Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950, in Chobham,[1] Surrey, England) is an English musician. He first came to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career. More recently he has focused on producing and promoting world music and pioneering digital distribution methods for music. He has also been involved in various humanitarian efforts.
Steve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett (born 12 February 1950) is a British songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970. Hackett remained with the band for eight albums before leaving in 1977 to pursue a solo career.
In 1986, Hackett co-founded the supergroup GTR with another progressive guitarist, Steve Howe of Yes and Asia. The group released a self-titled album that year, which peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200 in the United States and spawned the Top 20 single "When the Heart Rules the Mind". When Hackett left GTR in 1987, the group disbanded.
After leaving GTR, Hackett resumed his solo career and has released albums and toured on a regular basis since. His body of work has encompassed many styles, such as progressive rock, world music, and classical. His playing has influenced guitarists such as Alex Lifeson[1] and Brian May.[2]
In 1986, Hackett co-founded the supergroup GTR with another progressive guitarist, Steve Howe of Yes and Asia. The group released a self-titled album that year, which peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200 in the United States and spawned the Top 20 single "When the Heart Rules the Mind". When Hackett left GTR in 1987, the group disbanded.
After leaving GTR, Hackett resumed his solo career and has released albums and toured on a regular basis since. His body of work has encompassed many styles, such as progressive rock, world music, and classical. His playing has influenced guitarists such as Alex Lifeson[1] and Brian May.[2]
Anthony Philips
Anthony Edwin "Ant" Phillips (b. December 23, 1951, Chiswick, West London) is an English musician, best known as a founding member of the band Genesis. He played guitar and sang backing vocals until leaving in 1970, following the release of their second album, Trespass. He left due to suffering from stage fright, after being told by his doctor that the best thing would be to leave the band. He is known for his twelve string guitar work, and his influence can be heard throughout Genesis's early output.
Genesis's first album after Phillips's departure, Nursery Cryme, featured two songs which were holdovers from the days when Phillips was in the band: "The Musical Box" and "The Fountain Of Salmacis." "The Musical Box" especially remains a favourite of fans, but few recognise Phillips's contribution to the composition.
After leaving Genesis, Phillips studied classical music (especially classical guitar) and made recordings in collaboration with Harry Williamson, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins, among others. His first solo album, The Geese and the Ghost, was issued in 1977. Filled with pastoral ballads and extended compositions, it was considered out of place with the rise of punk music and was not a strong seller.
Phillips released his second album in 1978, entitled Wise After the Event. This was followed the next year by Sides. Both of these albums were produced by Rupert Hine and were intended to reach a mainstream audience, though neither album was successful in that regard.
In its initial release in the UK, Sides was accompanied by a more experimental album entitled Private Parts and Pieces; in the U.S. and Canada the two albums were issued separately. Private Parts and Pieces II: Back to the Pavilion followed the next year, and several further sequels were issued in the 1980s and 1990s.
Phillips began writing material with Andrew Latimer of Camel in 1981, and was a featured performer on that band's album, The Single Factor (released in 1982).
Phillips released a mainstream pop album entitled Invisible Men in 1983. He later claimed that this project went "horribly wrong" as a result of commercial pressures, and would subsequently eschew mainstream success in favour of more specialised material.
Phillips remains involved in a variety of musical projects, including extensive soundtrack work in England. In the mid-1990s, he released an album entitled The Living Room Concert, which featured solo acoustic versions of his earlier material. He also provided archival material for the first Genesis box set, Genesis Archive 1967-75, released in 1998.
Genesis's first album after Phillips's departure, Nursery Cryme, featured two songs which were holdovers from the days when Phillips was in the band: "The Musical Box" and "The Fountain Of Salmacis." "The Musical Box" especially remains a favourite of fans, but few recognise Phillips's contribution to the composition.
After leaving Genesis, Phillips studied classical music (especially classical guitar) and made recordings in collaboration with Harry Williamson, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins, among others. His first solo album, The Geese and the Ghost, was issued in 1977. Filled with pastoral ballads and extended compositions, it was considered out of place with the rise of punk music and was not a strong seller.
Phillips released his second album in 1978, entitled Wise After the Event. This was followed the next year by Sides. Both of these albums were produced by Rupert Hine and were intended to reach a mainstream audience, though neither album was successful in that regard.
In its initial release in the UK, Sides was accompanied by a more experimental album entitled Private Parts and Pieces; in the U.S. and Canada the two albums were issued separately. Private Parts and Pieces II: Back to the Pavilion followed the next year, and several further sequels were issued in the 1980s and 1990s.
Phillips began writing material with Andrew Latimer of Camel in 1981, and was a featured performer on that band's album, The Single Factor (released in 1982).
