GENESIS IN THE 1970S: Decades

Across the 1970s, Genesis both together and apart released eight studio and two live albums, played a thousand concerts and launched the solo careers of four of its members. They weathered the departures of Anthony Phillips, Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett, ending the decade as a self-contained trio of Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford, one that was about to become the biggest band in the world. For many though, the 1970s represents their artistic peak as a hothouse for incredible songwriters. It made for a combustible, heady brew when those talents were all harnessed in the service of the band, helping create the progressive rock genre, pioneering the multimedia concert experience, as well as making a rakishly worn daffodil the headgear of choice for the cognoscenti. Genesis began the decade by playing before an audience of one and asking if he had 'any requests?' and ended it by headlining the Knebworth Festival in front of 80,000 fans. The book tells the whole story of that decade on record, on stage, together and apart. Superbly detailed on the acoustic side of the band, the vocalists and impressive standards and influences. 188pp, paperback with colour photos.