Former Genesis Guitarist Steve Hackett Releases “Live Rails”
May 3, 2011 – Steve Hackett has released almost a dozen live albums but his latest clearly showcases a satisfied artist at the top of his game. “Live Rails” features a new touring band for the guitarist and a look back at some of his classic Genesis moments including “Los Endos” and  “Firth Of Fifth.”

“I always select live material emotionally,” says Hackett in an interview with Guitar Player. “For instance, if I perform a song from the early seventies it still has to have that emotional resonance I felt when it was new. "Los Endos" is a rearrangement that cuts to the chase. I'm particularly thrilled that the new pieces have been accepted by audiences in a similar way to the old classics.”

Hackett, one of the most underrated guitarists in Rock, is credited for creating a form of guitar playing called “Tapping,” Hackett says, “I am the inventor of that technique, which allows you to play extraordinarily fast whilst on one string. I first used it extensively on Genesis' Nursery Cryme in 1971. I demonstrated the technique. Van Halen gave it its generic title. It enabled the guitar to be played like a keyboard.” MORE

Peter Gabriel Announces Spring Tour
April 4, 2011 – The good news is Peter Gabriel is touring North America, the bad news is he’s only stopping 12 times. The singer has just announced the dates of his “New Blood” concerts.

According to Gabriel’s site: “On the last outing Gabriel redrew the works of Lou Reed, David Bowie, Radiohead....this time out he applies the orchestral makeover to his own back catalogue. The stunning musical backdrop leaves Gabriel's vocals centre-stage and bare, stripped of the usual rock'n'roll clothing, no loud guitars or booming drums to hide behind. Raw and soul-baring yet passionate and often joyous, Gabriel's classic songs here take new shape and extra meaning.”

The slogan for the tour is “Orchestra, No Drums, No Guitars.”

The tour also marks the 25th of the classic Gabriel album “So.”

Though more tour dates could be announced, here is what we have so far. MORE

Phil Collins, Huge Alamo Fan
May 11, 2010 – The name Phil Collins reminds us of countless hits, huge arena tours and complicated drumming. How about the Alamo? That’s right Phil is a huge Alamo fan and was in Dallas last night to talk it with their Historical Society.

Collins, believe it or not, owns the world's largest collection of Alamo memorabilia. He says he first became fixated by watching the vintage Davy Crockett TV series. The Grammy award winner owns it all, rare documents and even cannonballs and is co-authoring a book on the Alamo and the Texas revolution.

Collins who retired from touring in 2004 came back a few years ago with a reformed Genesis but spends most of his time enjoying his life and working on a new 60’s Soul/Motown flavoured album to be released in September. More

Peter Gabriel Wins Sweden’s Polar Music Award
May 13, 2009 – Congrats to Peter Gabriel. He is the recipient of this years Polar Music Award, Sweden’s highest musical honor which each year recognises both Pop and Classical musicians. Gabriel will share his prize with Venezuelan composer Jose Antonio Abreu. Each will receive one million kroner ($128,414 U.S.) from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.

Gabriel was given the honor for his "ground-breaking, outward-looking and boundary-busting artistry.”  Adding, "not only had a significant influence on the development of popular music - he has redefined the very concept".

The former Genesis singer will receive the award from King Carl XVI Gustaf at the Stockholm Concert Hall on August 31st.

Genesis Hoping for Reunion with Peter Gabriel
Nov. 4, 2008 – Long before Genesis reunited with Phil Collins, there was talk of original lead singer Peter Gabriel re-joining the band. Now that talk might add up to a reunion of the most popular early line-up of the band which includes Phil Collins on drums, Steve Hackett as lead guitarist, Mike Rutherford playing bass and guitar, Tony Banks doing the keyboards and Gabriel. Banks says, "We've never said never about it, you know," He told Billboard. "I know Phil (Collins) would be quite happy with the idea of just playing the drums; it would be quite fun for him. Mike (Rutherford) and I are certainly happy to do it. I know Steve (Hackett) is keen as well. I think it'd be down to Peter (Gabriel) more than anyone else."

Though not as commercially successful, the early Genesis years helmed by Gabriel as the only vocalist of the band is revered as the most creative. Now a third box set from that era (1971-75) is ready for release and reunion talk is loud. Though Gabriel has nothing posted on his website, he was the first to bring up the possibility of a reunion in 2004. His idea back then was to perform the 1974 concept piece "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway," in its entirety. Interestingly, it was Gabriel who backed out to work on his new album, which has yet to be released.

