Morning:
10°c
Genesis announce new tour
Alexa Baracaia, Evening Standard7 Nov 2006
Genesis today announced they are re-forming for their first tour together in 15 years.
Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks will play a money-spinning series of stadium gigs across Europe next summer, including Twickenham Stadium in July.
The tour comes 10 years after Collins quit the band to go solo, and 15 years after their last tour, We Can't Dance.
The new tour, named Turn It On Again after their 1980 hit, is bound to prove lucrative for the band, who still have a devoted fanbase.
They first formed after meeting at public school in Surrey, rising to early fame as a prog rock act fronted by Peter Gabriel.
But after he left in 1975 the band replaced him with Collins, who was the drummer. They went on to become one of the world's biggest rock acts, selling more than 130 million albums with hits including Invisible Touch and Land Of Confusion.
But Collins left to go solo in 1996 and the band fell apart after two years, announcing an "indefinite hiatus".
That is now over, with the tour set to kick off at Helsinki's Olympic Stadium on 11 June, followed by concerts in 11 more European cities ending in Rome on 14 July. EMI Records will also be reissuing 14 Genesis studio albums over the next year.
Unveiling the news today, tour promoter John Giddings said: "It is a privilege to work with one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and to see their musical talent together again will be incredible. The live shows are as famous as their music."
Tickets for UK dates go on sale this Friday. See www.genesis-music.com
Reader views (9)
Dear Richard Yates, I would suggest that you could be a relatively new Genesis/Phil Collins "fan". As a relatively long time "fan" of both I don't see how you have been "deceived". Phil had never said he would retire from touring, maybe even a Big Band tour, who knows. You might want to check out Wikipedia for that reference. Think about it, the tour was called 'First Farewell Tour', hint, hint. A lot of the time he has his tongue in his cheek (Artful Dodger, oops), which you should know if you've ever seen him on anything, aside from the tour of course. Surely as a "fan" you'd be over the "Mad Man Moon" to see him perform. Please don't bother buying a ticket for the upcoming tou,r you'll free up a seat for a true fan. Stay at home and listen to your Zep albums. Maybe you should be sued under the trades description act for posing as a supposed fan!
- Brian Dobbs, Welland, Ontario, 07/11/2006 23:44
Report abuse
Genesis has been a sleeping giant since they went into mothballs a few years ago, but now they are back! I couldn't be happier and Genesis is great !!!
- Richard Baxter, Atlantic City, USA, 07/11/2006 16:31
Report abuse
I thought Phil Collins' last solo tour was supposed to mark his retirement from touring. It seems that everybody who paid to see his 'First Farewell Tour', expecting that this would be the last opportunity to see Phil live, has been deceived. Perhaps all the fans who were led to believe that these were Phil's final live performances should sue the ageing drummer and vocalist under the trades description act?
- Richard Yates, Glenrothes, Scotland, 07/11/2006 13:56
Report abuse
What a load of tosh is written about the so called Gabriel golden era of Genesis.
The fact is they haven't recorded any new material with Gabriel for over 30 years and they wouldn't even be playing Twickenham if they hadn't evolved by Phil taking over vocal duties all those years ago.
All these saddo proggies should just get over it, relax and just enjoy one of the most successful bands of all time playing classic songs once again!
I for one cannot wait!
- Jon, Berkhamsted, 07/11/2006 13:39
Report abuse
Stage performers? You might not believe it but this terminally unfashionable band was absolutely outstanding live. Indeed, it was often hard to tie together the album music with the live version. Exceptionally powerful and technically outstanding. Really.
- John Holloway, London, 07/11/2006 13:27
Report abuse
If it was for the money, they'd have been touring for the last 15 years and they'd be doing more than 20 gigs worldwide.
And anyone who's seen Phil live on the drums can you tell it's an amazing sight to behold. Maybe when you've achieved half the things this band has in the last 30 years, you can make comments like that.
- John, London, UK, 07/11/2006 13:25
Report abuse
The reunion tour announcement, while exciting, certainly does hint of bored old boys going out for a lark and padding their wallets at the same time.
The tour would have been vastly more interesting should Steve Hackett and God bless him, Peter Gabriel decided to throw their hats into the ring as well.
- Helen Keller, Peterborough, ON Canada, 07/11/2006 13:10
Report abuse
After all of the rumour of the classic line-up including Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett has been touted over the past few years, why have just these three rejoined to play the post 1981 rubbish that most pre-1981 Genesis fans found embarrassing?
Such albums are only ever found in the bargain bins now, whereas albums like Foxtrot or Nursery Cryme are treated with reverence and respect. I would have paid good money to see the five piece play a full concert at Twickenham and see Phil Collins get back to playing decent drumming in something other than a 4:4 time signiature occassionally.
I'd rather pay £15 to see tribute bands such as Regenesis or In the Cage than spend £60+ just to see these three. Do it properly lads with the 5 piece classic band and give us something to remember, not more embarrassment. Given the current state of music wouldn't it be good to show the world just what you were capable of doing with it in the 70's and inspire others rather than bore them with your 80's pap?
- Kit Robinson, chiswick, 07/11/2006 12:40
Report abuse
Kerching!
Old man karaoke for 50 quid a ticket eh?
Not exactly great stage performers are they?
Save some dosh and go watch a tribute band instead.
- Rob Smith, London, 07/11/2006 12:08
Report abuse
