Friday, January 1, 2016

Can You Imagine Being One Of Twenty Back In 72....

A 1955 double die coin or a  1960s Spiderman #1 have much in common with one singular date in Genesis history, December 11th, 1972.  Like the coin and comic, this date was a very rare singular occurrence in Genesis history. This was the date of the first Genesis concert in the United States. Genesis performed at Brandeis University as a warm-up gig for the group’s “official” American debut two days later at Philharmonic Hall in New York. The concert, as of record attracted between 8 -20 people in attendance. Can you imagine what that concert ticket or any other evidence of the concert must be worth today? There is nothing out there at the time of publishing this article that is a historical artifact from the concert. Can you imagine, being one of the possible 20 people in attendance. Unaware that this same band would be what today we know as Genesis.

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Return Of The Giant Hogweed - 40 Years Later Life Imitates Art

The Return Of The Giant Hogweed is a song based on the Victorian introduction of a giant Hogweed plant (Heracleum mantegazzianum) after it was "captured" in Russia and brought to England by a Victorian explorer.

This plant has bizarre characteristics. The toxins are reactive to the UV rays of sunlight. It can create severe burns on the skin of humans. It is an extremely difficult plant to kill as it seems the roots are entirely resistant to herbicides. Haz Mat teams in special suits have to remove the plant as it is so dangerous.

What makes this song so unique is that the spread of the Hogweed has become a global issue. In the United States for example, the Hogweed has recently spread and caused harm to humans. There are similar non-toxic species that can confuse someone into believing that the plant is harmless.

Genesis, and most likely Peter Gabriel may have been inspired by the story "The Day Of The Triffids." It is a post apocalyptic story of an invasive plant species bioengineered in what was then present day USSR and managed to escape to wreak havoc on the world.

40 years after the release, it would seem that the song has a second life due to the continual spread of Hogweed in non indigenous areas. Just remember:

Waste no time!
They are approaching.
Hurry now, we must protect ourselves and find some shelter
Strike by night!
They are defenceless.
They all need the sun to photosensitize their venom.
 

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Watcher Of The Skies - Genesis Meets Arthur C. Clarke


A great example is Watcher of the Skies. Loosely based on Clarke's "Childhood's End", which is about mankind evolving to leave Earth and their bodies behind and to join a cosmic consciousness called the "Overmind"

An alien (played live by Peter Gabriel in his Batwing headgear and inverse mohawk) comes to Earth, only to find it deserted. It begs the question - is it deserted because the creatures here destroyed themselves ("has life again destroyed life") or because they have left Mother Earth behind to go elsewhere (do they play elsewhere). Whatever the cause, like a primitive lizard leaving it's tail behind it, humanity as a whole has gone beyond it's union with the mother planet.
This alien is old, and has traveled a vast amount of space. Perhaps it is huge, or is organically grown into a massive ship, for we are told that the alien is a world unto itself, and that no world he passes is his.  After observing conditions on the planet, the alien imparts a bit of it's age-old wisdom to the vanished inhabitants, saying: "From life alone to life as one, Think not your journey's done For though your ship be sturdy, no Mercy has the sea, Will you survive on the ocean of being?"
(Mention of the Ocean of Being here is important symbolism.) Then, sad because it is still alone, the Watcher turns and heads back to the stars.

Often times, Rod Serling would use this kind of imagery in his writing the Twilight Zone. He felt that in order to understand our own being, we should travel to a different dimension. Similarly, Genesis would write songs for listeners to travel to another dimension. Watcher of the Skies was one of the best examples of connecting music to literature. One of the many unique features of Genesis.

Monday, March 30, 2015

Genesis Meets Greek Mythology

Genesis would sometimes draw upon literary classics for their songs. Other times it would be folklore. For this song, it would be Greek Mythology. While some fans think there are many meanings behind the song, it is simply based on the first story of a Hermaphrodite and can be commonly found in Greek literature. Genesis was loyal to the story. The lyrics never stray from the original written many centuries earlier about Hermaphrodites and the Naiad.

Who was Salmacis? Salmacis was an atypical nymph, rejecting the ways of the virginal goddess of the hunt Diana in favor of vanity and idleness. Her attempted rape of Hermaphroditus places her as the only nymph rapist in the Greek mythological canon.

Phil Collins stated in one of the post-Gabriel gigs, 'a hermaphrodite is a person that is a man and a woman at the same time, in the same pair of trousers as it were. And that is truly the story behind the Fountain of Salmacis.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Found this little treasure on the Genesis Addicts FB page

I found this treasure in the Genesis Addicts FB page. I believe there are more songs to be found. I will update the page as I learn more. Enjoy. Really cool how they worked together.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Seven Stones

Seven Stones is a great song. It has many interpretations. I for one believe it is a story about how life gives us many chances. We make choices. The story of the old farmer is a reflection of those choices. Don't take life so seriously, and don't take life so lightly. Genesis lyrics can be complicated yet so simple. Often times, life imitates art. Seven stones was a name of a reef that a British tanker carrying crude oil struck in 1967. It was an environment disaster. I wonder if part of the imagery of the song is to ponder the consequences of the Captains decisions that fateful day. The sea gull....hmmmmm. I heard  the old man tell his tale......

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Genesis Live in Belgium 1973

Circling around Youtube is the Television appearance of Genesis from 1973. It is clear the band with the new members has come together and provided a very unique sound. Pre-Lamb and very interesting. Probably the earliest example of Hacketts finger work that Eddie Van Halen would get credit for "originating" in Van Halen. Check out Return of the Giant Hogweed to see what I am trying to describe.