This band was founded by Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Chris Stewart and Mike Rutherford when they were at Charterhouse School, in Godalming, Surrey, England in 1967. They got their name from the fact that Jonathan King, their producer, said they were the first serious band he had worked with making it the “genesis” of his career and he is said to have said later that “…I named them Genesis because I thought it was a good name … it suggested the beginning of a new sound and a new feeling.”
The band’s first recordings were assembled by Jonathan King and they resembled the Bee Gees’ style which he liked very much. The album and their first single sold poorly so the band told him that they had broken up in order to get out of their contract with him. He still holds the rights to their first album though.
After Peter Gabriel left the band Jon Anderson of Yes was looked at as a prospective replacement before Phil Collins was decided on as the new lead vocal.
In 1987 they were the first band to have ever played 4 consecutive nights at Wembley Stadium when they performed there for their Invisible Touch Tour. They were also the first to use Vari*Lite technology, Jumbotron screens, and the Prism sound system.
When Phil Collins left the group to follow his solo career Paul Carrack and Fish were considered to be his replacement but it was Ray Wilson from Stiltskin who performed on their 1997 Calling All Stations.
To date they have sold approximately 150 million albums worldwide and are one of the Top 30 highest selling recording artists of all time.
The band went into an official hiatus in 1999 but still had involvement in various Genesis recordings and in November 2006 they announced their Turn It On Again Tour throughout Europe in 2007. There have since been several DVDs and box sets released as well a BBC documentary on the band being broadcast and they were still talking about a possible reunion in 2015.
Kansas and Marillion are among the may bands that have cited Genesis as an influence.
Members
Mike Rutherford (1967-1999)(bass/guitar/vocals)
Tony Banks (1967-1999)(piano/keyboards/synthesizer/guitar/vocals)
Peter Gabriel (1967-August 1975)(vocals/percussion/flute)
Chris Stewart (1967-June 1968)(drums)
John Silver (June 1968-September 1969)(drums/percussion)
Phil Collins (4th August 1970-March 1996)(drums/percussion/vocals)
Steve Hackett(1970-1977)(guitar)
John Mayhew (September 1969-1970)(drums/percussion/vocals)
Anthony Phillips (1967-1970)(guitar/vocals)
Mick Barnard (September 1970-March 1971)(guitar)
Bill Bruford (1976)(drums)
Chester Cortez Thompson (1977, 1987)(drums)
Daryl Stuermer (1977-1992)(drums)
Nir Zidkyahu (1997-1998)(drums)
Nick D’Virgillio (1997-1998)(drums)
Anthony Drennan(1997-1998)(guitar)
Ray Wilson (1997)(vocals)
Genesis Recordings
Ballad of Big (Tony Banks/Phil Collins/Mike Rutherford)
Behind the Lines Part II (Tony Banks/Phil Collins/Mike Rutherford)
Follow You, Follow Me (Tony Banks/Phil Collins/Mike Rutherford)
Me and Virgil *(Tony Banks/Phil Collins/Mike Rutherford)
Paperlate* (Phil Collins/Tony Banks/Mike Rutherford)
Turn It On Again (Tony Banks/Phil Collins/Mike Rutherford)
You Might Recall* (Tony Banks/Phil Collins/Mike Rutherford)
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