May 2000 | see responses to this editorial below:
Genesis to Revelation?
Has the last book of Genesis been written now? Who knows. I have a feeling that even the authors themselves have yet to decide. A news blurb in UK newspapers a few weeks ago told us about an upcoming Genesis reunion with Peter and Phil on Wembley. This rumour was officially denied the same day. But rumours are not taken out of nothing, are they? Maybe there are some uplifting news coming up soon...

I recently wrote a 50th anniversary greeting letter to Tony Banks, assuring him that Genesis never will cease to exist in many people's minds. So why not just put out an album or two this year, just to make it even easier for us to remember. Don't expect to expand the fanbase too much - we are here, patiently awaiting more music from a group of people still enjoying to call themselves Genesis.

I have yet to see a response to my letter.

Any comments?

And comments there were...

From: Tom455@aol.com
To: genesis-path@mailbox.as
Sent: 5/21/00 8:48 AM
Subject: My 2 cents :)

Hi,
Was just surfing around and was compelled to make a comment about the whole thing about if Ray was a good replacement for Phil "or Peter for that matter". This is what l feel to be true... Any band will have a difficult time selling music under a new lead singer because the voice and the personality for the most part is what people identify with. For instance you could have Banks write a song and have totally different people playing the instruments and drums and Phil singing and it would be Genesis to most people. ln fact most of Phil's tunes could be sold as a Genesis record to most of the buying public.

lf Tony and mike had really wanted to make Calling All Stations a big seller they should have dropped the Genesis name and came out with another different name and being as good as it was as a body of work it most likely would have sold much better all around. Instead they tried to make the combo work with a different personality... "lead singer" and they had to work against a whole bunch of established peramaters. ln other words there is no one they can get that will be accepted by their long time fans. "And that's what they have if they use the Genesis name" other than Pete or Phil. l mean you are talking peoples emotional memories here!

ln closing l would like to say that as far as them getting back together as a group would be nice, but maybe not. They are getting older they have made their millions and l have heard Phil say on interviews time and again that he feels he owes us nothing! Sad but true! if everyone's hearts are not in it. lt will be quite pointless for them to tour and sing songs that Phil says he's sick of singing the show will suck and tarnish the great memories we hold of these guys.

One last thing l think is neat is... if you listen to Carpet Crawlers 99 and really listen! it is a timeline of how Genesis progressed thru time, it starts with Peter and sounds somewhat like the original in the beginning then progresses to Phil and sounds like Phil singing it in the later years during the Invisible Touch tour then at the end it becomes ethereal and you can almost feel it moving away from you like a passing wind or storm like they are saying goodbye... pretty cool! Don't know if it was intentional or not but they couldn't have done it better on purpose!

Thanks for listening :)
Thomas

From: Steve Banks
To: genesis-path@mailbox.as
Sent: 5/16/00 8:36 PM
Subject: Genesis Continuing

It was sad to here that Tony Banks is considering folding up Genesis due to lack of commercial interest following the Calling All Stations album. With that kind of attitude they would have got nowhere initially! Obviously the taste of commercial success in the 80's and 90's is worth more than artistic values, etc.

I would have thought the amount of money already in the bank would not have mattered any more, nor the need to seek the security of mass appeal!

Steve Banks

From: Dean Nelson
To: genesis-path@mailbox.as
Sent: 5/16/00 2:19 AM
Subject: Genesis will NEVER, Eh..Eh..Eeeeever cease to exist

I'm surfing The Path right now and downloading that version of IKWIL from the 1980 Duke tour. The pictures of the Farm are awesome and I wish that were me there with Mike Rutherford. Anyway, I think Tony will respond to your letter in the form of a new Genesis album in a year or two. What you said is right on. The fan base probably won't expand, but we're all here and waiting patiently for more. There has never been an official announcement about them calling it quits, otherwise there would have been one by now. On Behind the Music on VH1, Tony said "maybe that's it." That doesn't mean that is it, does it? He looked like he was going to cry after he said it. He doesn't want the ride to end. So I don't think it will. Take care.

Dean

From: argalleg@puc.cl
To: genesis-path@mailbox.as
Sent: 5/4/00 8:21 PM
Subject: Genesis Fan from Chile

Hi:
Congratulations for your site, it is very nice.

