NationStates Jolt Archive

So, do you think that when Peter Gabriel left Genesis the band lost most of its creative flair? Is it fair to say that Phil Collins pales in comparison with Gabriel´s ability as a leading man? Or were their styles just too different to compare?

I'd say more they found something they liked, and that the musical tastes had evolved away from Opera Rock and into actual music. :D

I'm not sure I've ever heard any Genesis songs from the Peter Gabriel era. When I think Genesis I think Phil Collins.

I'm not sure I've ever heard any Genesis songs from the Peter Gabriel era. When I think Genesis I think Phil Collins.
Oh, so you´re missing out on such great albuns like "Selling England by the pound"...exquisite.

So, do you think that when Peter Gabriel left Genesis the band lost most of its creative flair? Is it fair to say that Phil Collins pales in comparison with Gabriel´s ability as a leading man? Or were their styles just too different to compare?

You're rather late getting to this, aren't you? :D

Yes, Genesis went steadily downhill after Gabriel left in 1975. They produced a few decent albums after his departure, but Duke was the last one I found worth listening to. Genesis hit absolute bottom with the 1992 travesty We Can't Dance. Having completed the destruction of what had once been a great band, Collins then left. Meanwhile Gabriel has had a magnificent solo career, so it's not without a silver lining.

Peter Gabriel left?? Oh, man...

Yup, it all went terribly wrong after Gabriel left, while he continued to create interesting music as a solo artist. Having said that, though, the generally acknowledged absolute worst Genesis LP - From Genesis To Creation did actually feature Gabriel.

Cunning move leaving the band by Gabriel - becoming a solo artist and getting to snog Kate Bush in a video seems like a much better idea than hanging around with Phil bastard Collins for the rest of your life.

You're rather late getting to this, aren't you? :D

Yes, Genesis went steadily downhill after Gabriel left in 1975. They produced a few decent albums after his departure, but Duke was the last one I found worth listening to. Genesis hit absolute bottom with the 1992 travesty We Can't Dance. Having completed the destruction of what had once been a great band, Collins then left. Meanwhile Gabriel has had a magnificent solo career, so it's not without a silver lining.
well. some issues are timeless, i suppose...and a couple of hours ago i was listening to the "Battle of Epping forest" and the subject came to mind.

So, do you think that when Peter Gabriel left Genesis the band lost most of its creative flair? Is it fair to say that Phil Collins pales in comparison with Gabriel´s ability as a leading man? Or were their styles just too different to compare?

It's almost impossible to compare the two since Peter and Phil have totally different approaches to music. Peter is more experimental while Phil's attention is rooted in old-school R&B.

I think it's a bit unfair to saddle Phil with the blame of the demise of creativity in the band. Let's remember that Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford were original members of the band and that they were there until the end. (Anyone remember Calling All Stations?) Also, while lyrics were usually written by one member of the band, the music generally had input from all members. And anyone who considers themself a hardcore Genesis fan would agree that the soul of Genesis is Tony; whither he goes, the band goes.

It's almost impossible to compare the two since Peter and Phil have totally different approaches to music. Peter is more experimental while Phil's attention is rooted in old-school R&B.

I think it's a bit unfair to saddle Phil with the blame of the demise of creativity in the band. Let's remember that Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford were original members of the band and that they were there until the end. (Anyone remember Calling All Stations?) Also, while lyrics were usually written by one member of the band, the music generally had input from all members. And anyone who considers themself a hardcore Genesis fan would agree that the soul of Genesis is Tony; whither he goes, the band goes.
Still, one could argue that Selling england by the pound, for instance, is a woek that carries the decisive mark of Peter Gabrie...would it have been the masterpiece today by all acknowledged if they had Collins as the leading man?

I was actually going to start a thread on this, as I just saw that they have released a greatests hits album, and the very same thought occured to me.

I can't say I cared for the Phil Collins genesis at all.

I was actually going to start a thread on this, as I just saw that they have released a greatests hits album, and the very same thought occured to me.

I can't say I cared for the Phil Collins genesis at all.
But what of "The lamb lies down on broadway"? Some claim that to be a masterpiece...

