Genesis reunion: Phil Collins’ son to stand in due to drummer’s ill health

Prog rock band to go on tour later this year

Genesis have announced they are reuniting, 13 years after they last played together.

The British prog rock band, made up of Phil Collins, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford, announced the news on Zoe Ball’s BBC Radio 2 breakfast show on Wednesday morning (4 March).

Before the announcement, they had posted a clue to their Instagram page, reading: “And then there were three”.

The band last performed together in 2007 to mark the 40th anniversary of their formation at Charterhouse School in Surrey.

“I think it’s a natural moment,” said Banks. “We’re all good friends, we’re all above grass and... here we are.”

The group, which formed in 1967 and whose hits include “Land of Confusion” and “I Can’t Dance”, will kick off their Last Domino? tour in Dublin on 16 November.

They will also play dates in London, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham, Belfast, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow.

Genesis will be joined by Collins’ 18-year-old son Nicholas on drums and Daryl Stuermer on guitar and bass.

Collins, whose voice was hoarse after a recent illness, said of his son’s involvement: “For me it wasn’t a deal breaker, but… it was a problem we had to overcome, with me not playing, although I’ll be doing my best to play some bits on the tour.”

Rutherford and Collins have both enjoyed popular solo ventures – the former with his group Mike & the Mechanics and the latter with the chart-topping hit “In the Air Tonight”.

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However, Collins’ health has deteriorated over the years due to nerve damage he sustained in his back while performing, meaning he is unable to play drums to his full ability. For this reason, his son is accompanying the band on their reunion tour.

Peter Gabriel, a founding member of the group who left in 1975, will not be participating.

“I’m looking forward to doing it,” said Rutherford. “I worked it out and we’ve only done two shows in the UK in the last 28 years, so we haven’t over-worked it.”

Tickets will be on general sale at 9am on Friday 6 March from www.LiveNation.co.uk and www.ticketmaster.co.uk.