When Genesis first announced that they would be reuniting for a world tour in 2007 — just like everyone from the Police to Van Halen that year — I'll admit that I was pretty skeptical upon learning it would be the Phil Collins led version of the band. You know, the guys responsible for all those bad MTV videos for songs like "I Can't Dance" and "Invisible Touch" in the eighties.
This was especially disappointing considering that earlier reports (which turned out to be more like rumors) had floated a reunion of the more progressive seventies model, that also included original members Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett.
Disappointed? Hell, crushed was more like it.
That said, this 3 DVD set — recorded during a huge free stadium concert in Rome, at the end of the Turn it On Again tour — is pretty damned amazing. Yes, it features all those eighties pop hits like "Turn It On Again" and "Land Of Confusion".
The good news here is that Genesis divides the set-list up much more evenly than you'd expect — devoting equal time to songs from their more musically adventurous years like "Ripples" and "The Carpet Crawlers".
In fact, the three remaining original members of the band — Collins, keyboardist Tony Banks, and guitarist Mike Rutherford — embrace rather than run from their progressive-rock roots here in a way that I haven't seen since back on their Seconds Out tour in 1977. Joined by their longtime sidemen, drummer Chester Thompson and guitarist Daryl Stuermer (who apparently finally earned their full band member stripes on this tour), the fact that they look and sound magnificent here doesn't hurt either.
The fact is, this concert is so good in places it damn near brought tears to this old prog-dog's eyes. Genesis have always been great musicians, but here they sound more inspired than they have in years. On the old Wind & Wuthering chestnut "Afterglow" for example, while Banks lays back a bit on the mellotron strings (at least compared to the old days), Collins on the other hand sings his heart out.
The band, for its part, collectively play their asses off here — with highlights ranging from a rocking version of the guilty pleasure hit "Land Of Confusion," to the always amazing duel drumming of Collins and Thompson on "Los Endos."
On a medley beginning with the Gabriel-era "In The Cage" (from the rock opera The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway), the band sounds great charging through another Gabriel-era gem "Cinema Show." The medley then ends with "Duke's Travels," from Duke, an album which served as a bridge between the band's seventies prog-rock and the more commercial pop direction of the eighties.
Article comments
1 - Mike
Just last night I opened this incredible set and watched the first disc. All I can say is WOW! I've been a fan since Trespass first came out in 1971 and let me tell you this is one fantastic show! The musicianship is outstanding and the stage show was unforgetable. The only shortcoming I noticed was that during the more commercial songs, they didn't really seem to be having a good time. Only during the older progressive songs did they really seem to be having fun. Phil Collins didn't smile ONCE until about halfway thru the first disc. And that was during one of those songs. I really wish they would record a new album (am I dating myself?), but I don't know.....this may have been their swan song.....
2 - Tom Johnson
I have yet to watch this yet but from owning both Live Over Europe and one of the official bootlegs from the American leg of the tour (same setlist, much better, rawer sound) I'd guess I will agree - the band really did manage to bring it despite many fears that they couldn't possible hack it on stage again. Even Phil, who sounded so awful at Live 8 shortly before the tour, sounds great. But I was mostly interested in this for the documentary, as it's pretty rare to get such an in-depth view into bands like this. They're either fluffy VH1 pieces or short things on an DVD included with a current release - not a full-length film like this.
I really don't understand why this is marketed at Walmart. For the Eagles, Journey and AC/DC, something could be said that perhaps their target market shops there, but Genesis has a pretty specific fanbase now, and it's unlikely that typical Walmart shoppers are frothing at the mouth to get Genesis product there. And that I had to go to so much trouble just to find the damned thing (see comment #36 in the piece Glen links to above) speaks volumes - a couple of stores and finally Sam's Club was where I found it. This is not especially encouraging if Walmart is going to keep "exclusivizing" music like this.
3 - Donald Gibson
Regarding that documentary, I have two words:
Button Pusher.
I thought that guy was going to have a nervous breakdown.
- Donald
4 - El Bicho
Fire your researcher immediately.
"all those bad MTV videos for songs like "I Can't Dance" and "Invisible Touch" in the eighties."
"I Can't Dance" came out in 91.
"recorded during a huge free stadium concert in Rome, at the end of the Turn it On Again tour"
The Rome date was in July, and the tour continued into North America. I saw them in October '07 on the second-to-last night of the tour.
"In fact, the three remaining original members of the band " Collins,"
Collins is not an original member. He didn't show up until the third album "Nursery Cryme."
