Genesis was an English rock band formed in Godalming, Surrey in 1967, and it lived two full lives: the Peter Gabriel-era progressive rock of Foxtrot (1972) and Selling England by the Pound (1973), then the Phil Collins-fronted pop juggernaut that peaked with Invisible Touch (1986). Both eras deliver. Find Genesis vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Genesis formed in Godalming, Surrey in 1967 when the founding members were students at Charterhouse School. The classic progressive rock-era lineup of Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett, and Phil Collins (1971-1975) produced the foundational catalog including Foxtrot, Selling England by the Pound, and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Peter Gabriel departed in 1975 to pursue his solo career; Phil Collins moved from drums to lead vocals (while continuing to play drums on recordings). Steve Hackett departed in 1977. The trio of Banks, Rutherford, and Collins continued through the late 1970s and 1980s, with their commercial peak through Invisible Touch (1986). Phil Collins's parallel solo career (Face Value, In the Air Tonight, and many others) ran simultaneously. The band reunited for The Last Domino? tour (2021-2022) before Collins's significant health issues forced retirement.
Genesis's catalog moved progressively from elaborate progressive rock (1971-1976) toward more accessible art rock and pop rock (1977-onward). Their progressive rock-era work is widely cited as one of the defining bodies of work in the genre alongside Yes, King Crimson, and Pink Floyd. The post-Gabriel commercial era produced extensive global chart success across the 1980s.
Original Charisma pressings of the early-1970s Genesis catalog are widely collected. Multiple anniversary editions, audiophile reissues, and the 1970s Studio Albums and 1976-1982 Studio Albums box sets have been released.
Listeners new to Genesis typically start with Selling England by the Pound (1973) for the progressive era or Invisible Touch (1986) for the commercial pop era.
