Steve Hackett: how Phil Collins became singer of Genesis
In the mid -seventies, at the height of their creative path in the field of progressive, i Genesis They were trying to find a way to the future, since the singer Peter Gabriel He was thinking of leaving. Was Jon Anderson Frontman and vocalist of Yes to give them an important help, finding the suitable solution.
The signs of a potential fracture (which would then occur) with Peter Gabriel appeared for the first time when the band was working on the songs for “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway”From 1974. The singer and author briefly moved away from the group to collaborate with in director William Friedkinwho had been successful the previous year with “The exorcist”, eventually obtaining an Oscar nomination for the horror film.
“Friedkin didn’t want the Genesis to end,” says the guitarist Steve Hackett A UCR PODCAST. “Peter returned to the band, but over time he became evident that he would do this album and would take him on tour with us, so as not to plant us. But then we should have found a new singer”.
Finding a substitute for Gabriel proved to be a challenge, even if Hackett says he now knew he had a solution. “We had a person among us who could do it, but there was the concern of having a drummer who sang, but at the same time we had a frontman who disguises himself, ran on stage and did all kinds of things,” explains the former Guitarist of the Genesis. “The idea of having a boy who sings behind the drums was an idea that we thought could be visually very difficult.” Hackett says who continues: “But, very funny, Jon Anderson gave us a good advice. I was present at Phil’s wedding with his first wife and I met Jon for the first time”.
“He said to me,” Well, Phil has a fantastic voice, why don’t you do the singer Phil and enter another instrumentalist? “I replied:” Well, you’re absolutely right and I agree with you “.
“Phil – explains the guitarist – had sang in the first song I had written for the Genesis” For Abycent Friends “(from” Nurse Cryme “of 1971) and then also on” More Fool Me “(from 1973 “Selling England by the Pound”). Phil also sang in my solo album, “Voyage of the Acolyte” (1975), he continues. “At the time I said to Jon:” Yes, I think it’s the right thing to do, but the others are not convinced of this strategy. ”
It happened that Phil at some point felt very frustrated and said: “Let me try this song”. We had started an album without knowing who the singer would be. That song proved to be “Squonk”, on “A Trick of the Tail”. Phil did such an excellent job that Tony Stratton-Smith, our manager, headed from around the corner while we were at the Trident Studios and said: “Well, guys, it seems that you found your singer, bye!”. He left before there were discussions. ”
“So, in a sense, it seemed that he knew that Phil would make that choice! Steve says.” I think that if Phil had been refused for any reason, I suspect that he would have decided to be part of another band. But luckily Tony (the manager) convinced him not to do it and stay with the band “.
The former Genesis guitarist continues to go regularly on tour and on 11 July he will release a new live album, “The Lamb Stands Live at the Royal Albert Hall” and admits that he already has some material on site for his next solo album. “I am working on new things, which sound better than never, obviously,” he says laughing. “But after all I would say it, right?
The guitarist will return to Italy again to perform in seven concerts in September 2025.
This is the calendar:
2 September Milan, Arcimboldi Theater
3 September Vicenza, Piazza dei Signori
September 5 Macerata, Sferisterio
6 September Rome, Cavea Auditorium Parco della Musica
September 7 Naples, Palapartenope
September 9 Palermo, Vegetable Theater
September 10 Agrigento, Palacongressi