"the eighties pop hit-makers seem ready at long last to make peace with their prog-rock past."
I don't know what you base this on. I have never seen indication they have ever had any issues with their past and needed to make peace. In 1999, they got the quintet back together to rerecord "Carpet Crawlers" for a greatest-hits album which they certainly didn't need to and Gabriel is the one who has been holding up the concert tour reunion.
5 - Glen Boyd
Sheesh! So was that pronounced "Beecho" or "Bitcho" dude? Either way, sure, I'll play...
1. Ya' got me on "I Can't Dance." By this time, I'd pretty much stopped paying attention anyway. But as I was making a general statement here, I do consider "I Can't Dance" to be part of the tail end of Genesis' run as a hit-making machine...the period most often associated with their output in the eighties.
2. The documentary on this DVD states that the free concert in Rome was the very last show of the European tour...you can check the doc for yourself. They even talk about how the sun finally came out that day after a series of rained out shows, hence the doc's title "Come Rain Or Shine." I do know that they had a US run of shows afterwards. If I neglected to mention this, I'm sorry. It's a review, not a feature story...
3. While Phil Collins does not go back as far as the days of people like Anthony Phillips, he is generally agreed upon as an original member of the "classic lineup" of Gabriel, Hackett, Rutherford, Banks, ... and oh yes, Collins.
4. The comment about the remaining three guys making peace with their prog-past is obviously a subjective one, and you sir, are smart enough to know that. What that basically means, to paraphrase, is that this tour recognized the progressive years, in both the setlist and even some of the visual effects (that slideshow for example), far more than previous concerts by the "hit-making" incarnation really ever has. The setlist was basically 50-50, where the tour behind, to cite a presumed favorite of yours, "We Can't Dance" was tilted way more towards the hits.
Anything else you'd like to split hairs over?
-Glen
6 - El Bicho
I was only responding because your opinions weren't completely based in fact which I know is occasionally problematic around here.
Just wait until the discographer gets around to Genesis. Maybe. The band peaked with From Genesis to Revelation. Everything else is derivative rubbish.
7 - Chris Stewart
he is generally agreed upon as an original member of the "classic lineup"
Not be me he ain't.
8 - John Silver
Me either. I have repeatedly turned offers to rejoin the band over the years. My holding out is what stopped Peter Gabriel from going on with a reunion.
9 - Hung Nguyen
To spread some good karma here, I'm glad you enjoyed the DVD so much, Glen. I know you haven't always looked favorably at the three man line up, but I'm glad you saw these guys for what they really are - a bunch of guys who are still great performers who wrote a bunch of excellent music and is still an awesome live band. The way they took care to balance out their setlist to span most of the band's career show that they are very aware of all the different type of fans they have, and that all of them - even Phil - are happy to perform it. I saw these guys for their three night run in Chicago, and each night was just a blast and never got old, even though they never changed their setlist. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to cross "see Genesis live" off my bucket list. :)
It has been a stupendous year for Genesis fans, Gabriel era and Collins era fans alike, with a slew of wonderful releases. The DVD is a great memento of all the fun and excitement the band and the fans have had with this reunion. And of course, it'll all be topped off with the release of the Gabriel-era boxset at the end of the year (hopefully).
10 - Glen Boyd
Thanx Hung, and I agree it's been a nice period for Genesis fans. The new box (and hopefully the individual remastered reissues from the Gabriel-era) should be sweet. Hopefully we might even get some live "Lamb" on DVD. One can only hope...
-Glen
11 - An Angry Reader
I don't see why it is that this writer, like so many other lazy thinkers before him, is allowed to besmirch the names of the outstanding drummers who worked so hard to get Genesis to the level of notoriety they are today.
I don't care if this Gary fella is in the mob. I would like to give him such a pinch!
Name withheld,
President
Pete Best Fan Club
12 - Glen Boyd
Besmirch them? Hell, I didn't even mention them.
-Glen
P.S. Long live Stu Sutcliffe
13 - raz
I saw the show in Prague, it was absolutely great. I can't wait to see the DVD.
14 - Dave
I couldn't agree more with Glen Boyd. Fantastic DVD. In fact I liked it so much, I actually ordered the pop-up book of the stage set up. I have a a couple questions for any one out there. What is the song that is played at the end of the DVD while the credits roll? & what is the song that is played on the DVD for the satge design that came with the pop-up book? Thanks
15 - Dave
Sorry for the intrusion on my last post. Any Genesis fan would immediately know the two songs played on the respective DVD's. Fading Lights and Firth of Fifth. Thanks.