Genesis: Inside & Out (1967-2000) [Paperback]

Robin Platts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2001

From their early years with Peter Gabriel to their run of chart hits fronted by Phil Collins, and beyond, Genesis have carved out an important place in music history. The group amazed fans and critics as they progressed from tiny clubs and 10-minute epic songs like 'The Musical Box', to sold out stadiums and pop hits like 'Invisible Touch' and 'I Can't Dance'. This book tells the whole story, from their humble beginnings at Charterhouse School, through Phil Collins' departure, right up to the present day, when the group seems to have split up. Author Robin Platts covers the band's history in great detail, drawing from his own interviews with past Genesis members and associates, and from extensive archival research. The book explores Genesis' career in great depth, including details about: the making of each album; how the group developed their songwriting approach and how it changed over three decades; why various members left and how the group survived those departures; details of bootlegs, demo tapes and unreleased recordings; information about each tour, including set lists; critical reaction to their records and concerts; a comprehensive discography; and many photographs of rare record sleeves and memorabilia. The book also includes a wealth of new information including the first ever interview with guitarist Mick Barnard. Even the most die-hard Genesis fan will find new revelations in this book. This is an essential guide to one of the most innovative rock groups ever.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robin Platts

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Collector's Guide Publishing (March 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1896522718
• ISBN-13: 978-1896522715
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,404,307 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Three stars for the effort...but not the content., February 28, 2003

By 

M. Gregory (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Genesis: Inside & Out (1967-2000) (Paperback)

Although undoubtedly written with good intentions, Genesis Inside & Out falls wide of the mark for a couple of very obvious reasons.

Firstly, and despite the minor coup of interviewing early 70's guitarist-of-about-one-month Mick Barnard for the book (along with new interviews with Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips), four of the five major Genesis protagonists - Banks, Collins, Gabriel, and Rutherford - are represented only by bits and pieces of old interviews, hashed together from rock papers and a Virgin web site. Whether they were approached by Platts for this book, and declined to participate or grant new interviews, is not clear. What is clear though is that old ground is well and truly being trod, with very little new information of merit coming to light. Fans with no knowledge of Genesis' history will probably be okay with this, but those with a greater knowledge of the band will be left wanting.

Secondly, the book reads too much like a home-grown fan essay, and too little like objective biographical analysis. Ironically, although the author is quick to offer quite firm opinions on a number of issues - mostly related to a dislike of much of the post-Duke material - the way the book is written, in particular the use of sound-bites from old interviews, suggests some inadvertent and debatable conclusions, namely: that despite concerns Genesis couldn't survive without Peter Gabriel (they could, and did), musically the band actually never really survived the departure of Steve Hacket (when they clearly thought they could); that Banks doesn't seem to like much of the material or records from their entire 30-year career; that Collins can't seem to make up his mind if he likes "prog", and is almost rabid in his desire to break with the Gabriel/Hackett era past; that Rutherford seems to have preferred his 12-string duets with Anthony Phillips to just about anything else; that the Calling All Stations record/US tour was clearly the most ill-judged move of their entire career, and they really should have just stayed home after Collins quit. These conclusions, although possibly unintentional, merit discussion, but unfortunately the author leaves them hanging, without any analysis or investigation.

Although it has not been updated since the early 80's, and sadly remains out of print, Armando Gallo's superb I Know What I Like remains THE Genesis book, not just for his incredible photography, but for his concise yet detailed biography of the band. Robin Platts' effort, although welcome, unfortunately does not match the standard set by Gallo, or update the story in any essential and compelling way.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thier Own Special Way, July 9, 2001

By 

T. Tennard (NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Genesis: Inside & Out (1967-2000) (Paperback)

A good overview of the whole career of this great band, "From Genesis To Revelation" all the way to "Genesis Archive 2". Although a relatively short book the author provides lots of information on each album and subsequent tour. One of the best aspects of the book are the numerous quotes from most of the band members, as well as some of the band's managers and producers. One of the books few shortcomings is in the coverage of the many solo releases from the band. Solo releases by Anthony Philips, Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Steve Hackett, Mike Rutherford and Peter Gabriel are mentioned and briefly discussed. I would have like to have read more on all of the solo releases. As a big fan of Genesis reading about the creative process behind each album made me run to my CD collection to listen to the wonderful music created by this band. I also learned many things about the band that I was not aware of. I would highly recommend this book to Genesis fans.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What was truly behind the music of Genesis, December 29, 2001

By 

Prog Man "DGDan" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Genesis: Inside & Out (1967-2000) (Paperback)

What a refreshing book on the band Genesis! As current as 2000 - it's nice to have a new book of recent info and new old information. I am a huge fan and have just about everything there is out there - I Know What I Like - Armando Gallo, Musical Box, etc. This book has the most new quotes, background and interesting information about the band-without personal drama or tabliod style journalism. Just straight forward, well-written and specific information on the details behind the writing and recording of the songs. If you're new to Genesis, I would recomend the aforementioned books (I Know What I Like) first, and this a close second. My highlights would be the detail on rare recordings from the late 60's/early 70's and details from the memebers themselves. Highly recomended!