Genesis to reunite in '07...sort of

Well, the long-awaited Genesis reunion will be taking place in 2007. An official announcement is expected Nov. 7 on the band's official Web site regarding what will be reportedly (and, if correct, appropriately) called the "Turn It On Again" Tour.

Right now, though, it looks like the lineup will consist of the modern version of Genesis with Phil Collins on lead vocals and drums, Mike Rutherford on bass/guitar and Tony Banks on keyboards.

According to this BBC report, Peter Gabriel has sadly said no to joining the reunion...for now. In true PG doublespeak, he throws this out there...

"It's not that I've ruled it out, but I've got some new material that I'll be working on."

So he hasn't ruled it out. Ugh...why must PG be so frustrating. He will always be my favorite artist, but he really needs to do this. There are a bunch of people out there like me who were born too late to witness the greatness of Genesis with PG at the helm...and I really want to see that once in my life.

I haven't checked out PG's site in a few weeks, but he supposedly posted something there saying that Phil (who is getting over his latest marital breakup), organized a jam session earlier this month with Mike and Tony.

Anyway, another site tracking Genesis reunion news and rumors going around cyberspace says guitarist Steve Hackett also will not be participating.

So instead of getting a tour of "Lamb Lies Down on Broadway," "Back in NYC," or "Supper's Ready," we're going to get two hours of "Invisible Touch" and "Jesus He Knows Me." Yeah!

:-(

UPDATE: This is just my speculation, but maybe--just maybe--there is hope for a "classic" Genesis reunion. I was looking further down that reunion news and rumor page I mentioned above and there are a couple of interesting tidbits...

22nd May 2006: Yet another new information from the Collins Tarzan-Interview-Marathon: Phil told the Chicago Broadway World that the first plan would still be to reunite the classic line-up in a couple of years, which might be hard to realise due to all commitments of the five guys. But Phil also said that he could imagine doing something with Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford instead, in case Peter is unavailable. Also, Phil revealed that the "Genesis Trio" has scheduled studio time in October for jam sessions. No further plans are made, though. >> Discuss this in our FORUM

13th May 2006: Once more a statement from Phil Collins. In a recent statement at 6Music in New York City (USA), Phil explained that a reunion is still likely. Nevertheless, due to other commitments Peter has until the end of 2007, a Reunion won't happen before 2008. Collins told the Toronto Star, that the five original members of Genesis are "moving toward the possibility".

20th April 2006: Alan Hewitt has recently interviewed Steve Hackett and this is what Steve replied being asked about the SACDs and a possible reunion: Unfortunately I'm not in a position to...I comment on things and I think that masses of the stuff has had a fantastically good job done on it and one or two things are still in a state of conjecture but I have no idea when that stuff is to be released......and of course the ideal time would be if there was a band reformation but I don't think anyone is any the wiser. The band isn't any the wiser than the fans are and so with regards to that we have all given our pitch and let's just say that most of us are hoping it is going to come off. I would love to be able to say 'Yes, I'll be there on Thursday!' It is the question on everyone's lips, including mine. If it doesn't happen, I won't be to blame.

18th April 2006: Good news again: Phil Collins revealed in a recent radio broadcast on KGO NewsTalk that the band met in November 2005 and that they have discussed a reproduction of the live show of The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. This would be "for a limited run of shows" and these shows would be "recorded and filmed". Collins also said that the band is "very enthusiastic about the idea" and that they will try to find the time to realise it. Go to the Downloads-Section to download the snippet.

OK...piecing this together, it is quite possible that because of PG's commitments through 2007, Phil, Mike and Tony will do their "Turn It On Again Tour" in 2007...with PG and Steve Hackett joining them in 2008 for a "classic" Genesis tour reproducing the "Lamb" live show.

I would like for the official announcement on Nov. 7 to include some hope of that happening...but I guess it won't.

Still...there is hope...and Phil, Mike and Tony in 2007 are better than nothing.

(Image from Genesis-Music.com)

Artist to Watch: Midlake

I have recently come across the band Midlake. The song "Head Home" from their latest CD, "The Trials of Van Occupanther," has been getting decent airplay on Philly's WXPN 88.5 FM and was getting stuck in my head. I finally heard who performed the song and decided to check them out.

"The Trials of Van Occupanther" is a very solid disc and the music is obviously inspired by 70s rock/folk. To me, "Head Home" sounds like Fleetwood Mac meets Jackson Browne, but with a modern feel.

Anyway, here are a couple of Midlake videos I found on YouTube...enjoy.

"Head Home"


"Young Bride"

Ben Folds' MySpace webcast

Ben Folds put on a show in his Nashville studio last night that was broadcast as a live video webcast on his MySpace site. It was pretty cool...and I found the following video on MySpace that shows a bit of Ben's performance of "Kate" last night in Nashville.

We and Ben Folds

Add to My Profile | More Videos

"Fraggle Rock" hits the big screen!

Oh, I can't wait for this! "Fraggle Rock" the movie!

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Jim Henson's "Fraggle Rock" is coming to the big screen.

The 1980s cult hit TV show is being developed by executive producer Ahmet Zappa into a full-length live-action musical fantasy starring the classic characters.

Lisa Henson, who serves as co-CEO of the Jim Henson Co. with her brother Brian Henson, brought Zappa on board as exec producer after a pitch meeting with the children's author.

Read the full story.

Ben Folds...78th greatest artist of all time!

Well, at least that's where Ben Folds came in on WXPN's 885 Greatest Artists of All Time countdown, as voted on by its listeners.

The countdown has been going on since Monday, Oct. 9, and has featured a full spectrum of musical artists ranging from Mozart to Muddy Waters to Black Sabbath. XPN is the greatest radio station ever and the fact that it played songs from each of these artists speaks of the diversity of music played on the station.

Granted, I don't think I have ever heard No. 693 Kelly Clarkson on XPN...and probably never will again (and that is a VERY good thing). But what other radio station these days plays "Supper's Ready" by Genesis (a track that runs more than 20 minutes)? And I can tell you that "Supper's Ready" was being played on XPN when I got into my car after work a couple of months ago.

Check out the list by clicking the link above...good stuff!

E-A-G-L-E-S! EAGLES!

Well, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated T.O. and the Dallas Cowboys, 38-24, yesterday at Lincoln Financial Field.

Since I'm under the weather with tonsillitis, it was a great pick-me-up. And the ending was classic...the Cowboys were down 31-24, but found themselves at the Eagles' six-yard line in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter. Dallas quarterback Drew Bledsoe threw a pass into the end zone that was intercepted by Lito Sheppard, who streaked 102 yards for a game-clinching touchdown.

It was very reminiscent of another game-clinching interception return for a touchdown scored by the Eagles at Dallas a few years back. James Willis picked off the Troy Aikman pass in the end zone and managed to toss the ball back to Troy Vincent, who took it the rest of the way for the score.

And there just happens to be a YouTube clip of the James Willis interception/Troy Vincent return...



Here are some more classic moments (from an Eagles fan's perspective, of course) from the Eagles-Cowboys rivalry...

4th & 1: It's groundhog day!


McNabb's 14-second FredEx delivery in Dallas on MNF