Phillips released a mainstream pop album entitled Invisible Men in 1983. He later claimed that this project went "horribly wrong" as a result of commercial pressures, and would subsequently eschew mainstream success in favour of more specialised material.
Phillips remains involved in a variety of musical projects, including extensive soundtrack work in England. In the mid-1990s, he released an album entitled The Living Room Concert, which featured solo acoustic versions of his earlier material. He also provided archival material for the first Genesis box set, Genesis Archive 1967-75, released in 1998.
John Mayhew
John Mayhew was the third drummer (percussion, vocals) for the progressive rock band Genesis (September 1969 - July 1970). He replaced previous drummer, John Silver in August 1969 . He appears on the album Trespass as well as the Genesis Archive 1967-75 box set. He was replaced in 1970 by Phil Collins.
For many years Mayhew's post-Genesis life was a mystery to most fans. It was said that his Trespass royalty cheque had gone unclaimed, and there was speculation that he was dead or missing. In 1979, he moved to Australia, where he eventually found work as a carpenter (he is now an Australian citizen)[1]. In 1989 he briefly returned to England to visit his ailing mother. In 2006, he attended the Genesis Convention in London (along with Anthony Phillips and Steve Hackett), even playing drums for a tribute band's performance of "The Knife" (from Trespass).
For many years Mayhew's post-Genesis life was a mystery to most fans. It was said that his Trespass royalty cheque had gone unclaimed, and there was speculation that he was dead or missing. In 1979, he moved to Australia, where he eventually found work as a carpenter (he is now an Australian citizen)[1]. In 1989 he briefly returned to England to visit his ailing mother. In 2006, he attended the Genesis Convention in London (along with Anthony Phillips and Steve Hackett), even playing drums for a tribute band's performance of "The Knife" (from Trespass).
John Silver
Jonathan (John) Silver was the second drummer for the English rock band Genesis. He replaced Chris Stewart in the summer of 1968 and appears on their first full length album, From Genesis to Revelation, and on the Genesis Archive 1967-75 box set. He left the band in August 1969 and was replaced by John Mayhew.
He lives in London with his wife, Lucy, and children, Leo, Max, and Libby.
He lives in London with his wife, Lucy, and children, Leo, Max, and Libby.
Christ Stewart
Chris Stewart was the original drummer and a founding member of Genesis. He is now a farmer and an author.
A classmate of Tony Banks and Peter Gabriel at Charterhouse School, Stewart joined them in a school band called The Garden Wall, and they later formed another band with schoolmates Mike Rutherford and Anthony Phillips, called The Anon. This band eventually became Genesis in January 1967. Stewart appears on the band's first two singles, "The Silent Sun"/"That's Me" and "A Winter's Tale"/"One-Eyed Hound." (These tracks appear as bonus tracks on many reissues of Genesis' first album From Genesis to Revelation. Also, a stereo mix of "The Silent Sun" was included on the album.) Although several demos from Stewart's time with Genesis appear on the Genesis Archive 1967-75 box set, he is not credited with playing on any of them. (Peter Gabriel seems to have played drums on a couple, and the rest do not feature drums.)
Chris was not really serious about becoming a musician and left the band in the summer of 1968. He was replaced by John Silver. After travelling and working throughout Europe, Stewart settled in the Alpujarras region of Andalusia, Spain. He came in last place for the position of local councillor in the 27 May 2007 local elections in Órgiva representing the Green Party [1], where he received 201 votes (roughly 8%).
He is now better known for his autobiographical books, Driving Over Lemons (1999, ISBN 0-9535227-0-9) and the sequels, A Parrot In The Pepper Tree (ISBN 0-9535227-5-X) and The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society (2006, ISBN 0-9548995-0-4), about his work farming in Spain. The first two are also available as audio books (Lemons ISBN 0-14-180143-3; Parrot ISBN 0-14-180402-5), narrated by Stewart.
"An idyllic life in a remote, sunny part of Europe is a fantasy normally punctured by harsh realities, and abandoned. Chris is made of sterner stuff. Driving Over Lemons is a wonderful account of his Andalucian adventure"
- back-cover text for Driving Over Lemons, written by Peter Gabriel.
He has also contributed to two books in the Rough Guides series - the Rough Guide to Andalucia and the Rough Guide to China.
A classmate of Tony Banks and Peter Gabriel at Charterhouse School, Stewart joined them in a school band called The Garden Wall, and they later formed another band with schoolmates Mike Rutherford and Anthony Phillips, called The Anon. This band eventually became Genesis in January 1967. Stewart appears on the band's first two singles, "The Silent Sun"/"That's Me" and "A Winter's Tale"/"One-Eyed Hound." (These tracks appear as bonus tracks on many reissues of Genesis' first album From Genesis to Revelation. Also, a stereo mix of "The Silent Sun" was included on the album.) Although several demos from Stewart's time with Genesis appear on the Genesis Archive 1967-75 box set, he is not credited with playing on any of them. (Peter Gabriel seems to have played drums on a couple, and the rest do not feature drums.)
Chris was not really serious about becoming a musician and left the band in the summer of 1968. He was replaced by John Silver. After travelling and working throughout Europe, Stewart settled in the Alpujarras region of Andalusia, Spain. He came in last place for the position of local councillor in the 27 May 2007 local elections in Órgiva representing the Green Party [1], where he received 201 votes (roughly 8%).
He is now better known for his autobiographical books, Driving Over Lemons (1999, ISBN 0-9535227-0-9) and the sequels, A Parrot In The Pepper Tree (ISBN 0-9535227-5-X) and The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society (2006, ISBN 0-9548995-0-4), about his work farming in Spain. The first two are also available as audio books (Lemons ISBN 0-14-180143-3; Parrot ISBN 0-14-180402-5), narrated by Stewart.
"An idyllic life in a remote, sunny part of Europe is a fantasy normally punctured by harsh realities, and abandoned. Chris is made of sterner stuff. Driving Over Lemons is a wonderful account of his Andalucian adventure"
- back-cover text for Driving Over Lemons, written by Peter Gabriel.
He has also contributed to two books in the Rough Guides series - the Rough Guide to Andalucia and the Rough Guide to China.
Bill Bruford
William Scott Bruford (born May 17, 1949 in Sevenoaks, Kent, England), better known as Bill Bruford, is an influential British drummer who is recognised for his forceful, highly precise, polyrhythmic style. He was the original drummer for the highly successful progressive rock group Yes, and has been a prominent figure in the art rock movement since the early 1970s. He has been in many other bands and collaborated on numerous projects, most famously King Crimson and his own fusion band Bruford.
He began playing the drums when he was thirteen, and was influenced by jazz drumming, which would manifest itself on early Yes albums and would remain an influence on his style throughout his career. He had success in the early seventies during his time with Yes playing on their first five albums including the LPs The Yes Album, Fragile, and Close to the Edge. He left Yes at the height of their success in 1972, returning briefly for the Union album which was released in 1991.
He began playing the drums when he was thirteen, and was influenced by jazz drumming, which would manifest itself on early Yes albums and would remain an influence on his style throughout his career. He had success in the early seventies during his time with Yes playing on their first five albums including the LPs The Yes Album, Fragile, and Close to the Edge. He left Yes at the height of their success in 1972, returning briefly for the Union album which was released in 1991.
Ray Wilson
Ray Wilson (born 8 September 1968 in Dumfries) is a Scottish rock musician, who got his start in the grunge band Stiltskin; they released one album and had a number one hit in the UK with the single "Inside". He is the cousin of Ian Wilson, better known as Ian Catskilkin, of UK Indie band Art Brut.
Ray started off in a band called Guaranteed Pure in the early 1990s. They released an album called Swing Your Bag, the title track of which was included on a compilation album on the label of Fish entitled 'The Funny Farm Project : Outpatients '93'.
In 1997, Wilson joined Genesis following the departure of former vocalist and drummer Phil Collins. Genesis went on hiatus after one album, Calling All Stations, and a tour with Wilson.
Wilson went on to record a solo project called "Cut_", which he has described as sounding the way the next Genesis album might have sounded had the band continued with him. The album Millionairhead was released under this name. It was re-released in 2007 (remastered) including three additional songs.
In 2003 he released a solo album under his own name titled Change. The next year he released another studio album entitled The Next Best Thing, which included a cover of "Inside". He is currently touring and promoting the second Stiltskin album "She". A UK release is set in September 2006.
DJ and trance producer Armin van Buuren has produced remixes of the songs "Another Day" (retitled "Yet Another Day") and "Gypsy" from Millionairhead. Both remixes have been released on van Buuren's own albums, and "Yet Another Day" was also released as a single.
Ray started off in a band called Guaranteed Pure in the early 1990s. They released an album called Swing Your Bag, the title track of which was included on a compilation album on the label of Fish entitled 'The Funny Farm Project : Outpatients '93'.
In 1997, Wilson joined Genesis following the departure of former vocalist and drummer Phil Collins. Genesis went on hiatus after one album, Calling All Stations, and a tour with Wilson.
Wilson went on to record a solo project called "Cut_", which he has described as sounding the way the next Genesis album might have sounded had the band continued with him. The album Millionairhead was released under this name. It was re-released in 2007 (remastered) including three additional songs.
In 2003 he released a solo album under his own name titled Change. The next year he released another studio album entitled The Next Best Thing, which included a cover of "Inside". He is currently touring and promoting the second Stiltskin album "She". A UK release is set in September 2006.
