If you’re trying to pin down exactly who was in Genesis, you’ve gotta be ready for a bit of a wild ride. Most people think of the trio—Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, and Tony Banks. That’s the version that dominated the 80s with those massive radio hits and flashy suits. But honestly? The band started as a bunch of shy, nerdy kids at a private school called Charterhouse in England back in the late 60s. They weren't aiming for the Super Bowl. They were playing weird, complex folk-prog that sounded more like a medieval fair than a stadium rock show.
Genesis is unique because they didn't just change their sound; they changed their entire DNA several times over. You’ve got different "eras" that feel like completely different bands. To understand the lineup, you have to look at the departures. Every time someone left, the band didn't die. It just grew a new limb.
The Founding Five and the Peter Gabriel Era
In the beginning, it was all about the songwriters. The core group that formed in 1967 consisted of Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, and Anthony "Ant" Phillips, with Chris Stewart on drums. Most fans forget Ant Phillips, but he was actually the heart of their early sound. He was a phenomenal guitarist, but he had massive stage fright. When he left in 1970, the band almost folded. They thought he was irreplaceable.
Then came the turning point.
They recruited a guy named Phil Collins to play drums. At the time, Phil was just a session-level drummer with a great ear. Shortly after, they found Steve Hackett to take over guitar duties. This created what most hardcore fans call the "classic" lineup:
- Peter Gabriel: The frontman who wore fox heads and flower masks.
- Tony Banks: The keyboard wizard who basically ran the show behind the scenes.
- Mike Rutherford: The steady hand on bass and twelve-string guitar.
- Steve Hackett: The guy who pioneered "tapping" on the guitar way before Eddie Van Halen.
- Phil Collins: The powerhouse drummer who occasionally sang backup.
This version of Genesis was theatrical. It was dense. If you listen to albums like The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, you’re hearing a five-man machine firing on all cylinders. But Gabriel was becoming a star in his own right. The tension between his flamboyant stage persona and the rest of the band’s desire to just play the music eventually snapped. In 1975, Gabriel walked away.
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Everyone thought they were finished. How do you replace a guy who dresses up as a "Slipperman" on stage?
When the Drummer Took the Mic
The search for a new singer was a disaster. They auditioned hundreds of people. Phil Collins would sit at his drum kit and teach the auditioning singers the songs, but nobody quite got the vibe right. Eventually, Phil just stepped up to the mic himself to record A Trick of the Tail.
It worked. Better than anyone expected.
For a brief window from 1975 to 1977, who was in Genesis was a four-piece: Collins, Banks, Rutherford, and Hackett. This era is a sweet spot for many fans because it kept the prog-rock complexity but started to lean into more melodic, accessible territory. However, Steve Hackett felt his songwriting was being sidelined by Banks and Rutherford. During the mixing of the live album Seconds Out, Hackett decided he’d had enough and quit.
Now they were three.
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The Power Trio: The 80s Global Takeover
This is the version of the band that your parents (or you) probably know best. By 1978, it was just Phil, Mike, and Tony. They decided not to hire a permanent replacement for Hackett. Instead, Mike Rutherford took over lead guitar duties in the studio, and they hired touring musicians like Daryl Stuermer and Chester Thompson to fill out the sound live.
The 80s were a blur of success. Albums like Duke, Abacab, and the self-titled "Shapes" album turned them into a pop juggernaut. It’s kind of funny—while Phil Collins was becoming one of the biggest solo stars on the planet, he was still the drummer and singer for Genesis. They managed to balance both worlds for over a decade. Invisible Touch in 1986 was the peak. You couldn't turn on a TV without seeing them.
But by 1996, Phil was burnt out. He wanted to focus on his solo career and film work. He left, and for the second time in their history, the band lost its voice.
The Ray Wilson Experiment
A lot of people skip this part, but it’s part of the history. In 1997, Tony and Mike decided to keep going. They hired Ray Wilson, a younger singer from the band Stiltskin. They released an album called Calling All Stations. It was darker, heavier, and... it didn't really land. In the US, the tour was cancelled due to low ticket sales. The chemistry just wasn't there like it was with Phil or Peter. After that, Genesis went into a long hibernation.
The Final Bow: The Last Domino
Fast forward to 2007, and the classic trio reunited for a massive world tour. Then they did it again in 2021-2022 for the "The Last Domino?" tour. By this point, Phil’s health had declined significantly—he couldn't play drums anymore due to nerve damage.
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So, who was in the final version of Genesis?
- Phil Collins: Vocals (sitting down for the whole show).
- Tony Banks: Keyboards.
- Mike Rutherford: Guitar and Bass.
- Nic Collins: Phil’s son, who took over the drum throne and absolutely crushed it.
- Daryl Stuermer: The long-time "unofficial" fourth member on guitar.
Seeing Nic Collins play was like watching a ghost of young Phil. He brought an energy that the band hadn't had in years. It was a fitting way to close the book.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive into the discography based on who was in Genesis at the time, here is how you should approach it:
- For the "Art School" Prog Fan: Start with Selling England by the Pound. This is the peak of the Gabriel/Hackett/Collins/Banks/Rutherford era. It's whimsical, British, and technically mind-blowing.
- For the "Transition" Listener: Check out A Trick of the Tail. It’s the first album with Phil on vocals, and it proves they didn't need Peter to be great.
- For the Pop Enthusiast: Invisible Touch is the gold standard. It’s polished 80s perfection.
- The Deep Cut: Listen to Trespass from 1970. It’s the only major album with Anthony Phillips, and you can hear the folk roots of the band before they became a rock machine.
- Check the Credits: Always look for the names Daryl Stuermer and Chester Thompson on live albums. While they weren't "official" members who wrote the songs, the Genesis live sound from 1977 to 1992 is defined by their presence.
Genesis is a lesson in evolution. They survived the loss of two legendary frontmen and still came out on top. Whether you prefer the masks and flutes of the 70s or the drum machines and synths of the 80s, the common thread was always the songwriting chemistry between Banks and Rutherford. They were the anchors. Everyone else was part of the changing tide.