One of the most interesting musical groups ever to come out of London, Genesis is one of the most successful bands to ever call the capital home, and huge parts of their story can only be told through a private tour of the London landmarks that remain of their inception.
Once described by founding keyboardist Tony Banks as “never fashionable”, Genesis sold as many as 150 million albums, an almost unfathomable amount, with a musical repertoire that ranges from deeply philosophical and existential concept albums to extremely catchy love songs.
They were deeply influential, inventing several sounds and musical techniques in London Studios that would become incredibly influential on the future of rock music and music in general.
Both tapping and sweep picking, sounds that would be fundamental building blocks of electric guitar playing, thanks to Eddie Van Halen and Yngwie Malmsteen, were both innovated on the same Genesis song, 1973’s Dancing With the Moonlit Knight.
With that in mind, here are just a few of the places that must be visited on a Genesis-themed tour.
Putney Hospital
Not to be confused with the Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability, Putney Hospital is actually based on Putney Common in what is now the Borough of Wandsworth in south-west London.
It is where Phil Collins, the drummer and later lead singer of Genesis, was born. He was one of just two notable members of Genesis who were born in London, along with the Pimlico-born guitarist Steve Hackett.
Whilst Phil Collins was not a founding member of the band, with Peter Gabriel being the first lead singer and John Silver being the first drummer, Phil Collins’ exceptional skill both as a drummer and a vocalist would make him a central lynchpin of the band and a driving force of pop music in general in the 1980s.
Phil Collins is just one of three recording artists alongside Paul McCartney (with Genesis) and Michael Jackson (with the Jackson 5/Jacksons) who sold over 100 million records as a band member and a solo artist.
Regent Sound Studios
Based at 4 Denmark Street, Regent Sound Street is perhaps more famous for launching the careers of The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix. It was also technically the unsung studio where Genesis recorded their first album, From Genesis To Revelation.
Originally published by now-disgraced music producer Jonathan King, he aimed to create a Monkees-style pop band with a thin veneer of credibility.
Songs such as Silent Sun were recorded there, but whilst the album was a flop, it galvanised the band, particularly its then core of Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford, to write more complex music.
Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club
One of the most beloved underground clubs in London, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club was Genesis’ home for a six-week residency, where they got attention from the early progressive rock band Rare Bird.
They recommended the band to John Anthony, the Artists and Repertoire lead for Charisma Records, which got the band the deal which allowed them to record their first true album.
Trident Studios
Based on St Anne’s Court in Soho, Trident Studios was another legendary recording studio where The Beatles, Queen, Elton John, David Bowie and countless other bands recorded some of their biggest hits.
Trident was Genesis’ home throughout most of the 1970s, where two of their most formative albums were recorded.
The 1970 album Trespass was the album which formed their unique progressive rock song, with the album-closing The Knife becoming their signature song and a live staple for decades, even after the band radically changed their style.
They would also record 1971’s Nursery Cryme, featuring the band’s first epic song, The Musical Box, which became the album which would lay the foundation for some of their most defining traits as a prog rock band.
Finally, 50 years ago this year, A Trick of the Tail was recorded, which was their first album without longtime vocalist Peter Gabriel and featured songs such as Dance on a Volcano, the title track and Ripples, proving the band could survive without their frontman.
Epping Forest
Straddling the border between Essex and Greater London, Epping Forest was notable in Genesis Lore for being the subject of one of their most popular songs, The Battle of Epping Forest.
Based on a gang war but largely fictionalised, it was an encapsulation of how such a wonderful and evocative city caught the imagination of musicians.
Island Studios
Also known as Basing Street Studios, Island Studios was where Genesis recorded Foxtrot, Selling England By The Pound, and some of The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, thanks to its mobile unit.
It was closed in 2013 and has since been converted into luxury flats.
The Town House
Whilst Genesis never recorded there, several alumni changed the course of music at The Town House studios on 140 Goldhawk Road, Shepherd’s Bush.
It was where Peter Gabriel recorded many of his early solo albums, most notably the album Melt and the song Intruder, which established the famous “gated drum reverb” sound that would become synonymous with 1980s music, thanks to its extensive use by Phil Collins in the same studio for his early studio work.
