Genesis was formed in January 1967 at Charterhouse
Public School, England, by members of the school band and
the fledgling local rock band, The Anon.
At that time, the band consisted of Tony Banks
(keyboard) and Mike Rutherford (bass) who teamed up with
Peter Gabriel (flute, vocals), Anthony Phillips (guitar)
and Chris Stewart (drums).
In 1968 they signed a contract with Decca and helped
by producer Jonathan King, released their first two
singles, and an album 'From Genesis to Revelations'
(Chris Stewart had been replaced on drums by John Silver)
but was received with little succes.
In 1970, the band came to the attention of Charisma
and they began to work on 'Trespass' with producer John
Anthony. The album became attracted a cult following.
After having replaced Phillips and Mayhew with Phil
Collins (drums) and Steve Hackett (guitar), the classic
Genesis line-up was in place, and the band went on their
now legendary 1971 tour, a colourful line-up of
theatrically beautiful performances.
It was with 'Foxtrot', however, that Genesis received
their critical acclaim, followed by 'Selling England by
the Pound' in 1973. It peaked the third position in the
UK charts and gave the band a reputation in America, and
also provided their first UK hit-single.
A year later, Genesis (famous worldwide) released the
concept double album 'The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway'.
This album was also the last one to be made by the golden
lineup of Genesis as manny critics consider.
In May 1975 Peter Gabriel announced his departure, and
almost two years later, Steve Hackett also left, both
embarking on a solo career.
In 1978 Collins, Banks and Rutherford moved from their
prog-rock origins towards a light rock sound of the type
that would dominate the worldwide charts in the 1980s. A
number of albums were recorded during this period, most
of them extremely successful.
But when, in March 1996, Phil Collins suddenly
announced that he had left the band, the Genesis-era
finally ended.
Discography
From Genesis to Revelations - 1969
Trespass - 1970
Nursery Crime - 1971
Foxtrot - 1972
Live - 1973 (live)
Selling England by the Pound - 1973
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway - 1974
Trick of the Trail - 1976
Wind & Wuthering - 1976
Seconds Out - 1977 (live)
And Then There Were Three - 1978
Duke - 1980
Abacab - 1981
The Silent Sun - 1981 (live)
Three Sides Live - 1982 (live)
Genesis - 1983
Invisible Touch - 1986
And the Word Was - 1987
We Can't Dance - 1991
Genesis Live: The Way We Walk, Vol. 1 (The Shorts) - 1992
Genesis Live: The Way We Walk, Vol. 2 (The Longs) - 1993
Calling All Stations - 1997