Genesis is a completely unique group from England whose enormous talent and creativity are just now being recognized. Though they have built a solid reputation based on their highly individualistic live performances abroad, the group began to win acclaim in this country when they played here early in 1973. Their music is complex but tightly arranged and entirely accessible. The sheer originality of their style is only one element of the band's overall impact.
Much of Genesis' distinctive presence, especially on stage, is due to the eccentric talents of lead vocalist Peter Gabriel. He is always the focus of their live appearances, and he emphasizes the theatrical aspect by assuming the roles of characters in the music and wearing costumes which range from startling to the bizarre. "At the moment we are still in the first stage of audio-visual, in the way that the first stereo engineers experimented with trains passing from one speaker to the other ... I wouldn't say we have discovered anything yet. But after the last couple of years of development, we can now see the possibilities."
Though Gabriel understands the labels which become associated with Genesis' act, he feels that there is value in the group's elaborate style. "I don't like the word 'show'. It's not sort of Hollywood dancing girls. It's very difficult to put into words the visual concept. It's a visual and musical concept expressed at the same time." He also sees his own role in the group to be a contributing one, rather than a dominating star-trip.
"My things are my own and the more we present ourselves as a co-operative band, the happier I'll be. I don't want to project myself above the band. I just paddle about and put on silly costumes.
"We are learning all the time, and on the whole, in this business, it is the easiest field in which to be highly successful and mediocre at the same time. One should be constantly maintaining higher aims." Gabriel wants to avoid having Genesis catagorisized and limited to a formula presentation. "I would feel happier if you could come to a Genesis gig and not know what you're going to see. But some people have already complained because we do different things than we used to. I want to create a fantasy situation. It's consciously supposed to be unreal. I don't specifically want to frighten. Let's say I would prefer to be Fellini."
Guitarist Steve Hackett adds his stylistic tonal colors to the overall texture of Genesis' sound. He prefers to remain static and concentrate on his playing instead of conforming to the current image of the theatrical lead guitarist. "On stage I do tend not to use the guitar as a guitar but rather as a voice in the full scope of the sound. It's more of a special effects department. The reason I sit rather than stand on stage is because of the battery of foot pedals and fuzz boxes I use. There are a lot of crescendos and diminuendos, and I have to keep the levels right with the pedals. But I admit I'm the most non-visual member of the band, and I don't find it easy to be on stage." Hackett also tends towards short instrumental statements rather than extended solos in his playing. "I like to think we conjure up mental pictures for people and create moods. When Peter wears a flower on his head or shouts, it could mean nothing. But within the context of the music, it helps get the numbers across."
Classically trained Tony Banks handles the keyboard instruments for Genesis, and his use of the Mellotron provides the wide spectrum of sounds which has become the group's recognizable signature. "I'm not an improvisor in a group situation. I can improvise, and will often play away for hours on my own at the piano. But when I'm restricted to a riff or chord sequence, I prefer to work out my playing in advance. My sole concern is the composition and playing of the arrangement.
"There are two main ways we get material together. One of us might write a complete offering and then the group arranges it. Most often though, we all work together on a ten second idea, and then develop it. Each member takes a part in the writing."
Mike Rutherford plays electric bass and acoustic guitar with Genesis, and if it weren't for the music business, he might well have wound up working for the Foreign Office or as a golf pro. "I suppose our present musical form started to develop about three years ago. We used to change much quicker than we do now. But of course there were fewer people coming to see us. I wish we could have had Phil then. His arrival gave us an awful lot more confidence."
Phil Collins is a drummer who refuses to merely show off his excellent technique, but devotes it entirely to the band's music. He rarely takes solos, but his work is as interesting and intricate as anyone in contemporary music. "I'd like Genesis to get a bit looser, while keeping the arranged things. I want to get more into different time signatures. I think my playing has improved a lot, and two recent influences have been Billy Cobham and Bernard Purdie."
Typed up by Thomas Holter, from a copy of another article in the archives of Jeff Kaa.
