Phil Collins – the third, lost Mitchell Brother who writes songs about cartoon bears instead of getting beaten up by girls – has spoken about his desire to reform Genesis.
Phil ‘Nonce Sense’ Collins doesn’t want to actually be the Genesis singer any more, though – he wants clay-headed flower dresser-upper Peter Gabriel to return to the Genesis fold. So it’ll be a reform of the self-indulgent ridiculous prog Genesis instead of the mid-life crisis overblown 80s MOR Genesis. We’re not sure which version of Genesis we’d like to hear less.
Genesis (CDs) is responsible for some of the worst music ever created. As
well as the stodgy drama-student early Genesis cobblers, and the Dave
Lee Travis-friendly, over-sincere, Ford Sierra-driving later Genesis cobblers,
it must also take the blame for Mike And The Mechanics, the dull-as-Swindon millionaire world music wibblings of Peter Gabriel. And,
needless to say, anything that Phil Collins has ever recorded. Except
maybe Sussudio.
And now Phil Collins is thinking seriously about reforming Genesis.
Although nothing has been formally announced, Collins is mulling the
idea over. Speaking at a press conference for his Middle-East tour, he said:
“There’s a possibility. I’m open for it. If
it doesn’t happen, it won’t be because we don’t want to. It will just
be because there are too many things in the way. I’m
happy to sit behind the drum kit and let Peter (Gabriel) be the singer,
but if it happens, I’ll be there.”
Looks like Brother Bear 2 will have to find another bland – yet inexplicably respected by rappers – singer for it’s soundtrack.
Read more:
Collins: Genesis Reunion ‘A Possibility’ – MSNBC
[story by Stuart Heritage]
Brad Mullet says
Yeah, I never understood why rappers liked him either. Answers on a postcard please!
Great music for falling asleep to, though!
Dave Williams says
You are totally wrong. Genesis are genius every one of them! Their music is brilliant, the people who think it is crap are just plain stupid! They have not really listened to it. I imagine they simply prefer what’s in the charts now, dull, repetitive, non-melodic rubbish. I hope I speak for every other Genesis fan out there when I say Genesis you are gods! Please reform!
Lee says
Absolutelty agree with Dave, Genesis are pure genius and any reviewer that says otherwise should go back and listen to their favourite S club albums and stop pretending that they have any idea of what real music is about.
Gus says
YES THEY WERE AMAZING, the lamb, selling england, what else can i say
Gus2 says
Time for you to get back to listening to your Wham albums .. what makes Genesis different is that they actually know how to perform , play instruments etc…. have you actually ever seen them in concert ? Didn’t think so !!!!
jacksonx says
Peter Gabriel was NEVER a member of Mike & The Mechanics. It was Mike Rutherford, hence the name.
Also, they were pop, not world music.
Martin says
Genesis sans Gabriel are a waste of space. Genesis avec Gabriel were the acceptable face of prog. rock, singing about ordainary people shopping at Tesco and being evicted from their council flats. Sheer genius and sound as good as ever today.
DLT says
Love 70’s Genesis.
Not sure about them reforming now. They should have done it 10 years ago before Collins totally shot his credibility to bits with his Disney residency and Gabriel turned into The Thing
John says
Just googling around and stumbled (I say gumbled) into this site looking for anything more about this reunion. Prog is for those with longer attention spans, less fascistic notions about what true rock and roll is, so if this heckler person sees no difference between Mike and the Mechanics–which I agree is crap and early to mid Genesis before Phil took complete control which is mostly wondrous music—I pity this mere fool, mindlessly criticizing what he doesn’t understand. Or maybe just he just being generally contrary to provoke a reaction. Congratulations if true however a trait of someone not nearly as clever as he thinks.
pissant says
Anyone who has ever enjoyed ’70s genesis finds it difficult to stomach that Coldplay is the ambassador for modern day progressive rock. I feel sorry for all those kids who are amazed by Coldplay but have never heard “Firth of Fith” or “Supper’s Ready” thus rendered completely ignorant
L.L says
Are we very wrong?…. is there going to be a Genesis Reunion? well, fans all over the world are waiting this, including me, a HUGE fan of Gabriel era Genesis.
Well, i have only 15 years old and since the first song I heard of the old Genesis I’ve become a huge fan, and i’m about killing me! I couldn’t see Genesis with PG live, and I have to conform with Genesis Archives to hear the glorious Genesis with Peter…
I think a reunion of this five masters (Peter, Phil, Tony, Mike and Steve) would be the best thing that could happen ever, and I don’t care where they do it, I’ll be there in first line!
Also, a reunion of Genesis would give a taste of good music to the new generations (The only things my friends listen is reaggaeton!! While i’m with my mp3 hearing the glorious Peter singing “The Chamber of 32 Doors” or the master Tony Banks being brillant in “Firth of Fifth” )
So, in my opinion, a Genesis Reuinon would be the best thing they (Peter and the band) could do… But don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of Peter solo! and Phil solo is good too (although not as brilliant as Peter), but if we combine all this talents (Peter, Phil, Tony, Mike and Steve) in only one group, what will we have?
Yes, Genesis!
chris price says
get a life!!Genesis,unlike the one hit morons of today ,are sheer genius…Genesis reforming?…..best thing that could ever happen!
