Finally a documentary that captures the true and unadultered history of the famed rock group Genesis. 20 years ago, I would have called them “the famed progressive rock group” but that status has changed and now they are a band of the world. This 2 hour dvd features ALL of the members of the band during their various stages, giving their collective and individual takes of the zeniths and nadirs of the group.
It’s hard to believe that someone watching this will like EVERY stage of the band, as the band itself voted with their collective feet by leaving and entering at various dispensations. For myself, the Gabriel-Hackett team was the apotheosis, with albums like Foxtrot, Selling England By the Pound and the cataclysmic Lamb Lays Down on Broadway being the Desert Island Discs of prog-rock fans. The entrance, influence and exit of Peter Gabriel is the highlight of this disc, as everyone chimes in on his impact, and the tensions that caused Gabriel to eventually leave are still palpable between Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford and Gabriel. Phil Collins’ professionalism as a drummer and team player comes out as what initially made the band popular, what kept it together after Gabriel left, and what made it a band that could become popular enough to fill a 50,000 sized stadium. The mix of music, art and various personalities to keep a cultural vision alive is both an inspiration, lesson and warning of the destruction of pride.
Eagle Vision DVD