The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway - anniversary celebration

    Since this is the 50th anniversary of the release of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, does anyone know of any events to celebrate the occasion? Are any members of the band creating content or noting the anniversary? As one of the major musical achievements of the 20th century, this album deserves special recognition. Am I alone in this estimation?

    I do not remember any of them celebrating such anniversaries, with the exception of Steve, who is also touring with a karger Lamb portion in his live set.

    As for Genesis, there have been rumors about a Lamb Boxset to celebrate the 50th, which I think could happen since Concord now have the rights of their recorded music.

    There are two things to bear in mind. First in the broader sense of music accolades generally, Genesis have never been seen in the same way as the Stones, Zep, Beatles etc. Whenever there are polls and pontifications about "greatest albums" etc there is no Genesis equivalent of Exile, Zep IV, Pepper and so on. The only time they feature is when there's specifically a prog poll, "best ever concept album" or whatever. Once you go beyond the Genesis and prog fanbase they don't tend to feature.


    Because of this, the notion that the Lamb is "one of the major musical achievements of the 20th century" won't be held by many or indeed anyone outside that fanbase. In fact if you look at this board over time it's not even a view held by everyone here. For me it's my favourite Genesis album by some distance and one of my top 10 favourite albums by anyone. But within Genesis fandom it's a very divisive album.


    Second we come back yet again, as we always do, to the fact that they are a very 'unsentimental' band and simply don't have the tendency of other bands to reflect on their work and mark it with special anniversary sets. Frankly I was staggered that they put out those two Archive sets, it's possibly the most off-kilter thing they ever did. I'd love there to be some sort of 50-year celebration release and to be proved wrong in my belief there'll be nothing. If they were another band they'd release a celebratory package including an exciting new mix and buffed-up remastered Grange tape selections. But they're NOT that band!


    As Harold said the closest we'll get is Hackett's current tour.

    Quote from Harold

    As for Genesis, there have been rumors about a Lamb Boxset to celebrate the 50th, which I think could happen since Concord now have the rights of their recorded music.

    Am I mistaken in thinking they bought all the trio stuff, not any of the 5- or 4-man?

    Abandon all reason

    Like 1
    Quote from Backdrifter

    Am I mistaken in thinking they bought all the trio stuff, not any of the 5- or 4-man?

    my understanding is just the three man era.

    As for the Lamb you’ve summed it up very nicely.

    Plus I don't think any of them have fond memories of recording it and playing it live, although Phil enjoyed playing the Lamb in its entirety.

    Headley Grange sounds a nightmare. Peter had terrible issues around the birth of their child, he was on/off leaving the band and they didn’t know what the future held, if anything. Tony never speaks fondly of the experience, I don’t think Mike does either, in fact Tony clearly didn’t enjoy that period. Steve is covering half or so if the album this time around but I think with initial reluctance and only the more guitar heavy elements.

    I wouldn’t say they’d rather forget it but I was amazed that they ever even thought of touring it in the mid 2000s, driven by Peter’s desire to see it fulfilled a bit more than it was originally I think and possibly as the only album he could see having some credibility with a modern audience.

    It’s a shame, I think it’s brilliant

    Quote from Backdrifter

    Am I mistaken in thinking they bought all the trio stuff, not any of the 5- or 4-man?

    They own the rights the three had in Genesis, so also their share of earlier albums (pre 1978), so basically they would need agreements with other people involved. But that's not impossible.

    Quote from Christian

    They own the rights the three had in Genesis, so also their share of earlier albums (pre 1978), so basically they would need agreements with other people involved. But that's not impossible.

    OK, got it.


    No, not impossible depending on what they planned to do. I still think it's unlikely anything will be done. More likely there'll be some sort of IT 40th in 2026.

    Abandon all reason

    Quote from Backdrifter

    OK, got it.


    No, not impossible depending on what they planned to do. I still think it's unlikely anything will be done. More likely there'll be some sort of IT 40th in 2026.

    I am sure Concord will do something. Look at that All The Sides Set (Phil). Then, all those 5.1 mixed are our of print.

    I find it rather surprising that neither a movie or a theatrical version of the Lamb was ever created. The 50th anniversary could be a good occasion to finally do this but the "owning the rights" thing always keep coming up. Maybe not as crude as the Tommy or Quadrophenia movies were but, something innovative and that would make it more contemporary (not mid-70's NYC) for our kids and latest generations. Any thoughts?

    Quote from raeltheduke

    I find it rather surprising that neither a movie or a theatrical version of the Lamb was ever created. The 50th anniversary could be a good occasion to finally do this but the "owning the rights" thing always keep coming up. Maybe not as crude as the Tommy or Quadrophenia movies were but, something innovative and that would make it more contemporary (not mid-70's NYC) for our kids and latest generations. Any thoughts?

    I'm not at all surprised there's never been a film or stage play.


    Even heavily adapted for a current audience I think it's too convoluted a piece of source material to really work. As someone who loves the album I really hope no-one ever tries to adapt it. Luckily I doubt it'll ever happen.

    Abandon all reason

    Like 1
    Quote from Backdrifter

    I'm not at all surprised there's never been a film or stage play.


    Even heavily adapted for a current audience I think it's too convoluted a piece of source material to really work. As someone who loves the album I really hope no-one ever tries to adapt it. Luckily I doubt it'll ever happen.

    I think Peter thought about this quite often but never really started to push things. Maybe for good reasons ...

    As for the anniversary celebration: I also think Concord is eager to do something and there have been rumours about a box set for years, so it wouldn't surprise me. I just hope they'll do it nicely. They tend to show a lot of lack for details on those releases, sadly ...

    ... there's a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in

    Quote from Christian

    I am sure Concord will do something. Look at that All The Sides Set (Phil). Then, all those 5.1 mixed are our of print.

    Well, I hope you are right but I won't hold my breath. Especially regarding possible content!

    ... any moment that we bring to life - ridiculous sublime

    Quote from Henry Hamilton-Smythe

    There's no link, but somebody on another message board said the latest edition of Record Collector said there will be a 50th Anniversary Edition of The Lamb

    We're now in September so if no concrete details have leaked out yet, I'll be amazed if anything appears in 2024.

    I'm glad The Lamb is being recognized at this major milestone, and I'm sure there are plenty of folks that didn't get the green box and would be happy even if they just re-packaged the 2009 remix, especially if they include the slideshow (one of my favorite bonus features) but I'm really hoping for something new/different from any previous official releases.


    Wasn't another multitrack recording from a different show discovered after the Archive #1 box had been released? I'd love to hear a remixed/remastered live show that perhaps wasn't quite as "touched up" as the Shrine Auditorium performance.