Can't a guy take his kids to see Genesis without all the dreadful hate and shade targeted at Phil, Mike, and Tony? If you are a diehard Genesis fan that loves all eras of Genesis, you are used to the criticisms towards post-Gabriel/Hackett Genesis. In fact, it's part of our 40-year history of fandom.
Here is a quick history lesson of the shade thrown towards Genesis over the years after Gabriel and Hackett left the band.
For many years, it was the Peter Gabriel crowd that despised the newer music. If you lived in the Northeast of the United States, you went to college and spent hours and hours defending the group from the Peter Gabriel Fans. It was the birthplace of "That's not prog." If you bought a ticket to Genesis back in the '80s, you were going to hear that line until you went to the concert. I kind of didn't mind it. It was a healthy debate at least. Tiresome don't get me wrong. But I understood, even in 1984, it was only 9 years after Gabriel left. This happens when all bands continue on after the lead singer leaves.
The band went into the '90s and only toured and produced 2 albums. Things were kind of quiet. And then things began to change a bit in 2007. The "That's not prog" became more about the individuals as in an increase in attacks toward Mike, Tony, and especially Phil. . It took on a mean-spiritedness. The arguments about the music started to get personal and nasty. However, for fans of all eras, we thought the 2007 concert was pretty special. A great retrospective of the band's history.
Over the next 14 years, what I feel helped to make things worse regarding criticisms of the band was Steve Hackett going on tour playing Genesis. I have seen Steve and love the show. However, when Steve started to replay the older music, there was a subtle change in the dialog. This was different compared to Peter Gabriel. He had solo success and really separated himself from Genesis. Steve had to return to Genesis as I will explain why this is important to understand.
Steve has by his own acknowledgment played Genesis for many years because the concert promoters will not support him playing his solo albums on their own. The truth is, his solo work will not bring in as many fans to the venues. And as part of the marketing change, I feel he garners more attention to upcoming tours when he throws shade at post-Hackett Genesis. He does it so cleverly. He ridiculed Invisible Touch on one of his tours. Steve also does his interviews where he very subtly says, "Genesis Ended When He Left the Band.". It's the PT Barnum approach to selling tickets. You have to convince people that you are the greatest show on Earth.
The reason why it irritates me is there would not be any desire to see his shows if it wasn't for Phil, Mike, and Tony touring for years after Hackett left in 1977. They played the older music to a new crowd. Thus, bringing new fans to the older era of Genesis. In my opinion, Hackett fans are incorrect when they credit Steve for keeping true to Genesis. It was Phil, Mike, and Tony that kept the band's legacy alive for 3 decades before Steve decided to play their music. Do you really think older Genesis would be as popular today if it skipped a couple of generations? And, what truly makes this author upset is when you think about it, as their success continued, they did not have to play the music for profit. They played the music based on their love of some of the older material. That's quite different compared to why Hackett plays Genesis. He is forgoing his 20 plus solo projects each year he plays Genesis. To my point, Phil, Mike, and Tony have had solo careers alongside Genesis without ever needing to play Genesis.
The purpose for calling out the Hackett era of fans is they are without a doubt the meanest spirited. Check them out on the FB groups. They make fun of Phil's disability, the band getting back together again, and their overall efforts to play once more. Why do they need to attack the Genesis fan groups? Because the Genesis fan groups have the largest audience to bully and comment about them getting back together again. The Hackett groups are too small. They want to make the modern era of fans miserable with their opinions. Like a bully in the schoolyard, they love the larger circle of fans around the fight.
I wish Steve would consider a statement supporting his old bandmates getting back together again, along with a comment that the mean-spiritedness needs to stop from his fans. I think it would go a long way to ending some of the garbage being posted on Social Media. All fans of Genesis respect the Hackett shows alongside great cover bands like the Musical Box. However, for fans of all eras, there is nothing like Genesis getting back together again. We know this show will be just a special as 2007. It's our last chance to see them together again. Let us celebrate and enjoy the shows from all artists that play Genesis. I would love for fans of Genesis to go on the fan sites on Social Media without it being punishing. And lastly, let us enjoy "Genesis - The Last Domino Tour?"
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