Genesis

Genesis are an English band formed in 1967 at Charterhouse School, Godalming, Surrey by Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Peter Gabriel and Anthony Phillips.

They've started as a progressive rock band, before membership changes brought some transformation in their sound. They were named Genesis by former Charterhouse student, Jonathan King, who also heard their demo tape and arranged for the group to work in the studio. In December of 1967 they recorded their debut single, "The Silent Sun", released in February 1968. Their second single, "A Winter's Tale" followed, but neither had any commercial success or public acknowledgement. Chanhing a couple of drummers during this period, Chris Stewart and John Silver they've built their sound upon some pastoral and progressive aesthetics, primarily with acoustic guitar and piano. Their debut album From Genesis to Revelation was released in March 1969 — again, lacking some larger press coverage and public attention. Reforming in 1969 they've started developing a new sound and looking for a new ground, with the new drummer John Mayhew.

Becoming one of the first groups signed to the new Charisma label, founded by Tony Stratton-Smith, they've recorded their second album, Trespass, released in October 1970. It would show some first signs of the band that Genesis would further become. Sstill folk-based, the music was more complex and the song "The Knife" became a concert staple.

Mayhew soon left and was finally replaced by Phil Collins, a teenage actor recently involved with Flaming Youth. For some time they've worked with Phillips, but he finally got replaced byt the next album, Nursery Cryme by Steve Hackett, sharing some guitar parts with Rutherford.