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Taken from Digital Spy (Aug 29, 2014)
Genesis reunite with Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins for film
8 things we learnt
by Tom Eames
Genesis have never been one of the coolest bands to admit to being a fan of, despite huge popularity and enduring albums.
From their super progressive rock era of Peter Gabriel, to their stadium rock chartbuster period of Phil Collins, Genesis are definitely one of the UK's biggest rock bands with a rather unique story.
The classic early 1970s lineup of Gabriel, Collins, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford and Steve Hackett have now reunited for a special documentary, discussing their path from the late 1960s to now. The film also contains remastered concert footage from throughout their career.
© BBC / Patrick Balls/Gelring Limited |
Before it is screened on BBC Two in the autumn, here are just eight things we learnt from watching the upcoming film.
1. Move over Lady Gaga, Peter Gabriel has done it already
Footage from Genesis's gigs in the early to mid-1970s reminds casual fans just how outlandish some of Gabriel's attire was at times. Despite the other members looking like any other band, Gabriel would take centre stage wearing his wife's red dress and a huge fox head mask, later used for the Foxtrot album cover.
2. Jealousies and rivalries are still rife
The new interviews with all the band together are quite revealing, particularly with Tony Banks's comments about Gabriel's control over the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway album and tour. It's clear that there's still a small amount of bad blood there, creating some slightly awkward but compelling moments. Banks's comments about Phil Collins's rise to stardom are also rather cutting and amusing.
© Getty Images / Jorgen Angel/Redferns |
3. Phil Collins didn't want to be a singer
The band talk about how they auditioned many singers to replace Peter Gabriel but found none better than Collins. The band's main drummer, he reveals how he found the prospect of stepping up to the mic quite daunting. The gamble worked quite considerably, with Genesis growing even bigger on both sides of the Atlantic, especially after moving from progressive to stadium rock.
4. They survived despite being "punk's enemy"
Phil Collins talks about how he realised they were the "enemy" to rising punk bands like the Sex Pistols in the late 1970s. However, unlike other prog bands who faded away by the end of the decade, Genesis reaped the rewards of being one of the few survivors while also changing their sound to accommodate the MTV generation.
5. No-one really understands the stigma of being a Genesis fan
The band joke about the weird shame that comes with being a Genesis fan, and how they've never been considered 'cool' despite being massive. It's the classic music snobbery that happens when a band goes from underground and new to stadium-fillers and chart supremos. However, the dad jeans and dodgy haircuts probably didn't help.
6. Don't diss Genesis in front of Al Murray
Jeremy Clarkson isn't the only Genesis superfan in the celebrity world. Comedian Al Murray appears in the documentary defending his favourite band from naysayers, joking that he is 'out and proud' about being a Genesis-lover.
© Rex Features / Steve Meddle |
7. The film also looks at their solo careers
The documentary doesn't just focus on the band's career and discography, but also on each of the member's solo output. From Peter Gabriel's 'Sledgehammer', 'Games Without Frontiers' and his move into political causes, to Phil Collins's chart takeover with 'Against All Odds', 'In the Air Tonight' and 'You Can't Hurry Love', the film also looks at Tony Banks's attempts at a solo career and Mike Rutherford's work with Mike & the Mechanics, which means you get a small dose of 'Over My Shoulder', which can only be a good thing.
8. Phil Collins swears he offered 'In the Air Tonight' to Genesis first
The song that arguably lifted both Collins and Genesis into new realms of popularity could have been a different beast for the band to tackle instead, according to Collins at least. Tony Banks insists that this is not the case, but it's fascinating to think what the song would have sounded like as a Genesis track, and whether it would have been anywhere near as big. We probably wouldn't have got the gorilla advert, though.
Genesis: Together and Apart will air on BBC Two in the autumn, followed by a DVD release.
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