On November 7, 2006, Genesis fans received long-awaited news during a press conference at the May Fair Hotel in London. Tony Banks, Phil Collins, and Mike Rutherford—the trio that had propelled Genesis to global stardom—announced their reunion for the Turn It On Again tour, set for 2007. It marked the first time in 14 years that Collins, who had stepped away in 1996, would join his bandmates on stage. Chester Thompson and Daryl Stuermer, long-standing touring members, were also set to return, cementing a lineup familiar to fans of the group’s 1980s and 1990s peak.
The Press Conference on November 7, 2006
At the press conference for the Turn It On Again tour, Genesis fans and media were treated to an exciting glimpse of what’s to come. The band shared their thoughts on returning to the stage after a lengthy hiatus. They discussed the thrill of reconnecting with both new and longtime fans and promised a show that blended their classic hits with some deep cuts for die-hard followers. Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, and Tony Banks all took turns sharing stories about their creative process, reminiscing about past tours, and discussing the unique elements of this one. When asked about the setlist, the band hinted at a balanced mix of fan favorites and a few surprises—a lineup sure to delight any Genesis aficionado.
The press conference also highlighted the meticulous preparations underway for the tour, including advanced sound engineering and visual effects designed to enhance the Genesis concert experience. The band members also talked about the technical challenges and excitement of recreating iconic songs in a live setting, some of which haven’t been played on stage for decades.
The Long Road to Reunion
The announcement followed years of speculation. Collins had hinted as early as November 2005 that he might be interested in a reunion, even expressing a willingness to participate as a drummer if original frontman Peter Gabriel were involved. Despite initial discussions about reuniting the quintet—including Gabriel and guitarist Steve Hackett—to perform The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Gabriel ultimately opted out, unable to commit. Collins, Banks, and Rutherford decided to proceed as a trio, with Hackett sending his well-wishes publicly.
During the press conference, the trio emphasized that the reunion was fueled by a shared desire to perform for fun, rather than financial gain. “I think we are all loaded enough without worrying about where the next million or two will be coming from,” quipped Collins.1 The band had no new material to promote, making this tour purely a celebration of their legacy.
Rehearsals and Rediscovery
Before the official tour announcement, the members of Genesis spent time rehearsing in New York. What began as a trial to test the waters turned into a reaffirmation of their musical chemistry. Stuermer and Thompson recalled the camaraderie and laughter that filled their rehearsal days. “Everybody was there purely because they wanted to be there. There was no new record to promote…we just laughed and laughed and laughed,” Thompson shared.2
The band’s time together felt seamless despite the 14-year gap, with the musicians slipping into their familiar roles as if only months, not years, had passed. “It’s funny how we can get together and it’s like we haven’t been apart,” Stuermer said.3 The rehearsals set the stage for a tour that would revisit some of the band’s most beloved tracks while also acknowledging the realities of performing in a different era.
Adjustments for Time
Notably, Collins’ voice had changed over the years, prompting the band to make practical adjustments. For the first time, Genesis chose to play many of their songs in lower keys to better accommodate his range. “Over the years, singers get older, and the voice drops a bit,” explained Rutherford, with Collins adding humor: “I found out Elton John lowered ‘Pinball Wizard’ about six times during his career. His balls have really dropped, whereas McCartney apparently sings everything that he wrote from The Beatles onwards in the same key, which means his balls haven’t dropped at all.”4 Despite these changes, the band worked diligently to ensure that iconic tracks retained their essence. Technical innovations allowed Banks to adapt complex parts like the ‘In The Cage’ solo seamlessly, balancing nostalgia with practicality.
The Tour and Its Highlights
The ‘Turn It On Again’ tour kicked off on June 11, 2007, in Helsinki, spanning 22 concerts across Europe and concluding with a triumphant performance at the Circus Maximus in Rome, where 500,000 fans gathered. The tour featured timeless hits such as ‘Mama,’ ‘Ripples,’ and the instrumental powerhouse ‘Los Endos.’ For the nostalgic audiences, highlights included Collins’ famed tambourine dance during ‘I Know What I Like’ and Banks’ solo for ‘Firth of Fifth’ (although this time played on the Prophet 10 keyboard).
The European leg included a broadcast of their Düsseldorf concert to cinemas in the UK, Sweden, and Spain, a nod to the modern era’s technology. The tour later moved to North America, beginning in Toronto and concluding in Los Angeles on October 13. To the delight of their devoted fans, Genesis recorded and released all the concerts including the official Live Over Europe album, preserving the magic of their reunion.
The Tour’s Legacy
Despite their success, Genesis remained underrated by segments of the British press, something that influenced the tour’s itinerary. With greater popularity in regions like Germany, the band played nine shows there, compared to only two in the UK. Nevertheless, the experience for the band members was deeply personal. As Stuermer noted, “It’s kind of a family reunion as opposed to just a band reunion… Everybody in the band seems like brothers to me.”5
The Turn It On Again tour brought the legendary energy and spirit of Genesis back to life in a powerful celebration of music history. The reunion was, at its heart, a reminder of the power of shared experiences and a celebration of a career that had captured the imagination of millions. And the journey began on November 7, 2006, at the press conference at the May Fair Hotel in London.
Sources
CHESTER THOMPSON FULL INTERVIEW : HOW HE WENT FROM ZAPPA TO DRUMMING WITH GENESIS & PHIL COLLINS.
DARYL STUERMER UNFILTERED:ON JOINING GENESIS AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF STEVE HACKETT. 27′ INTERVIEW
GENESIS ON THEIR 2007 LIVE TOUR – LOWERING THE KEY. COLLINS.BANKS.RUTHERFORD. BACK AT THE FARM .PT 3 (currently not available online)
Platts, Robin (2007): Genesis. Behind the lines, 1967-2007. Burlington, Ont., Canada: Collectors Guide Pub.
Footnotes
- Platts 2007: 155. ↩︎
- CHESTER THOMPSON FULL INTERVIEW : HOW HE WENT FROM ZAPPA TO DRUMMING WITH GENESIS & PHIL COLLINS. ↩︎
- DARYL STUERMER UNFILTERED:ON JOINING GENESIS AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF STEVE HACKETT. 27′ INTERVIEW ↩︎
- GENESIS ON THEIR 2007 LIVE TOUR – LOWERING THE KEY. COLLINS.BANKS.RUTHERFORD. BACK AT THE FARM .PT 3 ↩︎
- DARYL STUERMER UNFILTERED:ON JOINING GENESIS AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF STEVE HACKETT. 27′ INTERVIEW ↩︎