. For me now, it will be music for movies, some jazz projects, and of course my solo career. I wish the guys in Genesis all the very best in their future. We remain the best of friends."Darling, Linda; Silberstein, Scott. "Phil Quits Genesis!" . Entertainment Wire, 28 March 1996 . Retrieved on 23 March , 2007 . 1997–2000 '' album was Genesis's first without Phil Collins in 26 years.]] Rutherford and Banks decided to continue as Genesis. However, they required more than one new member, because the band had lost not only Collins, but also the live musicians Daryl Stuermer and Chester Thompson . Stuermer was approached, but was touring with Collins at the time; Thompson inquired regarding the vacant drum stool, but after he was refused full-band membership, he ended his 19-year association with the band. Eventually, drumming duties were shared between Nir Zidkyahu , an Israeli session drummer who had played with Hidden Persuaders , and Nick D'Virgilio , from the progressive rock band Spock's Beard . The difference in their playing styles was marked; D'Virgilio played softer, more subtle rhythms in comparison to Zidkyahu's bombastic technique. Ex-). Dotmusic, 1997. Retrieved on 30 April , 2007 . 1997's '', 2007 He also said he regretted his time spent with the band, feeling uncomfortable as a self-described "working class" man with the wealthier likes of Banks and Rutherford, and also revealed one of Phil Collins's assistants told him Collins "wasn't happy that they had continued". In 1999, the 1971–75 lineup of Banks, Collins, Gabriel, Hackett and Rutherford recorded a new version of "The Carpet Crawlers" for the '', 2007 . Most of the original members were involved in compiling the two ''Archive'' boxed-sets. 2006–present After much speculation regarding a reunion, Banks, Collins and Rutherford announced ''', 2007 . In their stead, both Stuermer and Thompson returned as backing musicians. The band and long-time producer, Nick Davis, are due to re-release their back catalogue in three batches over the course of 2007, each comprising a third of the band's albums (from '' Trespass '' to '' Calling All Stations '') in a boxset-style release. Each will comprise a double-disc set containing a multi-channel hybrid Super Audio CD , as well as a DVD-Video with DTS 96/24, and Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks. The DVD will include extras such as promo videos and new interviews in which the band discuss the period surrounding each album release. The Hybrid SACDs will be standard CDs for the U.S. and Canada, and are to be issued as box sets, starting with '' Genesis 1976-1982 '' on May 15. On , 2007 . Collins has stated that the recording of a new album is currently "very, I repeat, ''very'' unlikely" (as of August 2007), citing a lack of both time and inspiration; However Banks, on August 22, stated "The three of us would be quite keen to have a go and see what happens." "Genesis keyboardist remembers Phil Collins' Cdn debut three decades ago" August 22, 2007. Inspiration and influences Genesis has taken influence from a wide range of music, ranging from , 2007 . As a group that influenced the growth of the progressive rock genre, Genesis has been cited by a number of progressive rock groups, including Dream Theater , Camel and Kansas . Several Genesis Tribute Bands , including Re-Genesis , The Musical Box , Duke Duke , and In the Cage, routinely perform material from the Peter Gabriel era. Collins became the first artist to cover a Genesis song—"Behind the Lines"—which he included on '' Face Value '' one year after the original's release. Other former members subsequently performed the band's material live during their solo shows—Gabriel played "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" and "Back in NYC", while Hackett has performed "In That Quiet Earth", "Los Endos", "Horizons", "Firth of Fifth" and "Blood on the Rooftops", among others. Hackett has performed "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" on his own solo tours, and on a 1986 tour with his short lived supergroup GTR . Rutherford has performed " I Can't Dance " during his tours with the Mechanics . Collins also later formed The Phil Collins Big Band , which played jazz arrangements of Genesis songs, which were "That's All", "Invisible Touch", "Hold On My Heart" and "Los Endos" (renamed "The Los Endos Suite"), during its 1998 world tour. Ray Wilson has covered the most Genesis songs during his solo concerts. His two solo live albums, ''Live'' and ''Life and Acoustic'', feature the Genesis songs "The Carpet Crawlers", "Follow You Follow Me", "I Can't Dance", "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway", " No Son Of Mine ", "Shipwrecked", and " Mama ". He has interpreted two songs from the solo careers of his two predecessors—" In The Air Tonight " (Collins) and " Biko " (Gabriel). Jeff Buckley reworked "Back in NYC" for the Posthumous ly released 1998 '' Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk ''. The Swedish Death Metal band In Flames covered " Land Of Confusion " on '' Trigger '', as did Disturbed on their 2005 album '' Ten Thousand Fists ''. Disco-pop band Alcazar, also from Sweden, has covered parts of "Land of Confusion" on their song "This is the World We Live In". Dream Theater covered Turn It On Again as part of their song "The Big Medley". In 2007 Simon Collins recorded his own version of "Keep It Dark" as a tribute to the 40th anniversary of his father's band. Beyond purely musical ventures, the theatrical style of Genesis's 1970s concerts with Gabriel have provided inspiration for '' trace their musical and multimedia elements back to these concerts. According to Victor Pilon, co-creator and co-director of both shows, "We're not inventing anything. Genesis did it years ago. We're just using new technology." ALBUM COVER ART '' cover was designed by Paul Whitehead .]] Genesis's album covers incorporate complex and intricate art intended to reflect the themes explored in the song lyrics. Their first album, ''From Genesis to Revelation'', used a plain black sleeve with ''Genesis'' written in a green , 2007 . After Whitehead moved to Los Angeles , Genesis signed with the reputed Hipgnosis , whose artists had created high profile album covers for Pink Floyd 's '' Dark Side Of The Moon '' and Led Zeppelin's '' Houses Of The Holy ''. Hipgnosis's first Genesis album cover was for ''The Lamb'', which for the first time in Genesis's history featured a male model. The model, credited simply as "Omar" on the album sleeve, portrayed the ''The Lamb'''s protagonist " Rael ". Through the 1970s, various Hipgnosis artists—among whom Colin Elgie contributed heavily—designed all Genesis studio albums. The ''Trick of the Tail'' cover is representative of many of the characters in the album, including the robber from "Robbery, Assault and Battery", the beast from the title track, and a . CRITICISM Genesis' progressive rock roots set them apart from contemporaries , 2007 . Much of the criticism surrounding the band in the 1970s centered on progressive rock in general, which many dismissed as over-intellectual and pretentious. More specifically, some in Britain - especially supporters of the Punk movement - regarded Genesis in particular, but also the genre more generally, as overtly Middle Class (paying particular attention to Gabriel, Banks and Rutherford's Private Education ), and claimed that rock music was being taken away from the Working Class , who they regarded as its core audience. Gabriel's theatrics were unpalatable to most of the mainstream rock audience, as well as to many Genesis fans.Welch (1995), p. 37 This was exemplified during live performances of Gabriel's last Genesis album, ''The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway'', during which he appeared on stage as various characters in the album's lyrics. The elaborate storyline for ''The Lamb'' proved difficult to understand and accept, and caused friction within the band.Welch (1995), P. 37 Collins later recalled that "he'd be in a Slipperman costume trying to get a mike anywhere near his throat, and be out of breath - all twisted up. Towards the end I felt the singing wasn't really being heard; the songs weren't really being heard". Genesis's transition from lengthy, complex songs to more compact, radio friendly material was not welcomed by some critics; one particular review of ''...And Then There Were Three...'' read: " short, this contemptible opus is but the palest shadow of the group's earlier accomplishments. Not only is the damage irreversible, it's been widely endorsed: ''...And Then There Were Three...'' is Genesis's first U.S. gold record".Bloom, Michael. [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/genesis/albums/album/104990/rid/5944592/ "And Then There Were Three" . ''Rolling Stone'', , 2007 . DISCOGRAPHY See Also: Genesis discography REFERENCES SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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