Kim says
I’m going to make this a nice reply. Genesis is one of the most awesome bands that was very popular. Phil has done so much work with Genesis, Eric Clapton, Earth, wind and fire. Many musicans respect Phil and Genesis and there music. for the ones who say Genesis and Phil’s music is crap and etc… I can bet it is 100% better then the crap that is in the music world today. I do hope they come back together and I’ll be first in line for the show. Also to add for the people who thinks or have called Genesis the worse band around, here is a challenge. Go out and get one of there albums(which I would recomend The lamb lies down on broadway, or Threee Sides live) then sit down and actually listen to the music and then after all that come up with how u feel about them then. Also that picture of Phil u have on here that is a fake picture that someone did with a photo shop thing.
Andy says
The main reason Genesis get slagged off in the media is simply because it’s always been fashionable to do so. The best thing to do with music journos is to ignore them. They are witless sh!theads with no understanding of music at all. Say Genesis to most people and they’ll come back with some old sh!te about Phil Collins, Invisible Touch blah blah whatever.. In truth most people under 30 will not have heard any Genesis at all from the 70’s. Which is a shame. They are, for me the ultimate progressive rock band. Of course, the bulk of the 80’s output WAS rubbish. It had to be. They were aiming it at the sort of people who hated good music.
There was a lot of good prog music around in the 70’s, but Genesis were the best IMO. They combined musical virtuosity with fantastic melodies, inspired, original chord progressions and that good old fashioned ability to write songs, uninhibited by fashions and other such meaningless concepts.
D says
To reunite ANY band, especially one such a Genesis is a complete waste of time and legacy. If Genesis were to reunite to their mid-1970’s lineup, who’d show? Who really wants to listen to Fountain of Salmacis and Can-Utility for Whatever for 3 and a half f’n hours. Genesis were an excellent rock band to see maybe in 1987. Don’t get me wrong, they were an interesting band with Peter Gabriel but the amount of “prog rockers” calling for this concert is ludacris! They sold how many albums since the mid-1970’s? Yet the only reviews i see are these snotty geeks sullen like the confederate south. Accept that the Beatles and Rolling Stones were not overrated, King Crimson were not musical saviors, and accept that there is good music outside of your little prog circle. These people only rate Genesis albums according to their “progginess” and refuse to recognize Duke, Abacab or any other art-rock (not prog rock) album made after Gabriel’s demise. 1974’sThe Lamb Lies Down on Broadway i believe is excellent (which isn’t very prog ladies), but Foxtrot (pure prog shit)a classic? It sucked. Yeah i said it…..Stop ramblin about wanting to see a bomb waiting to happen reunion and go check out Radiohead’s north american tour instead, which kicked off here in Philadelphia in June. Tool also is currently touring Or they not prog enough to be cool?
Keith says
Stuart Heritage smells of horse poo
jim says
this rambling is utterly cretinius and unsubstansiated. Yes phol collins genesis was sell-out and pretty boring and that is reflected in their loss of integrity but while peter was there the music was amazing just look at the arrangements on suppers ready or the musical box. or look at the complex metaphors at play in ‘the return of the giant hogweed’ or the playful changes in the whole of lamb. Get some education
Shaggy Shadric says
In response to “D”: Perhaps the reason so many of us enjoy the prog rock of genesis, is that we aren’t completely brainwashed by the media. From birth we are told everything, how to think how to act….(Ask any guy what his ideal girl would be and he’ll say hourglass figure. Skin and hair color may change, but the main idea is the same. We are all brainwashed into thinking that is hot)
You however are a slave to thinking that mindless tunes you can tap your foot to are good songs. Gabriel created poems and epics to expand our minds and free us from the monotony of the media. He is an artist, music is about art, not profit. Genesis may have been a little “strange” with tunes like supper’s ready and carpet crawlers, but at least it’s not the mindless slime the media is trying to shove down our throats. “strange” is yet another thing that we are fooled into thinking. strange is not always bad…
if anyone is actually interested in having a conversation about this, send me an email at: [email protected]
(don’t worry, it’s a junk mail. I’ll give you my real email once you convince me your actually smart enough to talk to)
–Shaggy
paul swietek says
Whoever you are, Stuart Heritage, you must have the worst taste in music of anyone I’ve ever met. Jeez, what do you listen to all day, the Home Depot jingle?
Genesis created some of the most powerful and dynamic music in history, and much of it was very gripping and immediate… so “overblown” is clearly an adjective that can’t be used in this case. If you’d gone after Tales From Topographic Oceans (which is still brilliant; but I can understand why some wouldn’t like or get it) then I might have some trouble defending my position. But not with Genesis. You want pretentious? Go put on whatever bland, cookie cutter music you listen to and have fun. I’ll be enjoying my good old Genesis albums, saddened by the fact that people like you are missing out, but not enough to care for more than one note from Steve Hackett’s incredible guitar. Blow it out your ass.
By the way, I wouldn’t be resorting to such crude tactics, but you did say Genesis is responsible for “some of the worst music ever created” in the time of the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, and Beyonce. So excuse me if my remarks seem harsh, I assure you, they’re justified.
paul swietek says
I love old Genesis. I love Floyd. I love Yes. I love King Crimson. I love ELP. I love Jethro Tull. I also love every 80s Genesis album (IT is my fave), and happen to love mainstream rock, pop, and even rap. So while there are asshole proggers out there, like with every other genre, please don’t discriminate against us. I am literally tearing my hair out with anxiety over the old Genesis reunion but I am also going to see Rammstein in a few months and would kill to go to an Eminem concert.
Yes, I am a progger, but I value eclecticism over being obsessed with any one genre of music.