I write because I would like to know what is going to happen to the band. I've heard rumours that Ray and Nir will not continue and that Phil would return just for a celebration gig(accompanied by Daryl and Chester). I think it's not fair. I loved "Calling All Stations" and I know that many fans in the world loved it too. Ray is a great singer and he brang a complete refreshment to the group.

It is a shame that the band didn't included South America on their '97-'98 tour. They have never come here, where they got too many fans. I know that probably there is nothing concrete but maybe you are aware about what think Mike and Tony about all this.

Bye and thanks.

Alvaro Gallegos
argalleg@puc.cl

PS: one more time: your site is very nice.

From: AMMON, RAY
To: 'genesis-path@mailbox.as'
Sent: 5/4/00 11:53 PM
Subject: Just a thank you!

Thank you for this wonderful web site that has provided me with many hours of enjoyment. I was lucky enough to work for WEA and Atlantic Records for 25 years and met Genesis in 1978. Got to run them around to an instore appearance and radio stations. You would never meet a nicer bunch of guys and they are still the same, nice down to earth people. It's a real shame CAS didn't do better. I felt it was a great transition album unfortunately the mtv's and radio stations of the world didn't agree. I hope at the very least if there isn't a Genesis perhaps we can still get solo projects from them. I'd really like to see Tony put out an instrumental album... I think somewhere down the road us old farts would appreciate his music even when we get old. I think Tony is probably the most underrated musician in the band.

I could go on for hours, I have many war stories with the guys but just a big thank you... keep, keeping me plugged in as I am no longer in the music business and this web page is my info connection with the band.

Best Wishes!
Patrick Purcell

From: DANIEL SHAPIRO
To: genesis-path@mailbox.as
Sent: 5/2/00 11:31 PM
Subject: Future of Genesis

As a life long fan of the group, it has been dismaying to watch as the group I love put out record after record with each a little worse than the preceeding until the nadir of Calling All Stations. I feel that any future Genesis project needs to have some input from previous members, Gabriel, Collins, Hackett or Phillips - at least one if not several to breath some life into the carcass. The best situation would be the reunion of the main five; collaborating on new music and performing new and old in concert; but that is probably a pipe dream given the lengthy time for the new Gabriel solo CD. Perhaps the best solution might be to invite Hackett or Phillips into the fold for writing and playing. It would be nice to hear Rutherford concentrate on 12 string and bass again; along with some more interesting guitar playing from other musicians. No more drum machine-banish the thing.

Dan Shapiro

From: John Higgs
To: genesis-path@mailbox.as
Sent: 5/1/00 11:20 PM
Subject: Genesis US Tour

In all honesty, why didn't Genesis tour the State promoting Calling All Stations? They may had to have played at smaller venues but that is the way Yes has to do it these days. I've read the reasoning behind the cancellation of the tour was lack of interest and meager sales of Calling All Stations. First off, no one is going to buy an album if they haven't heard about it's release. Calling All Stations had little to no marketing and advertising. Old bands like Yes and Genesis really have to notify the public of upcoming album releases.

Secondly, why not tour anyway in the States and actually promote the album? I can remember Genesis coming over here and playing the Lamb before the album was released. So why can't Genesis suck it up and get over here to play Calling All Stations? Genesis is still a superstar band but not a superstar arena band. Touring is the only way Genesis can survive and unfortunately I don't see a US tour happening. Tony Smith should be imploring them to tour if he wants the band to survive.

John Higgs

From: guest <guest@anderson.edu>
To: <genesis-path@mailbox.as>
Date: fredag 28. april 2000 18:52
Subject: Comments on future of Genesis

Everyone in the band has grown and matured with their solo careers, and the band itself proved it could re-create itself even after thirty years with CAS. I would love continue to hear what the band could come up with for the next millenium - whatever the line-up. Even if the current band didn't take CAS quite as far out as some of us had hoped, I saw some real promise to the direction - CAS, Dividing Line, and One Man's Fool are all worthy songs, and giving themselves a chance to take it to a different level is something that I hope they choose to do. As far as whether or not other folks from years past should be involved... It would also be interesting to see what the classic Genesis members (71-75) could come up with. The diversity in their solo work makes me think that a combined effort would be nothing less than MIND-BLOWING!!!!! Steve's classical and Blues influences, Phil's jazz fusion and songwriting sensibilities, Pete's world music influences mixed with Mike and Tony's dark, moody material... WOW! Plus they've all improved their lyrics over the years and have become excellent songwriters on their own, if they are capable of giving up complete control of what's happening and collaborate democratically - which could be tough for some of them - then it could be a fitting finale - which I think we deserve after sticking with them through thick and thin over the years - or a grand rejuvenation of a band that mixed power, delicacy, humor, majesty, and drama like no one else before or since.

