Did Daryl Let The Cat Out Of The Bag That Phil Is Coming To Chicago?

Is Phil Collins coming to the United States in the fall? He might be and we have Daryl Stuermer to thank for the heads up. A few months ago there was a mistake on Daryl's page that listed Chicago dates with the same background used for the Not Dead Yet European dates this summer. It was a 5 day stint in Chicago. The post was shared on the Facebook p
age Positively Genesis. Unfortunately, when the error was discovered, it was quickly removed and no one copied the the post.

There are a few reasons for the post to have some relevance. It was posted by Daryl on his site. He has roots in Milwaukee, and may have been excited to play so close to home. Next, it follows the same pattern of Phil's European tour. Multiple nights in a centralized location. Phil has said he is not going to do a long extended tour. Chicago would be perfect for a multiple night stop due to its geographic location.

If the post was accurate, this means Phil is coming to the states in the fall. We will have to wait and see. One reason for the removal of the post could be due to Phil wanting to see how he reacts to extended dates in Europe. It is all speculation for now, however the possibilities for fans in the states to see him only creates anticipation and excitement that he will be here soon.

Will There Be Clues For A Genesis Reunion As Phil Collins Goes On Tour?

Rumors are starting to be shared that Phil Collins will have a few songs from the Genesis archive in his set. Could this be true? If it is, could this be motivation for a future Genesis reunion down the road? Here is why I think this would be significant if Phil plays some songs from Genesis. Whether he plays or not, there are other motivating factors for a reunion.

In an interview back in October, Collin's son was quoted that the Genesis material is from a drummers perspective, significant and challenging to play. I almost got the sense he felt playing for Genesis would be difficult in comparison to playing his father's music. As a drummer, he may pressure his father to go out with Genesis in the future.

Next, Mike Rutherford is playing along side Phil with the Mechanics. Most likely and interactions between Phil and his son will be nostalgic. Again, this reminds Phil that the idea of a reunion would fun for all parties involved. Phil did after all mention that his writing the book brought back fond memories of Genesis.

Whether Phil plays songs from Genesis or not, his returning to the stage is a positive step towards a reunion. Most likely the trio will unite as Steve and Pete will forgo the three member era of music. In my opinion, this is why we will see a trio reunion as it would be more appealing to play all eras with Nicholas on the drums. It is all speculation for now.....soon we will know.

(Sample Set From Previous Florida Rehearsals For The Little Dreams Foundation- Not The Current List)

Shhhh.....I Love Phil Collins....And He Is Going to Surprise You!

Genesis fans are in two camps with Phil Collins. Basically, Genesis fans love him or hate him for his role in Genesis. For the purpose of this article, I am giving full disclosure. I love Phil. I think he has always been the reason why we talk about Genesis in such large numbers today. I believe if the ban
d ended in 1975, we would have the same fan base as most 70s prig bands which is minimal. Genesis would have faded to much less significance and generations would not have discovered the band if was not for Phil, Mike, Steve, and Tony continuing to make more music.

I am not going to debate the merits of Gabriel, Hackett and Collins era music. Fan groups have beaten it to death. Instead, I am going to talk about his upcoming tour. I think we are going to be surprised what Phil has left in the tank. Somehow, through his motivation of his son's ambition to learn more about his father, Phil is overcoming many health issues to play again.  And it is this motivation that will lead to a Genesis reunion down the road. His son is a drummer, and wants to learn about his father's music. If you read Phil's book, he has discussed how much he loves the history of Genesis. Once this tour is finished, we may see the band play tour one more time, and I for one will pay a hefty price to see this happen.

Another thing I have noticed is Phil has been missing since last fall. For those who doubt or dismiss Phil, I think you will see a healthier and more energetic Phil Collins than his past few appearances. The return to music will prove to be an extension of Phil's personal health and wellness. I even think we will more limited percussionist duties than In The Air Tonight. This is why I admire Phil Collins. Never dismissive or negative, he stays positive in the most trying times. This guy's prediction is Phil will overcome his health problems and deliver an emotional return to music. This is why I love Phil Collins. He is genuinely a great father, who will overcome all odds to give his son and his fans one more live appearance so we can talk about it for years to come. Go Phil!

*Authors Note: For fans reading in the United States, did anyone catch the error on Daryl' Stuermer's website? About a month ago, it was posted briefly that Phil was coming to Chicago. It was posted on my fan site than it disappeared within 20 minutes. I think the error was significant and Phil may play multiple nights in Chicago. Stay tuned.

The Problem With Ranking Genesis Albums

You see it time and time again.... The Genesis rankings. They are usually the same. Prog era 1-7 and then the rest. The uniqueness of Genesis fails to account for the body of their work. Each era is different, not better. It is discriminated by taste, not quality. For each extended song from the prog era there is a pop song that can be considered just as great by others. It is up the listener to decide which song they like. Rankings mean nothing.

To prove my point, I just recently read a list from prog-sphere. They claim the From Genesis to Revelation is better than Abacab and We Can't Dance. Really? The first album is a tribute album to the Beatles at best. Most songs are 3-5 minutes long which by prog standards are "pop" songs. The only rationale for ranking this album so high is that it does not have Phil Collins on the album, and there lies the problem. Fading Lights is much closer to prog than Silent Sun, but some dislike the Collin's era Genesis to acknowledge the contributions that were excellent songs.

There will never be a ranking that reflects a general consensus of the music. Fans are divided into 2 eras of Genesis (Some are 3 eras if you included the 2 post Gabriel albums with the foursome.) These lists serve to divide our tastes in music, not unite them.  Does it really matter? For new fans, they love the music as a whole, and that's the best ranking of all.