Genesis is an English rock band formed in 1967 by Charterhouse School students Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Anthony Phillips and drummer Chris Stewart. Originally called the New Anon, the group adopted the name Genesis after producer Jonathan King heard their early demos. Their first single, "The Silent Sun," appeared in 1968, followed by the album From Genesis to Revelation in 1969. Neither release attracted much public attention, but the band's willingness to pursue an individual musical identity soon set it apart.
After a series of lineup changes, Genesis entered a more ambitious phase with drummer John Mayhew and the album Trespass in 1970. Anthony Phillips left after its release, and Phil Collins joined as drummer. Steve Hackett completed the classic early lineup in 1971. With Collins, Banks, Rutherford, Gabriel and Hackett, Genesis developed a distinctive form of progressive rock built from shifting time signatures, extended instrumental passages, elaborate keyboard arrangements and literary, often surreal lyrics.
The group's reputation grew through albums such as Nursery Cryme (1971), Foxtrot (1972) and Selling England by the Pound (1973). The music combined pastoral English imagery with darker stories and complex structures. Their live performances became equally important, largely because of Gabriel's theatrical presentation. He appeared in costumes and used different characters to embody the songs, turning concerts into carefully staged pieces of musical theater. The epic "Supper's Ready" and the more concise "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" became representative of this period.
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974), a double concept album centered on a young Puerto Rican man navigating a surreal New York, was Genesis' most elaborate project with Gabriel. Gabriel left the band after the accompanying tour, creating one of the defining turning points in the group's history. Rather than dissolve, Genesis continued with Collins taking over as lead singer while remaining behind the drum kit in the studio.
The post-Gabriel lineup established a different balance between experimentation and accessibility. A Trick of the Tail (1976) and Wind & Wuthering (1976) retained progressive elements, while live releases and extensive touring demonstrated that Collins could become an effective frontman. Hackett departed in 1977, after which Genesis operated primarily as a trio of Collins, Banks and Rutherford. The album ...And Then There Were Three... (1978) introduced a more direct, radio-friendly approach, especially through the single "Follow You Follow Me."
During the 1980s, Genesis moved decisively toward polished pop-rock without abandoning its command of arrangement and studio production. Duke (1980), Abacab (1981), Genesis (1983) and Invisible Touch (1986) produced major international hits including "Turn It On Again," "Mama," "That's All," "Land of Confusion" and "Invisible Touch." The band also became a major presence on MTV. The animated video for "Land of Confusion," featuring caricatures created by the British television team Spitting Image, won the Grammy Award for Best Concept Music Video.
We Can't Dance (1991) was Collins' final studio album with Genesis. After his departure, Banks and Rutherford recorded Calling All Stations (1997) with singer Ray Wilson, but the album and its tour did not match the success of the previous era. Genesis later reunited with Collins, Banks and Rutherford for the successful Turn It On Again tour in 2007 and returned to the stage for The Last Domino? tour in 2021 and 2022.
Genesis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. Its legacy rests on an unusual dual achievement: the band helped define ambitious progressive rock in the 1970s, then became one of the most commercially successful British rock acts of the 1980s without losing its compositional sophistication.