Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins form the British band Genesis. It is one of the greatest bands in the world, precursor of progressive rock. He has sold over 100 million albums and his tours have been sold out around the world. We no longer believed in a return, but yes! Genesis is back on the road in a final tour: Genesis, The Last Dominos? With a stop on March 16 and 17 at La Défense Accor Arena.
franceinfo: What does Genesis come back on stage with two dates in France?
Tony Banks: I think it’s really good that we can do that. We will be very sad when the tour will end. We’re in France just before finishing in London on June 26, so that’s the last time I’m going to put my hands on the Genesis keyboard.
Phil Collins: It’s true, he will have tears in his eye. It’s still a big deal. We spent more than 50 years together and more than 50 years for them who started the group right out of high school. It’s not something light, it’s a life. I’m sure the public is aware of that. It’s still been more than 50 years.
This career, these past five decades, have brought a lot of memories. You have entered the homes of the world. What does it mean to you, the fact that Genesis has become an essential band today?
Tony Banks: It’s a kind of privilege. We are always surprised. Besides, we are the first to be surprised. We were very surprised when we arrived just now to see all these trucks and all the means that it requires, whereas for us, it’s just little notes that we wrote together a long time ago. Honestly, we didn’t think it would be our life. I find it magical. It’s really a kind of dream and wake-up call. Even today, it’s a really strange thing for us.
What’s crazy is that there were multiple lives in Genesis. There was indeed the beginning with Peter Gabriel who left. The media said: “It’s over, it won’t last“. There was indeed this voice of Peter Gabriel, but immediately Phil took over and the fans adopted that voice. I would like to know what place this voice occupies in your life.
Phil Collins: It was rather scary at first. We tried a lot of singers because I was a drummer and when we finished our research, we were like: “Too bad, no singer matches us“, so I stuck to it. It was a very long process.
Our first concert, we did it in front of 2,000 people in Ontario, Canada and the more I advanced in the concert, the more I felt confident. But it took me a long time to gain that confidence. It took me a long time to take the mic off the mic stand and walk around with it.
To be honest and fair, it was never an ambition for me to be a singer.
Phil Collins of the band Genesisat franceinfo
I did it only because I had no choice and in the end, it was the best solution so that we could continue to pursue our careers. But me, to admit everything, I rather had an idea of an instrumental group. Everything ended well, finally.
What does it mean to go on stage in France? France has adopted you. Two dates are coming, March 16 and 17 at La Défense Arena, in a period of a pandemic. You’re going to be the first group to perform these concerts that we’ve been waiting for so much.
Mike Rutherford: First thing: fingers crossed. It’s always been cool for us to play in lots of different places, stadiums, Bercy. It’s exciting to think that we’re going to be the first big band to play since this pandemic period. It makes it even more special and for everyone.
This is the ultimate tour… What does it mean to you, to tell you that Genesis is going to stop?
What’s happening with this final tour is going to be very emotional, but we haven’t reached the end yet…
Phil Collins of the band Genesisat franceinfo
Phil Collins: It was really a lot of fun. The two, Tony and Mike, have been doing this since leaving school and I arrived a little later, but we are still talking about a journey that spanned a long period. I haven’t really assessed or defined yet, this impression, this feeling, I will realize it once we pass the last date. There are plenty of people who are going to have to manage without us.