The Official Genesis Reunion Countdown Thread

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

There were rumors going around a few months ago of a reunion being planned by the classic lineup of Genesis, that being Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett, Michael Rutherford, Tony Banks, and Phil Collins. A statement by the band’s management says, "There are no decisions by Genesis to perform anywhere whatsoever at this time. This situation will not alter in the next twelve months."   

This statement appeared around the start of the year. Individuals in the band have some contractual obligations to attend to this year, but it looks like 2007 (which will be the 40th anniversary of the band) may be the year in which the desperate hopefuls who have been dreaming of this day get their wish.

I, for one, will do anything I can to get a ticket to such a show. I have played those Gabriel era albums hundreds of time, hungry for new material that never came. Finally, back in 1998 (the same day Imagination was released), a much-delayed 4-disc boxset of rarities and concert recordings arrived, and finally the famine ended. Then, in 1999, a somewhat “new” track was released, a modernized version of “Carpet Crawlers” featuring the whole gang, (although the brilliant Steve Hackett was criminally buried in the mix). That, combined with a VH1 Behind the music special and a DVD documentary about the group, gave us a glimmer of hope that perhaps, someday, someway, the boys would realize that they have fun working together and give it a go.

So here we are, in March of 2006, and I am going to begin the countdown today. This thread will post any new information as it arises. In the meantime, we can kill the months by discussing various Genesis albums and tracks, as well as live recording that are circulating (my collection is extensive, although shamefully incomplete. I have about 85% of all known Gabriel-era live recordings).     

Also sitting on the shelf somewhere as we speak are all of the Gabriel-era albums remixed in 5.1 sound. Some of them have been ready for almost 2 years. Why the delay? Oh, Mr. Gabriel is a picky fellow. And he’s slow about getting things done (hence the 15 year breaks between solo albums). Word on the street is the infamous “Jackson Tapes” might also get released (these are 4 tracks, mostly early versions of songs later reworked for other projects (Anyway, Musical Box, etc) recorded in 1970 for the BBC. Long assumed lost, the tape appeared about 6 years ago and were bought by Tony Banks from a collector. 15-second excerpts of each track are available to hear on the net, and they sound incredible. An important document from an undocumented era of the group). Now, it seems they will wait to release these remixed albums until they “coincide” with something, presumably a reunion tour.

I am a very stubborn Genesis fan. I love the Gabriel-era, yet have absolutely no love whatsoever for his solo material nor the post-Gabriel era. The Phil Collins stuff is fine and dandy, but I don’t listen to it very much. It just wasn’t same. The 2 albums that feature Hackett following Gabriel’s departure are good, but just don’t quite have the magic of the earlier work, although “One for the Vine” is one of my very favorite numbers.

 Let’s all cross our fingers, say a prayer, rub the rabbit’s foot, and wear our pajamas inside out and maybe, just maybe, we’ll be seeing the mighty Genesis rise from the dead once more and remind us that Supper is Ready.

GIANT HOGWEED LIVES!!!!

[Daniel S.]

Seeing the original Genesis line up in concert is definitely on my fantasy wish list.  I hope they do Suppers Ready.

[Charles LePage @ ComicList]

Here here.  A Genesis reunion would be highly welcome by me.  Maybe they'll finally get in the Hall of Fame if they reunite next year.

[El Goodo]

Smile's been done , sortof but lets no start that argument!
Seen Brian Wilson live
Lord of the Rings was made into a good film
and now Genesis might be reforming, good things come those who wait
I suppose a Syd Barrett world tour is out the question though.

btw. I hope all you guys have got hold of the Shepperton 16mm Genesis DVD thats floating about the net.

[Big Bri]

Bubba,
  I KNOW that you've HAD to have seen "The Musical Box" on tour the last couple of years!? Right.
Because of THEIR popularity is the most obvious reason that GENESIS would be re-forming with Gabriel & Hackett.
And trust me ALL,"The Musical Box" are well worth seeeing again and again.
I've seen them do the "Selling England..." tour 3 times.And "The Lamb" twice!!  You'd swear you were watching GENESIS from back then.
Can't wait to see Gabriel fronting his old band!
Brian

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

Believe it or not, I foolishly missed the only area performance of The Lamb. My friend was coming in from out of town and I met him at the airport. I could have ditched him, and probably should have. 700 people attended the show. I should have been one of them. It’s something that I’ll kick myself over for the rest of my life.   

[Big Bri]

Don't beat yourself up to much. LOL   They tour quite often.But DON'T MISS IT next time!!!
It is sooooooooooooooo well worth it!!
Bri

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

They've never been in my area before, and, based on the poor showing, I doubt they will ever come nack again.
 

[Pim_Derks]

Probably the no 1 act on my "want-to-see" list. Saw Queen + Paul Rodgers, Valensia, Brian Wilson, Peter Gabriel in the last couple of years. Now only Genesis and Kate Bush are left basically. Would love to see them do a set with stuff like Musical Box, Fountain of Salmacis and Supper's Ready. But I doubt Peter Gabriel would be interested in playing all that 35 year old stuff again... I think the chance of a Phil-era reunion is way higher, unfortunately... After DUKE they haven't released anything really worthwhile...