Rutherford says, "It would be fun to do something like that purely for the fun of working together again and seeing where it takes you.” Even Hackett, who has been sometimes reluctant at the idea, now thinks it could be time, "I think we should do this before one of us dies; we're not getting any younger, to quote one of the songs, so maybe one day it'll happen."

The seven CD box set will include remasters of the five albums and six DVD’s of live shows with Gabriel and rare footage.

Genesis did have one live reunion with Gabriel in 1982 for Rutherford’s birthday on Oct 2nd. All five members were on stage.

Banks says there will be more rarities released including remasters of the Genesis live albums. He is also working on a remaster of his exceptional debut album ‘A Curious Feeling’ from 1979. If you need more Genesis tunes, this is a great CD featuring Kim Beacon on lead vocals. It actually sounds like Genesis. While we are at it; Mike Rutherford’s first solo album from the same year ‘Smallcreeps Day” is one of the strongest solo albums by any Genesis member. It features incredibly powerful vocals by Noel McCalla, the concept album tells the story of Smallcreeps who works in a factory his whole life without knowing what is actually made there. – by John Beaudin

Phil Collins Forced to Pay $46 Million in Divorce Settlement
Aug. 20/08 – Phil Collins can now tell Paul McCartney he’s beaten him in something – divorce settlements! This has gotta hurt, the former Genesis lead singer has just been ordered to pay $46.68 million which ranks as the biggest ever celebrity settlement. McCartney’s was a measly $45.37.

I didn’t even know they broke up! Collins, 57 married Orianne Cevey, 35 seven years ago, it was his 3rd marriage. They have two boys together Nicolas 8 and Matthew 4.

The Daily Telegraph in England has reported that Collins has now paid over $84 million in divorce settlements. He’s worth $280 million. – by John Beaudin

Phil Collins No. 1 With a Bullet? Try a Gorilla!
August 6, 2008 – Maybe after writing the soundtrack to Tarzan in 1999 Phil Collins gained himself a little jungle karma. At the very least there’s one particular Gorilla giving him some luck. The singer just scored himself a No. 1 hit in New Zealand with his old 1981 tune ‘In the Air Tonight.’ First Cadbury had this wild idea to feature a big Gorilla in an ad campaign drumming to the tune. Interestingly, the English ad doesn’t mention chocolate or Cadbury even once and the campaign has spread throughout Europe. The $12 million commercial soon became a hit on the internet and it lead to Collins reaching the charts again with the tune. Sources say he was paid $1 million for the rights to the tune not to mention the revenue that came with the song being No. 1. Recently, Naturally 7 has also scored a hit with an acappella version of ‘In the Air Tonight’ called (Feel It) In the Air Tonight. – by John Beaudin

Don’t Expect to See Phil Collins at Billy Joel’s ‘Moving Out’
June 26, 2008 – Phil Collins thinks that artists should only use their tunes in live concert tours. The former Genesis singer says he doesn’t approve of acts digging into the vaults to have their songs land on Broadway shows. He’s into writing new tunes for new shows like he did for Tarzan, “I would like to do a Broadway musical, well, not even Broadway, just a musical.  I wouldn’t use my own songs, I don’t really approve of that. I don’t think it’s something I would want to get involved in.” In 1999, he scored the Disney ‘Tarzan’ film and wrote additional songs for the 2006 stage presentation in New York. Collins also said that the new German version of the ‘Tarzan’ would be a bit more sexy, not X-rated or anything but more racy. Though Phil recently announced his retirement from touring as a solo artist and Genesis he points out that he will continue to write new tunes and possibly record. – By John Beaudin

Phil Collins Officially Retires
April 27, 2008 – If you missed the Genesis reunion this past year you’re SOL. Phil Collins has just called it quits. He’s retiring from recording and touring. The 57 year old singer told The Times he’s already gone down this road; in fact he was already retired when his Genesis band mates coaxed him onto the reunion tour.

Collins has been the drummer for Genesis since 1970, when Peter Gabriel left the band as lead singer in 1975 Collins stepped out front as the new voice of the band thus changing the direction to a more commercial sound. In 1981 Collins released his first solo album `Face Value`` featuring the hit `In the Air Tonight` it was the first of many for the singer.

So what’s he going to do with all his free time? His favourite pastime is actually collecting memorabilia from the Battle of the Alamo.