Genesis (band)

Genesis is a British progressive rock group that was formed in 1967 when founding members Peter Gabriel and Tony Banks were still students at Charterhouse School. Genesis was formed from the merger of two separate school bands — The Garden Wall (Gabriel, Banks) and Anon (Rutherford, Philips). The band was christened and managed by Jonathan King and later by Tony Stratton-Smith then Tony Smith. The band enjoyed considerable success in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Genesis' longevity is only outdone by the likes of the Rolling Stones and The Kinks.

The "Peter Gabriel" Era

The first album Genesis released by the definitive line-up is Nursery Cryme in 1971. The album featured such songs as "Harrold the Barrel", "Fountain of Salmacis", "For Absent Friends" (which was Phil Collins' vocal debut with the group) and "The Musical Box" — a crowd favorite whose climactic end was featured in various medleys throughout the many years of live Genesis concerts.

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Nursery Cryme - 1971

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1972's Foxtrot, which featured the 23-minute magnum opus "Supper's Ready" and the Arthur C. Clarke-inspired "Watcher of the Skies", solidified Genesis' reputation as songwriters and performers. Gabriel's flamboyant and theatrical stage presence, which involved numerous costume changes and surreal stories told as the introduction to each song, made the band one of the most talked-about live acts on the early-70s UK club scene.

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1972's - Foxtrot - Magnum opus - Arthur C. Clarke

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Selling England by the Pound followed in 1973 and received praise from critics and fans alike. It is regarded by many Genesis fans to be the finest of their albums. Classics such as "Firth of Fifth", "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" and "Cinema Show" would be staples in live performances for years to come.

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During this period, guitarist Steve Hackett became one of the first to use the technique "tapping" (the invention of which is normally credited to Eddie Van Halen). This technique was used in songs such as "The Return Of The Giant Hogweed", "Supper's Ready" and "Dancing With The Moonlit Knight".

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Steve Hackett - Tapping - Eddie Van Halen

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Genesis would soon venture in a more ambitious project, the concept album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, released in November 1974. The features the super-natural, out-of-body journey of its protagonist, Rael, a Puerto Rican punk kid in New York City. The album strained relations between members of the group, particularly Banks and Gabriel. Genesis played "The Lamb" in its entirety at stage shows throughout the United States, but its complex theme was not an easy sell to most audiences. Years later, Phil Collins would comment that he never really got "The Lamb".

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Concept album - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway - Puerto Rican - New York City - United States

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Peter Gabriel left the band in 1975, following the tour to support The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. He had been feeling more and more estranged from the band, and his marriage and birth of his first child only added to his personal strain. The other members of Genesis essentially wrote all of the music to The Lamb without Gabriel's participation, and he wrote the story and lyrics on his own. Gabriel's first solo album (Peter Gabriel, 1977) featured the single "Solsbury Hill," an allegory about his breakup with Genesis.

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1975 - Peter Gabriel - 1977 - Solsbury Hill

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