GENESIS
Genesis started life as a progressive rock band, in the manner of bands like Yes and King Crimson, before a series of membership changes brought out a transformation in their sound, into one of the most successful pop/rock bands of the 1980s and 1990s.
Formed by keyboardist Tony Banks, bassist/guitarist Mike Rutherford, lead singer Peter Gabriel and guitarist Anthony Philips.
Genesis (originally called New Anon) was renamed by former pupil Jonathan King who after hearing their six-song demo tape, arranged for them to continue working in the studio. After several unsuccessful singles and their debut From Genesis to Revelations in 1968, they split from King, began to tour professionally and became one of the first groups to be signed by fledgling Charisma label, founded by Tony Stratton- Smith.
With Charisma Records they recorded Trespass (1970) in the progressive rock style. Following the departure of Phillips, Genesis recruited Phil Collins and Steve Hackett and recorded Nursery Cryme (1971).
Their live shows began to be centered on Gabriel’s theatrical costumes and performances. They were first successful in mainland Europe before entering the UK charts with Foxtrot (1972). In 1973 they released Selling England by The Pound (1973), which featured their first UK Top 30 single I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe). The concept album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway followed in 1974 and was promoted with a transatlantic tour featuring an elaborate stage show. It was following this tour that Gabriel left Genesis in August 1975 and started his solo career.
After an unsuccessful search for a replacement, Collins took over as lead singer, while Genesis gained popularity in the UK and the US. Following Trick of the Tail and Wind & Wuthering (both 1976), Hackett left, reducing the band to Banks, Rutherford, and Collins.
Genesis’ next album …And Then There Were Three... produced their first UK Top Ten and US Top 30 single in 1978 with Follow You Follow Me, and they continued to gain success with Duke (1980), Abacab (1981), and Genesis(1983), reaching a peak with Invisible Touch (1986), which featured five US top five singles. Its title track reached number one in the US. After the tour for We Can’t Dance (1991), Collins left Genesis in 1996 to focus on his solo Career.
Banks, Rutherford and Collins reunited in 2007 for the Turn It On Again Tour and have not been active since then. The Trio along with Gabriel and Hackett have participated in interviews for the 2014 BBC Documentary Genesis: Together and Apart.
The most successful and longest lasting line-up consisted of Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins. The group provided a launching pad for the superstardom of Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins, and star solo careers for members Tony Banks, Michael Rutherford and Steve Hackett.
Genesis have sold 21.5 million copies of their albums in the United States, with worldwide sales of between 100 million and 150 million. Content from: ALLMUSIC.COM/Genesis/Biography Wikipedia.com/Genesis/Biography