Tony Banks FAQ
Compiled by Members of The Genesis Talking Shop
& Edited by Sadir Kattan (aka Capt. Cabbage)
* Away from Genesis, what albums has Tony done?
* Will Tony ever tour solo?
* What was Tony's involvement with the film '2010'?
* What was 'Strictly Banks', and was Tony involved?
* Has the 'The Wicked Lady' been released on CD?
* What is Tony's favourite Genesis song?
* What non-album tracks has Tony released?
* What solo video-clips has Tony done?
* What solo singles has Tony released?
* What films has Tony written music for?
* What instruments has Tony played?
1. Away from Genesis, what albums has Tony done?
1979 - A Curious Feeling
1983 - The Wicked Lady (original soundtrack)
1983 - The Fugitive
1986 - Soundtracks
1989 - Bankstatement
1991 - Still
1995 - Strictly Inc.
2004 - Seven
2012- Six Pieces for Orchestra
2018- Five
2. Will Tony ever tour solo?
Tony has never toured solo, nor will he likely. Although he doesn't mind playing a supporting role within a group, he's never considered himself as a 'front man'. In interviews, he's mentioned that he never felt comfortable enough on stage to actually front his own show.
3. Is there an official soundtrack release of 'The Shout'?
No. The film's soundtrack basically consists of variations of the song 'From the Undertow', the opening track on Tony's debut solo album 'A Curious Feeling'. The song is credited to 'Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks' in the movie credits. When once asked why his name wasn't included in the credits on 'A Curious Feeling', Mike replied that he didn't mind Tony taking full credit for it on his solo album!
4. What was Tony's involvement with the film '2010'?
He was approached to prepare the score for 2010, the follow up to 2001: A Space Odyssey, a high profile film, perfectly suited to his talents and an excellent vehicle to promote his name among the film moguls. Initially things went well but then internal politics and Hollywood's notorious capriciousness crept in and music that had initially excited the movie men suddenly wasn't what they wanted. Tony's eventual departure from the film was a source of intense frustration as he had invested so much time and excellent music into it and had turned down other film offers in its favour. (excerpt from 'Genesis: A Biography' by Dave Bowler and Bryan Dray)
Note - some of Tony's unused material for 2010 was later revamped for Lorca And The Outlaws.
5. What was 'Strictly Banks', and was Tony involved?
'Strictly Banks' was the brainchild of Duncan Philips in London, England. It was a concert of Tony's solo music performed live on 6th September, 1998. Tony gave the group his full support, including use of The Farm studio & Nick Davis' mixing capabilities for the CD. The CD 'A Serious Undertaking, Live!' sold all 1,000 copies from its Limited Edition manufacturing run and contains ten of the best songs from the concert - including 'An Island in the Darkness'. Tony didn't play during the concert, nor did he actually attend. He did, however, show a great interest in the project. Information on 'Strictly Banks' can be found at http://www.strictlybanks.co.uk .
6. Has the 'The Wicked Lady' been released on CD?
Unfortunately not, although, there is hope that such a
reissue will eventually see the light of day.
EDIT (13 April 2018): The Wicked Lady was reissued and remixed onto CD format through Tony Banks' independent label Fugitive Inc.
7. What is Tony's favourite Genesis song?
Tony has mentioned 'Duchess' and 'Mama' as personal favourites.
8. What non-album tracks has Tony released?
* For A While (single mix)
* This Is Love (extended)
* Charm (extended)
* And The Wheels Keep Turning (single mix)
* Throwback (edit)
* Walls Of Sound (remix)
* Only Seventeen (edit)
* Only Seventeen (instrumental)
* Only Seventeen (house mix)
* Only Seventeen (Saabson/Svenson remix)
* Diamonds Aren't So Hard*
* K2**
* Sometime Never**
* Back To You***
* Bonus track released on the CD edition of 'Bankstatement'
