Genesis

Along with Yes, Pink Floyd and King Crimson, Genesis formed the vanguard of progressive/symphonic rock as it flourished in the 1970s.

Genesis' career can be roughly divided into two distinct phases. In the 1970s, the British band, initially fronted by Peter Gabriel, was one of England's most successful symphonic rock groups. After the departure of the colorful frontman, who launched a successful solo career, Genesis' sound gradually changed. The symphonic influences disappeared, finally making way for a catchy pop sound in the late 1970s. With Phil Collins not only on drums but also on vocals, Genesis became more popular than ever in the 1980s.

Genesis was formed in 1967 and debuted two years later with "From Genesis To Revelation," a young band still searching for its own sound. This quickly manifested itself on the albums that followed: "Trespass" (1970), "Nursery Cryme" (1971), "Foxtrot" (1972), and "Selling England By The Pound" (1973). Genesis managed to attract a wide audience with complex, pastoral music combined with philosophical lyrics. In those early years, the band consisted of vocalist Peter Gabriel, keyboardist Tony Banks, bassist/guitarist Mike Rutherford, and drummer Phil Collins. Anthony Phillips was the first guitarist, who was replaced by Steve Hackett.

The performances were a sensation in themselves, especially thanks to the unique outfits Peter Gabriel wore. It was therefore with great sadness that he left the band after the epic The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974). With Phil Collins on vocals, the band managed to mitigate the damage quite effectively with albums like A Trick of the Tail (1976) and Wind & Wuthering (1976). As the title suggests, Genesis had even shrunk to a trio by the time of ...And Then There Were Three... (1978). Steve Hackett also decided to go solo.

Oddly enough, this didn't affect their fortunes. On the contrary, by deftly adapting to the new era, Genesis only increased their popularity with the albums Duke (1980), Abacab (1981), Genesis (1983), and Invisible Touch (1986). Parallel to this, Phil Collins began a solo career that also yielded a series of successful albums: Face Value (1981), Hello, I Must Be Going! (1982), No Jacket Required (1985), and ...But Seriously (1989). After the old-school success We Can't Dance (1991), Phil Collins left the band. With Ray Wilson as new singer, they made the interesting Calling All Stations (1997), but the general public rejected it, after which the band folded.

Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins, in particular, continued their successful careers. Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, and Peter Banks participated in a lucrative world tour in 2007. In 2014, the former Genesis members contributed to the documentary Genesis: Together and Apart. Periodically, there's speculation about a reunion, but with each passing year, the likelihood of such a reunion diminishes.

At Platenzaak.nl we have a great selection of Genesis CDs and LPs, including exclusive editions.