TODD

From: letrari@riello.it
To: <genesis-path@mailbox.as>
Date: torsdag 27. april 2000 18:45
Subject: Re: Letter to Tony Banks

Agreed. Definetely.
All I want is just to hear new Genesis music and talk about new Genesis records. Yes, new music! If you like (I would like...), even more challenging music, doesn't matter the sales, the charts, the tour. Anyway music, simply. This (new) line-up has so much yet to say. In my opinion, after the Phil's departure what Genesis lose in terms of popularity sholud be converted in creativity and releases' frequency. Genesis shouldn't worry about the glorious past, we already have the records! Only I wish a chance to hear their new ideas, hopefully far from the rules of the show-business; simply the music they like to play! I feel they could become astonishing records! In every case: music, music, music!

I'm hopefully waiting for good news on ThePath...

Best wishes,
gg

From: Alan Watson <a.watson@eris.dera.gov.uk>
To: <genesis-path@mailbox.as>
Date: torsdag 27. april 2000 13:57
Subject: Continuation

I've been following the band for - well - about 28 years through all the good and great times... and we've heard all of the doom and gloom before... it was supposed to be all over when Peter left... and then when Steve left... but they are still here. But Phil leaving was a blow that is not unrecoverable... but adding Ray... I'm not saying that Ray isn't talented... but that isnt the point really, the point is that with Ray being added to the Band, (the last addition being Phil in '72) are the band still Genesis? I'm not sure on that one (and I dont wish to get into a "which incarnation was best" discussion either).

No it isnt time for the band to hang up its instruments, but perhaps a re-evaluation is in order. Phil felt he no longer wanted to produce an album every few years and do the inevitable tour and we must respect that decision... but I believe that Tony and Mike could continue as a musical core and keep the band's music recognisably Genesis... which I feel "Calling" largely failed to achieve...

I suppose it has to happen that one-day the world's best band would come to an end... but the time is not now... I haven't heard enough either live or recorded...

Alan

From: Richard Burger <rcbmarcomm@nwinfo.net>
To: <genesis-path@mailbox.as>
Date: onsdag 26. april 2000 23:20
Subject: Re: Letter To Tony Banks

I liked your idea of a letter to Tony. It seems like Genesis have always been more snobbish and disrespectful to their fan base than many lesser bands. That's understandable, considering how readily they attracted fans during the 80s and early 90s, but it can be a bit frustrating. What address did you use to send it to him? I've wanted to do that as well for some time, and while I hate to irritate Mr. Banks, I do like the idea of getting myself heard. I was very impressed with Calling All Stations, and it saddens me that mere popularity could kill something so great as this.

Also, congratulations on a magnificent Genesis site, both in design and content. The sections on the CAS tour and the mp3 files are particularly impressive.

From: Brian Gate <begate@metronet.co.uk>
To: <genesis-path@mailbox.as>
Date: onsdag 26. april 2000 22:43
Subject: Genesis - all in the mind??

Genesis WILL live on in the hearts and minds of all of us old enough to remember the classic line-up - Banks, Collins, Gabriel, Hackett and Rutherford. With Phil reaching 50 next year maybe it is time for them to consider a more sedate lifestyle but frankly no. They will all continue to produce stunning music. As for a re-union tour/concert/ etc it would have to be a worldwide broadcast from a large venue possibly The Oval Cricket Ground or somewhere similar, but somehow I think maybe our memories should be treasured and not tainted by a larger (and balder) Peter Gabriel in Box mask, old man's mask etc being hoisted on wire a la Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

What would be interesting however is a some sort of visula interpretation ie film/video/multi-media presentation of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. It is truly a classic album and deserves some sort of visua; treatment now that the technology has caught up with the concept over 25 years ago of using back projection. Think of the possibilities now - computer animation as in Toy Story, Bugs, live action, Dolby Sound. Alan Parker would be the ideal director as he has done a superb number of musical films - The Wall, Evita, Bugsy Malone as well as hard drama Midnight Express for instance. Peter should write the script and the others record the soundtrack. As for Rael, well an unknown young Puerto Rican star could be found I'm sure. Finance? - Japan has always been keen on Genesis - witness Steve's Revisited tour recently maybe there.