** Session tracks released on the CD edition of 'The Fugitive'
*** Extra track released on the 'Wall Of Sound' single.
9. What solo video-clips has Tony done?
* Waters of Lethe
* For a While
* This is Love
* Shortcut to Somewhere
* Throwback
* Raincloud
* I Wanna Change the Score
* The Gift
* Only Seventeen
10. What solo singles has Tony released?
* For A While
* A Curious Feeling
* The Wicked Lady
* This Is Love
* And The Wheels Keep Turning
* Shortcut To Somewhere
* You Call This Victory
* Throwback
* Raincloud
* I'll Be Waiting
* I Wanna Change The Score
* The Gift
* Angel Face
* Still It Takes Me By Surprise
* Only Seventeen
* Walls Of Sound
11. What films has Tony written music for?
* The Shout (no released soundtrack)
* The Wicked Lady (soundtrack released on cassette, vinyl, and CD)
* Lorca And The Outlaws [aka 'Starship Redwing' - USA] (no soundtrack released, but Tony's music released on his 'Soundtracks' album)
* Quicksilver (official soundtrack released, and Tony's music also released on his 'Soundtracks' album).
12. What instruments has Tony played?
Following, is a list of all gear (excluding guitars) used on Genesis and solo projects - includes synthesizers, pianos, organs, trons, effect units, midi equipment, etc:
* Alesis:
MMT8 midi sequencer (he also used the Atari with Steinberg Cubase)
* Apple:
Powerbook
PowerPC
* Arp:
Avatar
Pro Soloist
2600
Quadra
* Akai:
S950
* AMS:
RMX 16 Reverb
* Boss:
CE-1 Chorus effect
* Casio:
VL-tone
* EDP:
Wasp
* Elka:
Rhapsody
* Emu:
Emulator I,II,III (rack as well as keyboard),4 (rack) samplers
Proteus 1,2 (regulars and custom edited for the WCD and CAS tours)
Vintage Keys (rack)
SP12 (drumsampler/drumbox)
* Ensoniq:
VFX
SD1
* Farfisa:
VIP organ (model unknown)
* Fender:
Blender fuzz
Fender Rhodes 73 piano
* Hammond:
L122 organ
T102 organ
* Hohner:
Pianet N
* Korg:
DVP Voice processor (effect module)
Wavestation EX, SR and AD
01/w
01r/w
Trinity
Trinity plus
OASYS
* Kurzweil:
the kurzweil 1000 series (PX and GX)
Kurzweil K1200
* Lexicon:
Delays (type unknown. One of the first out there)
* Linn:
Linndrum (drumbox)
* Mackie:
LM3204 rackmixers
* Mellotrons:
M400
MK2
* Miditemp:
PPM88 midi patchbay
* Moog:
Taurus 1
Polymoog
Source
* MXR:
Phase100 phaser
Distortion+
Graphic EQ (the blue one)
* Opcode:
Studio 5 LX midi patchbays
* NED (New England Digital):
Synclavier 2
* Roland:
A90 (master keyboard)
CR78 (drumbox)
D50
JD800
JV1080
M480 Rackmixers
MKS80(super jupiter)
MKS20 (piano module)
PG1000 (programmer module to program roland modules)
RE201 (tape echo unit)
RS202 String synth
TR808 (drumbox)
VPR330+ Vocoder
VK1000
SRV2000
* Roland Rhodes:
Mk80
* RMI:
Electra 368 (electric hybrid piano)
* Sequential Circuits:
Prophet 5 (rev2)
Prophet T8
Prophet 2000
Prophet 10 - There were four versions of that synth:
Rev.1, 1978: Original single manual version based on the P5 rev.1
Rev.2, 1979: Dual manual version based on the P5 rev.2, no sequencer (only three prototypes made)
Rev.0 (sic!), 1980: first version, serial numbers up to 329: Dual manual version based on the P5 rev.3; no sequencer in the first units built, but quickly introduced
Rev.0, 1981: second version, from #330 onwards, as the first version but with different cassettes for data storage.
(Tony's was a Rev.0 in any case, whether it was the first or second version we don't know!)
* Steinway:
Grand Piano
* Voce:
DMI 64 MK2 (organ module)
* Yamaha:
CP70B
CP70M
CP80
CS80
DX7
Grand Piano
PLS1 lineswitcher (sorta audio patchbay)
REV7 (reverb)
SPX90 effects
SPX1000
TX7
TX816
Banks uses Cubase as his DAW.
Thanks!