Date: 30 Mar 96 14:26:45 EST
Just so you know where I'm coming from, my introduction to Genesis came on a
summer evening in 1977 when "Dance on a Volcano" issued forth from a crappy
three-inch speaker in a crappy FM radio in my crappy little bedroom. Needless to
say, life didn't seem so crappy anymore.
Since then, I've always been Phil-centric but appreciative of the Peter years. I
think that Trick, Wuthering and Seconds Out constitute the greatest 1-2-3 punch
in the history of progressive rock.
Still, I can't help but be glad that Phil has called it quits.
Yes, glad!
When I saw Phil onstage in the summer of 1980 for the Duke tour, he was a
happy-go-lucky fellow. He smiled a lot. He bounced around. He did the
"tarantula" thing with the tambourine. He seemed to enjoy what he was doing.
Same thing for the tour thereafter when they did "Supper's Ready" for the last
time. Same thing for the Abacab tour.
But after that, slowly and over time, Phil didn't seem so happy any more. Most
times I'd see him onstage he was grim faced. I saw the live satellite broadcast
he and Mike and Tony did when WCD came out, and he scowled through the whole
thing.
I couldn't help beginning to feel that Phil simply didn't care much about
Genesis any more. Perhaps it was a combination of personal relationship factors
and personal ambition. He wasn't the happy-go-lucky front man of old. He was
going through the motions. It was a burden to him. This is just my perception,
my humble opinion. I may very well be wrong and if so I apologize.
Therefore, I am glad Phil has cut the ties. Obviously, he DOES NOT WANT to be
associated with Genesis any more. It is not in his heart.
But Mike and Tony do.
Yes, they still have Genesis in their hearts. They still feel a connection to
the past, but more importantly they have a VISION for the future.
So much has been written in this list about whether Mike and Tony should keep
the name Genesis, whether the band can continue, or whether it will be
"commercial viable." That last one bugs me the most. Since when should I care
whether the music I like makes it onto the Billboard 200? IMHO the true artists
of this world are those who operate outside the pop mainstream. I think Tony and
Mike have satisfied their financial goals and to a large degree their artistic
goals many times over. I seriously doubt whether "hit" is going to be foremost
on their mind when they start writing. I think "art" will. They know they'll
have lots ot prove.
As for whether the name Genesis should continue, I say yes. Why? Genesis, for
me, is not any one person but instead is a feeling. I have found parts of that
Genesis feeling in all the various members' solo work -- in some more than
others. Witness Smallcreep's Day, for example. Or Spectral Mornings. To say
that the Genesis spirit would not be present in a collaboration between Mike and
Tony is sheer lunacy. Let us not forget that Tony's keyboards have easily been
the dominant feature of the band since its inception. Or that together Mike and
Tony have already written a great deal of the band's greatest songs. Yes, Tony
and Mike are more than qualified to call themselves Genesis.
So now the question comes to who will complete the project. Already I am
disheartened by the predictable vocalist suggestions -- Fish, Wetton, Lake, etc
-- being floated on this list.
The reason I think they'll pass over those folks is because they won't want to
drag someone with a big history into their project. It would distract too much
from them -- and they still do have egos, don't they? I'd like to see them find
a newcomer or lesser known who has a very good voice and some songwriting
ability. That's exactly what Marillion did when they found Hogarth, and it paid
off.
As for drummers, Chester would naturally get my vote. But let's face it, there
are plenty of excellent drummers in the world. Again, if they don't go with
Chester, i don't think they'll go for a "name" -- i.e., Copeland, Bruford, etc.
BTW, I did find it interesting that the press release makes no mention of
auditioning for a drummer. Please, let them not use a drum machine!!!
One other thing. I'd like to see a guitarist in on this project, though I think
the odds are slim. Mike will probably want to do all the parts himself. I think
he's a good rhythm player but his forte is clearly the bass. They could use
someone to really lay down some leads, especially if the music is going to get
complex.
And though I know that Steve and Peter will not rejoin, it would be neat if they
came in to the studio to guest on a track.
Nevertheless, whatever the combinations turn out to be, I will look forward to
hearing this new creation. We had what 14 albums with Phil (9 or so as singer),
and now we move on. Bands move on, life changes. We grow older and precious
little stays the same. Genesis of 1992 was not the Genesis of 1972, but it was
still Genesis. And so will this Genesis. Think of the Yes Drama album. It was
still Yes because the music was there even though John Anderson and Rick Wakeman
weren't. And the music will be there in this new phase of Genesis.
With that, I will part with you.
Anthony DeBarros
From: Anthony DeBarros <70252.163@compuserve.com>
To: Paperlate
Subject: These Thoughts of Mine
Sender: paperlate-owner@ansto.gov.au
Precedence: bulk
Reply-To: Anthony DeBarros <70252.163@compuserve.com>
OK, more opinion on the Story of 1996:
