Genesis had two distinct lives. The Peter Gabriel era was theatrical prog rock at its most ambitious: concept albums, elaborate costumes, and compositions that stretched past twenty minutes. Gabriel's departure in 1975 should have been fatal. Instead, drummer Phil Collins stepped to the mic and steered the band toward pop-rock that made them exponentially more commercially successful.
The Gabriel years produced some of prog's most inventive music. The Collins years produced massive hits and stadium tours. Both eras have fierce defenders.
Key Albums
Gabriel's surrealist magnum opus, a double album concept piece.
Peak Gabriel-era Genesis. 'Firth of Fifth' contains one of prog's greatest guitar solos.
The pop-era peak. Five top-five singles from one album.
Why They Matter
Genesis demonstrated that a prog rock band could survive the loss of its visionary frontman and reinvent itself for a completely different audience.