16.12.72 The Genesis file

Melody Maker 16th December 1972

Evolution: Tony Banks and Peter Gabriel joined Michael Rutherford and Anthony Phillips in a songwriting venture and the group was formed to make demos of their songs
Personnel Changes: they were joined in 1966 by Chris Stewart (drums). Chris left in 1967 and was replaced by John Silver, who was succeeded by John Mayhew in 1969. Anthony Phillips (guitar) and John Mayhew left in 1970 and Phil Collins came in. For three months they worked as a four piece, until Steve Hackett joined in 1971.
Origin of name: an inspiration in 1967 by record producer Jonathan came.
First public appearance: Brunel University, Uxbridge, November 1969.
First broadcast: Sounds of the Seventies, July 1970.
First TV: Disco 2, November 1970.
Manager: Tony Stratton-Smith, Charisma Records, 70 Old Compton Street, London.
Agent: Charisma Artistes (Paul Conroy and Colin Richardson).
Recording company: Charisma Records.
Record producer: David Hitchcock.
Publicist: Glenn Colson, Charisma Artistes.
Music publishing company: Quartet/Genesis,.
Fan club: Hogweed Youth Movement, Amanda Gardner, 10 Chequers End, Winslow, Bucks.
Transport: Ford Transit short wheelbase van for group, three ton Ford D series truck for gear.
Tour manager: Fred Munt.
Sound engineer: Richard McPhail.
Lighting: Adrian Selby.
Singles: The Silent Son (1967), Winters Tale (1968), Where the Sour Turns to Sweet (1968) all on Decca. The Knife, Parts One and Two (1971) and Happy the Man and Seven Stones (October 1972), Charisma.
Albums: From Genesis to Revelation (1968, Decca), Trespass (September 1970), Nursery Crime (September 1971) and Foxtrot (October 1972), all on Charisma.
PA equipment: two WEM Festival stacks, 4 WEM Vendetta cabinets, 2 WEM 4x12 B and 2 WEM 4x12 C cabinets. Ten 100 watt WEM slave amplifiers, three WEM Audiomasters, WEM Copycat, Sony cassette playback machine, Beldon 200ft multicore.
Lighting: Four 30ft aluminium tubular masts. Twenty-four custom-built Hartman lights using 100 watt sealed beam Par 64 lamps. Seven custom-built Hartman lights using 500 watt sealed beam Par 64 lamps.
Control board: 24 2K Triac-diac dimmers, 5 1K Triac-diac dimmers, custom-built by No Way Lighting Limited, Stratford.

Anthony Banks: organ, piano, mellotron.
Born: East Hoathely, Sussex, March 27th, 1950
Education: Charterhouse and Sussex University.
Musical training: classical piano at school from 7 to 17 years. Started playing organ 3? years ago with Genesis. Self-taught guitarist.
Career: played piano in school group, The Garden Wall, which included Peter Gabriel and Anthony Phillips, the original guitarist with Genesis.
Musical influences: classical music, The Beach Boys, the Beatles, The Nice.
Favourite composers: Shostakovich and Mahler.
Favourite songwriters: Gary Brooker and Keith Reid, Paul Simon.
Favourite musicians: Ian MacDonald, Paul Simon.
Favourite singer: Art Garfunkel, Donovan.
Favourite single: MacArthur Park, Richard Harris.
Most influential LP: Pet Sounds: The Beach Boys.
Residence: flat in Parsons Green, West London.
Family: wife, Margaret, and dog, Snuffles.
Instruments: Hammond L122 organ, Hohner Pianet electric piano, Mellotron MkII, two 100 watt Wallace XT amplifiers, 2 Wallace 50/75 Hiwatt cabinets, 2 custom-built 50 watt Leslie Tone cabinets, Epiphone 12 string guitar.

Michael Rutherford: bass guitar.
Born: Guildford, Surrey, October 2nd 1950.
Education: Charterhouse.
Musical training: self-taught.
Career: played in group called Anon with Tony Phillips (ex Genesis) and Richard McPhail (Genesis sound engineer) as singer. Started writing songs with Peter and Tony.
Musical influences: hymns, the rest of the band, everyone.
Favourite composers: Judy Collins, Simon and Garfunkel, Lennon and McCartney.
Favourite musicians: Simon and Garfunkel
Favourite singer: Joni Mitchell.
Favourite single: America, Simon and Garfunkel.
Most influential LP: Wildflowers, Judy Collins. In the Court of the Crimson King, King Crimson.
Residence: single and lives with his parents and his golden cocker spaniel, Amber, at Guildford.
Instrument: Rickenbacker stereo bass guitar, Rickenbacker 12 string guitar, Zemaitis 12 string guitar, set of Mr Bassman bass pedals, 2 100 watt Hiwatt amplifiers, 4 150 watt 4x 12 Hiwatt cabinets. Also plays cello.

Steve Hackett: lead guitar.
Born: London, 12th February 1950.
Education: Sloane Grammar School, Kensington.
Career: played with Canterbury Glass, Heel Pier, Sarabande.
Musical influences: Peter Osgood and the Chelsea choir, the Beatles, the Stones, Crimson and lots more.
Favourite composers: Eric Satie, Albinoni, Scarlatti, Bach.
Favourite single: Blue Is the Colour, Chelsea Football Club.
Most influential LP: rarely influenced by albums alone.
Residence: Notting Hill.
Family: wife, Ellen.
Instruments: Les Paul custom guitar, Epiphone 12 string guitar, Hagstrom 12 string guitar, Yamaha acoustic 12 string guitar, Hiwatt 100 watt amplifier, 2 150 watt 4x12 Hiwatt cabinets.

Philip Collins: drums.
Born: Chiswick, London, 30th January 1951.
Education: Chiswick County Grammar School and Barbara Speake Stage School.
Musical training: self-taught piano and drums. Subsequently took lessons in reading from Frank King and Lloyd Ryan.
Career: has played drums since age of five and acted in numerous television films and radio shows, including playing The Artful Dodger in Oliver for ten months. Joined a group called Flaming Youth at 17. Has been professional since 16.
Musical influences: the Beatles, Yes, Mahavishnu Orchestra.
Favourite composers: Lennon and McCartney, John Anderson, Martin Hall.
Favourite musicians: Billy Cobham, Bill Bruford, Ian Wallace, Peter Banks.
Favourite single: I Wanna Hold Your Hand, the Beatles.
Most influential LP: Inner Mounting Flame: John McLaughlin.
Favourite singers: John Anderson, Eugene Wallace.
Residence: Epsom.
Instruments: Gretsch drum kit, Ludwig snare drum, seven assorted Paiste cymbals and a few gongs, triangle, whistles and finger cymbals.

Peter Gabriel: vocalist.
Born: Chobham, Surrey, 13th February 1950.
Education: St Andrews, Woking. Charterhouse, Godalming.
Musical training: piano lessons, which were abandoned at an early age. Flute and oboe tuition.
Amateur debut: as drummer in a trad band, Milords, at some obscure hall in Buckinghamshire.
Career: started drumming when 13 with a jazz band and then a soul band. Began singing with his school group, which included Tony. Joined Genesis.
Musical influences: wide spread.
Favourite single: I Put a Spell on You, Nina Simone.
Most influential LP: none.
Favourite singer: Nina Simone.
Residents: Notting Hill.
Family: wife, Gill, and seven cats.
Instruments: Hyman 20 inch bass drum, Tempo flute, Howarth oboe.