Who knows the possibilities - I for one being a Genesis fan for over 25 years would love to see it happen. Maybe with your help it will.

Yours sincerely
Brian

From: Nordman Rolf <Rolf.Nordman@icl.fi>
To: <genesis-path@mailbox.as>
Date: onsdag 26. april 2000 13:13
Subject: Sharing your opinions

What can I say? Briefly:
Their music has given me so much during last 20 years. Whatever their decision is, I'll respect it. But I truly believe that Genesis still do have many years ahead as it comes to making enjoyable and powerful music.

Regards, Rolf

From: Joseph M Monahan <monahan11@1st.net>
To: <genesis-path@mailbox.as>
Date: onsdag 26. april 2000 02:35
Subject: Love to hear more Genesis

Hi,
I just wanted to say that I agree wholeheartedly with your letter. I for one am starving for more Genesis, either in its current incarnation or otherwise. A reunion tour in America would be a dream come true. I was utterly disappointed when the last tour of America was canceled. I had front row seats for the first time in my life to see my favorite band of all time, only to have it all shattered by a letter from ticketmaster saying the tour was off. Ok, so maybe stadium tours are a thing of the past, but the music is still great. They still have a loyal fan base. They don't need to try to re-invent themselves now, they just need to keep putting out the music that made them so successful in the past. I just wish that they would please save me from all the shallow, repetitive, uninspired music currently flooding the American market. Rock on Genesis!

Joe Monahan
Martins Ferry, Ohio USA

From: Diggins, Adam <Adam.Diggins@compaq.com>
To: 'genesis-path@mailbox.as' <genesis-path@mailbox.as>
Date: tirsdag 25. april 2000 21:24
Subject: Genesis

Thomas,
With regard to your letter to Tony Banks I think we should get all the fans to do the same thing if you could be the vehicle of delivery to Tony I believe we could make the right impression. As you know from our past mails I don't want Genesis to stop and I know there are more fans out there who feel the same how about we start some kind of campaign on both our websites to get people to send there thanks to Tony and ask Genesis to carry on.

Thanks.

Regards
Adam Diggins

From: foxtwin@yahoo.com
To: <genesis-path@mailbox.as>
Date: mandag 24. april 2000 18:18
Subject: From Staff Web Page

Dear Thomas,
I share the same feelings as you regarding the future of Genesis. I don't believe that Tony and Mike (and Ray) and not
certain of the future. I would, however, like to see any Genesis incarnation release some music because there is something great on any album by "Genesis."

It's been great to be a Genesis fan in the last few years: Calling All Stations, the Archive, the Hits, Carpet Crawlers 99, VH1 Behind the Music, etc. Sometimes I think all this is a fitting end to Genesis, and if it was the end, I'm still pleased because I have so many great songs and albums to enchant me again and again. Yet, to see them again, to hear what could come next, would be quite a treat. If things came together for a reunion (with Phil, Peter AND Steve), it would surely be a time to relish and remember. If it's difficult to think forward, it's probably easier to think backward. Yet, from what I know of Genesis, they probably don't like that idea.

Whatever the case, they owe us fans nothing. The band has given us so much that I can't find any reason to complain. In the end, the heart of it all is the music, and that's what I love. I turn it on again and again! Their music touches my heart, my mind, and my soul. In Genesis, there's a song for everything and every note and chord helps me know, see, understand, cope with, and enjoy so much in this life. With Genesis, there will always be more than meets the ear. I'll support them, although unheard, in whatever decisions they make. I'm thankful that they've shared their music with me.

"Like the story that we wish was never-ending, we know
sometime we must reach the final page." (Tony Banks, "Fading Lights")

Todd King
foxtwin@yahoo.com