[wind chime]

Probably the no 1 act on my "want-to-see" list. Saw Queen + Paul Rodgers, Valensia, Brian Wilson, Peter Gabriel in the last couple of years. Now only Genesis and Kate Bush are left basically. Would love to see them do a set with stuff like Musical Box, Fountain of Salmacis and Supper's Ready. But I doubt Peter Gabriel would be interested in playing all that 35 year old stuff again... I think the chance of a Phil-era reunion is way higher, unfortunately... After DUKE they haven't released anything really worthwhile...

Look a reunion of the 5 guys is tops but they would probably be heavy into Gabriel era stuff...imagine Gabriel singing back up to Invisible Touch or Illegan Alien?...I mentioned this before on a nother message board but having Ray Wilson open up with "Calling All Stations" and then a Great Phil song ["Squonk"?] then the tension is built up for the Gabriel fans ["Watcher of the Skies"?]...I know Ray or the band would not do it for one or two songs but it would be cool...Hackett would have to have a solo guitar piece...Quiet Earth/AfterGlow would close then a Lamb medley as the encores....

A non Gabirel reunion would be great for me too...get the Way We Walk DVD it was a good show!

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

A reunion of the classic lineup would hopefully focus solely on the Gabriel-era. No need for Solisbury Hill or Abacab. The problem, though, is that since so many songs are vey lengthy the setlist wouldn’t have that many songs, unless they cut them down a little (blasphemy!).

My dream set-list would look like this:

Watcher of the Skies
Firth of Fifth
Can Utility
Lamb Lies Down
Fly On Windshield
In the Cage
Carpet Crawlers
Cinema Show
Supper’s Ready
Return of the Giant Hogweed
Encore:
Musical Box
I Know What I Like
Second Encore:
The Knife

That’s about 2 hours of music. Not unreasonable. Maybe they could sneak “Fountain of Salmacis” and “Harold the Barrel” in there too.

[Pim_Derks]

My dreamsetlist:

Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Fly On A Windshield
Broadway Melody Of 1974
In The Cage/Colony Of Slippermen
Carpet Crawlers (Acoustic)
Time Table (Acoustic)
The Musical Box
Fountain of Salmacis
Supper's Ready
-------
Watcher of the Skies
The Knife
--------
Firth Of Fifth
I Know What I Like

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

My dreamsetlist:

Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Fly On A Windshield
Broadway Melody Of 1974
In The Cage/Colony Of Slippermen
Carpet Crawlers (Acoustic)
Time Table (Acoustic)
The Musical Box
Fountain of Salmacis
Supper's Ready
-------
Watcher of the Skies
The Knife
--------
Firth Of Fifth
I Know What I Like

Ah, Time Table. That would be cool. That one's never been performed live.

Another song that I'd like to hear: Seven Stones!

And how about giving Steve Hackett the spotlight with "Horizon's"?

Going to be a killer show. Let's hope politics doesn't stop it from happening....

[Charles LePage @ ComicList]

http://www.genesis-fanclub.de/genesis/reunion/genesis_of_a_reunion_engl.htm

[JRauch]

Correct me if I´m wrong, but isn´t "Can Utility" one of the greatest songs ever? I just recently discovered "Foxtrot", and I just can´t stop listening to that song. There are more great moments in these 6 minutes than other bands have on a whole album. The part, where Peter sings "where they feeeeelllll..." and then the keyboard comes in.... man, it gives me chills every single time.

[Daniel S.]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Jg_9vSWKx3I&search=peter%20gabriel

Suppers Ready, live 1973!

[wind chime]

My set list in no particluar order...

Musical Box
For Absent Friends
The Lamb
In The Cage
Watcher of the Skies
I Know What I Like
Squonk
Dance on a Volcanoe
Quiet Earth/Afterglow
Shipwrecked
Me and Sarah Jane
Mama
Taking It All Too Hard
Pigeons
Behind The Lines/Duchess
Many Too Many
No Son Of Mine
Jesus He Knows Me
Land of Confusion

[cta]

No "Blood On The Rooftops"? 

Come on!  What's with you people?

 

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

Blood on the Rooftops is cool, but that will have to wait for the Phil Collins era reunion tour.....Gabriel-era only!

[Big Bri]

I'd like to see them do:
Battle of Epping Forest
Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging
Back In N.Y.C
Dancing With The Moonlit Knight
All the rare stuff.
Maybe even "Harold The Barrel".  LOL

[Big Bri]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RdD6L4cKKU8&search=peter%20gabriel

 "Dancing With The Moonlit Knight"  Live '73
  The beginning to this song to me is STILL Archetype Genesis.Awesome
Bri

[I. Spaceman]

If they do ANY post-Gabriel Genesis, I will firebomb the stage with excrement and lentils.

[Charles LePage @ ComicList]

There's definitely some Hackett era Genesis material that would be appropriate for a Gabriel led Genesis reunion.

[Big Bri]

Hey Chuck,
  Are you talkin' "Firth of Fifth"??  Best solo Hackett ever wrote.Even though Banks wrote the song.
  Hackett's solo stuff alone is worth a thread!! All the way from "Voyage of the Acolyte" 'til now.Lest anyone forget,Hackett is the Greatest Classical guitar writer of our time."Bay of Kings" & "Momentum" are just stunning classical guitar albums.
Big Bri

[I. Spaceman]

There's definitely some Hackett era Genesis material that would be appropriate for a Gabriel led Genesis reunion.

Yeah, you're right. First two are fine. But anything from And Then onwards..VERBOTEN!