From songwriters to friends

A new book about Genesis has been published in early September. The 360 pages between a blue hardcover is entitled Genesis - Chapter & Verse by Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett and Mike Rutherford. It has the size of a coffeetable book which really brings out the quality of the numerous photos…

After the introduction by editor Philip Dodd the (former) members of Genesis take the word. They tell the story of the band in chronological order from their school days (where Anthony Phillips talks about how Genesis was kept alive for future generations in 1969 in his unmistakable way) to the start of the Turn It On Again tour 2007. One focus is on the genesis and development of certain songs. Tony Banks in particular excels with interesting, frequently self-ironic comments. His explanations are interrupted by contributions from important companions such as Chester Thompson, Daryl Stuermer, Richard Macphail, the former drummers, manager Tony Smith and producers Hugh Padgham and Nick Davis. All this is illustrated with photos that tell their own stories and lightened by humourous anecdotes, e.g. about the time when a naked roadie stood in place of the Rael dummy during the Lamb tour.

This book is for everyone who wants to understand and appreciates the magic of Genesis. Older fans, who have followed the band from their early days, will certainly be reminded of their own past, for the this book gives an impression of the time in the stories it tells, the anecdotes and asides (e.g. Phil Collins’ about the music scene); younger fans may find it hard to imagine those times, though.

If you are looking for a comprehensive biography of Genesis you are completely on the wrong track here. This book is about the emotional, musical development of the band as seen by its individual (former) members and the people around them. The threads of the uncensored interviews about the band’s past that were conducted with each person on their own (in different places, too) are woven into the history of Genesis and provide a glimpse at the personalities, characters and their emotional situations.

An entertaining book and fun to read. In the end one wonders: Why did it end so soon?

by Dagmar Oberländer,
translation by martinus

Chapter & Verse is available in different versions.
Hardcover - order at: amazon.co.uk | play.com
Paperback - order at: amazon.com | amazon.co.uk | amazon.fr
Audiobook - order at: amazon.co.uk | play.com