STRICTLY OBSERVING: It’s coming in the air tonight

For my entire life, Genesis has been unquestionably my favorite rock band.  I can remember being 2 years old standing in front of the TV in a walker with a fake microphone singing along with Phil Collins on MTV.  This was of course during the days when MTV still used music videos for their predominant airplay.  In fact, it was Collins who inspired me at approximately age 5 to request a drum set for Christmas, which I doubt I ever even play.  I never possessed even an ounce of musical ability at any point in my life, no matter how much I wished for it.  Nevertheless, I have still spent my entire life following the careers of Phil Collins and Genesis.  Thus, it has been a lifelong dream of mine to see either act perform live.
So, I was thrilled to hear that Genesis was reuniting for a 2007 world tour after 15 years of retirement.  However, I was not confident that any of the limited cities would be an area near home.  I was correct in that the closest venue was in Washington, D.C., and being as tickets are priced at around $130 each, I decided to pass on the dream.  Nevertheless, in the wake of their reunion tour hype, their very first autobiography was published.  Genesis: Chapter & Verse is a tremendous read that features accounts of all past, present and future members of Genesis.
Editor Philip Dodd accurately sums up the overall content of the book and what it represents in his introduction.  “Genesis: Chapter & Verse is as authentic a history as we could make,” Dodd wrote.  “That is why the voice of each member is relayed direct and uncensored.” He also mentions that all members of Genesis past and present are not only still alive, but that their minds remain untarnished by the drug use that is common among average rock groups.  You won’t find any revelations to the private lives of any of these musicians in this book.  It is not an exciting expose` into the flashy world of rock and roll.  Genesis: Chapter & Verse is totally and unequivocally about the music.  That seems to ultimately be the life standard for all the men of Genesis.  Perhaps that is why they have survived as a band for more than 40 years.  The tale of their long career is an interesting one, although not a story identifiable with the average Joe.  These boys were not from humble beginnings having been born into prominent British families.  Genesis was in fact formed by four members of Charterhouse, one of the most expensive public boarding schools for boys in all of England.  While most of their classmates were busy filling their spare time with games of squash and tennis, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Peter Gabriel and Anthony Phillips were busy founding what would become one of the most enduring rock groups in history.
Each of them seemed to have music and in their blood from the time they were born.  Tony Banks was born with a piano in his house and began playing it at a very young age.  Anthony Phillips learned to play guitar at age 11 after a bad talent show convinced him he wasn’t a singer.  Mike Rutherford learned guitar at 8 and by age 10, he was playing in a prep school band called the Chesters with friend Dimitri Griliopoulous.  Peter Gabriel started off as a shy kid who was brought to life when performing in front of a crowd.  In 1966, Genesis was officially formed after Jonathan King, a famous Decca Records executive, who acquired their first demo.
Phil Collins joined the band in August 1970.  Having received his first drum kit when he was 3, he was a natural player.  Recalling his Genesis audition, Collins said he had arrived early and heard several other applicants before him.  By the time it was his turn, Phil had memorized all the pieces and sailed through the audition.  In the following January, guitarist Steve Hackett came on board to replace Phillips, who developed a crippling case of stage fright.  Hackett appealed to Gabriel because of an ad he’d written seeking to join a band “determined to strive beyond existing stagnant music forms.” In 1975, Gabriel departed from Genesis and Collins began doubling as front man and drummer. 
Genesis: Chapter & Verse is chock full of essays provided by previous Genesis members, as well as their touring musicians, record executives, producers, agents, journalists, stage show designers, managers, and impresarios.  Also included is a narrative by Richard MacPhail, who served as their number one roadie, driver and chef until 1974, keeping them on a steady diet of cauliflower cheese, yogurt, and homemade bread.  I would have to say my favorite anecdote is Peter Gabriel trying to liven up the crowd by jumping into the audience, expecting the fans to catch him.  Instead, they ran out of the way and Gabriel’s ends up with a broken ankle.  He crawled back onstage and finished the last song on his knees.
Although I probably will never see Genesis live, I was pleased to hear that their tour was the second highest grossing musical event of the year according to Billboard Magazine.  I must admit I was a bit worried as to the quality of their current performing ability, as they are now approaching 60.  However, I was very delighted to be proven wrong when I saw them perform on VH1 Rock Honors where they were recognized for their lifetime achievement and influence in the genre.  Also among the honorees were Heart and ZZ Top, two other bands that have also still got it.  In a business that is so fickle, and is always refreshing to see a few rare acts that appear to survive the test of time.  Genesis, in my opinion, is a definitive example of such an enduring group of musicians.
A graduate of Wytheville Community College, Zach Cooley lives in Wytheville with his parents. Contact him at .