Genesis in Brussels

I discovered the magical music of Genesis in 1976 when watching "Silent Movie" in the cinema and Genesis' music came through the walls. I borrowed a couple of LPs from a friend and started appreciating this music, so different to The Osmonds for whom I was still a teenybopper just one year earlier.

In Brussels, I saw them in concert for the first time in 1981, one year after "Duke" was released and the same year as "ABACAB". Again in 1983 after "Genesis" and then in Wembley Stadium, London in 1987 for the "Invisible Touch" tour. The cynics said that Genesis were has-beens and would never sell enough seats for three nights in a 100,000 seats stadium. They were wrong. They sold out four nights.

As well as outstanding, intelligent music Genesis were known for their lights show, especially during "The Cage" from "Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" (1974).

Sadly, Genesis split up in 1992 then reformed in 1997 with Ray Wilson as lead singer after Phil Collins had left. This album was a flop and Genesis were destined to be a memory leaving just their albums to be played again and again.

Well this year they delighted us longstanding fans with the "Turn It On Again" tour through Europe and the USA. Their main concert in London will be tomorrow at Twickenham Stadium but I decided to see them at my local arena, Stade Baudouin in Brussels on Sunday 24 June.

What can I say? Genesis were truly outstanding. Phil Collins, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford might be 56-57 years old but lacked no energy, especially Phil who was as fun and outrageous as ever. He is quite rightly considered to be the best drummer in the world and when out the front, leaves the drumming to Chester Thompson who is part of the touring line-up.

See my photos at Flickr

"Genesis are an English rock band formed in 1967. With approximately 150 million albums sold worldwide, Genesis are among the top 30 highest-selling recording "artists" of all time." (Wikipedia)

My favourite albums are "Trick of the Tail" and "Duke".



The unofficial 2 CDs of each concert are available from The Music.com priced $30 per set.