DJ and trance producer Armin van Buuren has produced remixes of the songs "Another Day" (retitled "Yet Another Day") and "Gypsy" from Millionairhead. Both remixes have been released on van Buuren's own albums, and "Yet Another Day" was also released as a single.
Nir Zidkyahu
Nir Zidkyahu (born November 1967, in Rishon Lezion, Israel) is a well-established studio-session drummer, and the brother of Blackfield's drummer Tomer Zidkyahu. He played the drums for eight songs on Genesis' 1997 album, Calling All Stations, and subsequently joined the band for their 1998 tour. In 2001, he drummed on John Mayer's breakthrough album, Room for Squares. Since then, he's played drums and percussion for various major artists including Jason Mraz, Joss Stone, Alana Davis, and most recently in 2006, continued to solidify his reputation as a top rock session drummer by recording with Chris Cornell on his second solo album, Carry On, released in 2007. Notably, Zidkyahu played on Cornell's song "No Such Thing" and also on Mayer's song of the same name.
Nick D'Virgilio
Nick D'Virgilio is an American drummer, often referred to as NDV, perhaps best known as a member of the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. He was also one of two drummers chosen to replace Phil Collins in Genesis on the Calling All Stations sessions. He has also done session work with many artists including Tears for Fears.
The Shaming of the True, Kevin Gilbert's second solo album, was released posthumously. The album was incomplete, but Gilbert's estate asked D'Virgilio to complete it based on the extant tapes and Gilbert's notes. Shaming was released in 2000 and has D'Virgilio on many tracks contributing drums, percussion, bass, guitar, keyboards and backing vocals.
After Neal Morse left Spock's Beard in 2002, D'Virgilio took over on lead vocals and has since recorded three albums, Feel Euphoria, Octane and the self titled Spock's Beard. His first solo album, Karma was recorded in 2001 at Kevin Gilbert's former studio, Lawnmower and Garden Supplies Studio, in Pasadena[1]. The album included performances by Mike Keneally and Bryan Beller.
He served as the chief engineer on Bryan Beller's solo album View, recorded at the same studio as Karma. In addition, D'Virgilio was a full member of the Mike Keneally Band from 2001 to 2004, playing on the tour supporting Keneally's 2000 album Dancing and later providing drums and vocals on the 2004 album Dog, though he was replaced by Joe Travers for the subsequent Guitar Therapy tour.
D'Virgilio also filled in for Mark Zonder on Fates Warning's summer tour with Dream Theater and Queensryche in 2003. Zonder's prior commitments prevented him from taking part in that relatively high-profile tour, and he ceased performing with the band following its 2005 release FWX due to a reported aversion to touring. D'Virgilio has played with the band on a handful of gigs supporting that album and appeared on its 2006 DVD release Live in Athens.
Since 2003, D'Virgilio has also been the drummer for the power pop band The Rubinoos.
The Shaming of the True, Kevin Gilbert's second solo album, was released posthumously. The album was incomplete, but Gilbert's estate asked D'Virgilio to complete it based on the extant tapes and Gilbert's notes. Shaming was released in 2000 and has D'Virgilio on many tracks contributing drums, percussion, bass, guitar, keyboards and backing vocals.
After Neal Morse left Spock's Beard in 2002, D'Virgilio took over on lead vocals and has since recorded three albums, Feel Euphoria, Octane and the self titled Spock's Beard. His first solo album, Karma was recorded in 2001 at Kevin Gilbert's former studio, Lawnmower and Garden Supplies Studio, in Pasadena[1]. The album included performances by Mike Keneally and Bryan Beller.
He served as the chief engineer on Bryan Beller's solo album View, recorded at the same studio as Karma. In addition, D'Virgilio was a full member of the Mike Keneally Band from 2001 to 2004, playing on the tour supporting Keneally's 2000 album Dancing and later providing drums and vocals on the 2004 album Dog, though he was replaced by Joe Travers for the subsequent Guitar Therapy tour.
D'Virgilio also filled in for Mark Zonder on Fates Warning's summer tour with Dream Theater and Queensryche in 2003. Zonder's prior commitments prevented him from taking part in that relatively high-profile tour, and he ceased performing with the band following its 2005 release FWX due to a reported aversion to touring. D'Virgilio has played with the band on a handful of gigs supporting that album and appeared on its 2006 DVD release Live in Athens.
Since 2003, D'Virgilio has also been the drummer for the power pop band The Rubinoos.
Anthony Drennan
Anthony Drennan is a guitarist noted for his involvement with Genesis as a supplemental guitarist and bassist during live concerts between 1997 and 1998. He was born in Luton, England, but moved back to Ireland at a young age. He is currently the lead guitarist with The Corrs, and has also played with Clannad, Paul Brady, Moving Hearts, and dozens of other well-known Irish bands and performers
