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The History of Genesis Reunions
Genesis is and was a band of many changes, not only musically, but furthermore personally. The only original members who appeared on all their albums are Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks. The most familiar formation for the public worldwide is without a doubt the trio - Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford. On stage, guitarist Daryl Stuermer and drummer Chester Thompson helped out, which never changed between 1977/78 and 1992. For most fans, the definite Genesis line-up would be the 1970-1975 formation, with Steve Hackett on guitars and Peter Gabriel on vocals. The latest line-up, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford and Ray WIlson, sadly wasn't given enough time to create another era. After their last output, Calling All Stations in 1997, fans around the world were discussing all kinds of scenarios of Genesis-Reunions. In fact, Genesis reunited quite a lot of times, but mostly on private occasions, such as weddings of one of the band members. There were also reports about visting each others solo-performances, but mostly without playing togther. Nevertheless, they shared some odd moments on stage - Phil Collins played with Peter Gabriel in 1980 and during an early Steve Hackett show, members of Genesis joined him for an encore. Also, (as an example) Phil played on Steve's first and Peter's third solo-album. This all proves they have remained the best of friends through the years. There were three main reunion-events we want to discuss here.
The Peter Grant Award for Tony Smith - The Little Reunion 2000
The most recent Genesis Reunion took place in 2000 (21st September, London Hilton). The band's Manager Tony Smith received a Peter Grant award for his work as a manager. The whole event led to the odd situation, that in the end Tony, Mike, Phil AND Peter Gabriel stood on the stage, along with Tony Smith and Daryl Stuermer, who helped out on guitars on that day. But Peter Gabriel didn't perform anything with them, he just went on stage for a photo shooting. The band played a semi acoustic set - Invisible Touch, Follow You Follow Me and I Can't Dance. The event was not big, but it has produced a lot of rumours and hopes for a big reunion.
>> See also our little article - Four Of The Best - about the Little Reunion 2000
The Heathrow Archive Promotion and Old Boys's Dinner 1998
In 1998, the long awaited first Archive Box Set was released. For Promotion purposes, Genesis met at Heathrow Airport. In this case, Genesis was: Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett, Anthony Phillips, Mike Rutherford and John Silver, one of their first drummers. John Mayhew and Chris Stewart, who also played drums before Phil joined the band, did not participate. There was a photo-shooting and interviews were also recorded. A few weeks later (22nd July 1998), the guys met again for an "old boy's dinner" in a private Club in Soho (London). This time, no press was allowed, but the old roadie Richard Macphail was also invited as well as Chris Stewart and Daryl Stuermer. Richard Macphail later reported to it that this evening was a very private thing and there were no talks about possible reunions. Nevertheless, this was the first time that Genesis were together in one room - nearly in its entirety, only John Mayhew was missing.
Genesis save Peter Gabriel: The 1982 Reunion at Milton Keynes
The most popular Genesis Reunion took place in 1982. For the day of Mike Rutherford's birthday (2nd October 1982), a special reunion gig was announced to help out old bandmate Peter Gabriel, whose WOMAD festival was an artistic success, but financially a desaster. The band barely rehearsed for that that day because they couldn't - Genesis were touring the Three Sides Live album til the end of September. The show itself was never recorded although various bootlegs are still being shared among fans. The show was called Six Of The Best. Peter came on stage in a coffin and opened the show in his old Rael-costume with Back in NYC. The band then went on to play Dancing With The Moonlit Knight, The Carpet Crawlers, Firth Of Fifth, The Musical Box, Solsbury Hill, Turn It On Again, The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, Fly On A Windshield, Broadway Melody of 1974, In The Cage, Supper's Ready, I Know What I Like and The Knife. For the two encores, Steve Hackett also joined his old bandmates and made the "definite line-up" complete. Peter also played drums during Turn It On Again. Until today, the Milton Keynes Reunion remains the so far definite reunion.
compiled by Christian Gerhardts