Phil Collins does do a pretty decent impression of Gabriel's voice on the first couple of Genesis album he sang on, and they weren't that far removed from the type of the stuff the band were doing with Gabriel, either.

Phil Collins is a stain upon all of humanity. He should be launched via rocket into the sun and all memory of his existence wiped from history.

When I clicked on this thread (which came up as 'Genesis: just another eas...') I kinda thought it would be something to do with the Biblical version!

Phil Collins is a stain upon all of humanity. He should be launched via rocket into the sun and all memory of his existence wiped from history.

Even better - why don't we just retreat back to cannibalism and eat his stinking corpse?

When I clicked on this thread (which came up as 'Genesis: just another eas...') I kinda thought it would be something to do with the Biblical version!
please, no religious thread here, dont be mistaken...

please, no religious thread here, dont be mistaken...

Yeah, I know.

Even better - why don't we just retreat back to cannibalism and eat his stinking corpse?

Why not? Because someone is going to end up having to put his cock in their mouth then. Its not the kind of risk I would be prepared to draw straws on.

Even better - why don't we just retreat back to cannibalism and eat his stinking corpse?

I bet he doesn't taste very good.

At first, when he Phil Became lead singer, I honestly didn't mind - though I preferred Gabriel. Then he got all huge, was fucking everywhere, and became dead annoying. So I went through this phase.

Phil Collins is a stain upon all of humanity. He should be launched via rocket into the sun and all memory of his existence wiped from history.

Once he dissappeared, I realized that was actually a tad dramatic, and that I just didn't care for him that much. However, having gone through a time in my life hating him for being dead annoying, I can't say I would ever choose to listen to anything he is singing on.

So, do you think that when Peter Gabriel left Genesis the band lost most of its creative flair? Is it fair to say that Phil Collins pales in comparison with Gabriel´s ability as a leading man? Or were their styles just too different to compare?

I think i'd agree hugely that they lost their talent when he left. The last album worthy of listening to is probably 1980s "Genesis". Anything after that was loathesome pop-rock aimed at the MOR market. A travesty when compared to the surreal and challenging earlier stuff.

I think i'd agree hugely that they lost their talent when he left. The last album worthy of listening to is probably 1980s "Genesis". Anything after that was loathesome pop-rock aimed at the MOR market. A travesty when compared to the surreal and challenging earlier stuff.
What is, according to you, the best Peter Gabriel/Genesis album?

What is, according to you, the best Peter Gabriel/Genesis album?

Oh, for sheer vision, it has to be The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, but i have a sneaking love of Trespass.

Oh, for sheer vision, it has to be The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, but i have a sneaking love of Trespass.
I would still mark Selling England by the pound as the truly unsurmountable masterpiece...but thats just me, of course.

I thought they were at their best when Phil Collins left and they sang with that guy from Stilskin. Otherwise, they were not really good throughout.
It had to be said.

I thought they were at their best when Phil Collins left and they sang with that guy from Stilskin. Otherwise, they were not really good throughout.
It had to be said.
Philistine!!!

The first Genesis album that I got was "Selling Englang By The Pound", and it's still my favourite, but I don't mind Phil Collins either. Sometimes I feel that I'm the only person in the world saying this, but I can live with that.

People tend to forget that prog did in fact die. Yes, some of Yes's most brilliant work was "Fragile", and the Classic Seven by The Moody Blues cannot be topped in my mind, but at the same time, when I'm not in a mood for prog I'm quite happy to listen to "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" or "Your Wildest Dreams". My goodness, listen to "Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys" by Traffic and then "Higher Love" by Steve Winwood. Incredibly different, but I like them both.

I think the best way to characterize my feelings about Genesis is to say that I liked Collins better for individual songs (Home By The Sea/Second Home By The Sea, I Can't Dance, Driving The Last Spike, and yes, Invisible Touch) but that the albums were much more consistent under Gabriel (Selling England By The Pound, Foxtrot and The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway). To me it all depends on my mood.

And I'm listening to Owner Of A Lonely Heart by Yes right now.