Genesis was at its commercial peak when this show was recorded for the King Biscuit Flower Hour in 1986. It was the first of three nights recorded at the LA Forum (and the second night of a five-night run there), and the setlist reads like the band’s Greatest Hits album: “Mama,” “Abacab,” “Land Of Confusion,” “That’s All,” “Follow You, Follow Me,” “Tonight, Tonight, Tonight,” “Home By The Sea,” “Throwing It All Away,” “Invisible Touch,” and “Turn It On Again,” which closes the lengthy show. The band even dips into its Peter Gabriel-era material, with stunning versions of “In The Cage” and “Supper’s Ready.”

What is also apparent by this point is how similar Genesis and Phil Collins solo shows had become. Sure, the material was different, but a lot of the music was essentially the same in style and arrangements. Furthermore, Collins had no problem dominating the show as the band’s frontman and spokesperson. He talks more during this show than a circus barker does between freak show acts. Nonetheless, the music is great, and that is all that really matters.

Between its inception in 1968 and 1975, the group had risen to the top of the prog-rock community with its dramatic and controversial lead vocalist Peter Gabriel. After the Lamb Lies Down tour ended in 1975, Gabriel bolted for a solo career, but Genesis decided to carry on. Over 150 vocalists auditioned, and drummer Phil Collins, who had already been doing backing vocals for years, often would organize the auditions and show the replacement tryouts how they wanted the existing Genesis songs sung. When Rutherford and Banks heard Collins sing the songs to those auditioning, they realized their replacement for Peter Gabriel was already in the band. It was ultimately decided Collins would get the job and an additional drummer would be brought in.

By the time this King Biscuit Flower Hour recording was made in 1986, the classic five-piece Genesis lineup of Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett, Phil Collins, Tony Banks, and Mike Rutherford had dwindled to only Collins, Banks, and Rutherford. The group did add two sidemen with Chester Thompson and Darryl Stuermer.

Genesis remained intact through the early-1990s, but folded a year past the departure of Collins. The band in the lineup featured here did reunite in 2007 and 2008 for extensive reunion tours.

Phil Collins – vocals, drums; Tony Banks – keyboards; Mike Rutherford – bass, guitar, vocals; Daryl Stuermer – guitar; Chester Thompson – drums, percussion

Recorded just after Frampton Comes Alive! had broken the record for album sales in 1976, this interview captures Frampton at the pinnacle of his career. However, due to his seemingly sudden rise to superstardom (his first taste actually came in 1968), many people knew very little about him. As such, this interview focuses on Frampton’s past, from the day he first played a banjolele at age 6 through his teenage jams with David Bowie through the first time he met a Beatle.

Listen from the beginning to hear how Frampton dealt with his unprecedented success or check the time stamps below to hear about a specific band from his youth.

00:00 – Reaction to Frampton Comes Alive! breaking the record

Early Musical Experiences / Influences 02:25 – Growing up in Beckenham 02:54 – Playing a banjolele (age 6) 03:44 – Watching Eddie Cochran play a guitar (age 8) 04:11 – Getting his first guitar 04:58 – Biggest influence: Cliff Richard and Hank Marvin of The Shadows 05:38 – First record player: The Shadows, Django Reinhardt 07:43 – Other ambitions besides music? 08:22 – Bringing his guitar to school

Previous Bands 08:56 – The Little Ravens (age 12) 09:06 – The variety show at Bromley Technical School 11:35 – The headliners: George and the Dragons 12:20 – David Bowie as a 15 year-old musician

13:05 – The Trubeats 13:36 – First song he ever wrote (age 8)

14:44 – The Preachers, Tony Chapman (original Rolling Stones drummer) 15:49 – A jazz phase 16:38 – Getting help from Bill Wyman, recording at IBC Studios (age 14)

18:06 – The Herd, ultimatum from his father 18:39 – His father as manager 19:23 – Recording demos for Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich 20:19 – I Can Fly, cheaper recording tricks 20:47 – From The Underworld 21:30 – Scandal / saving money 22:49 – I Don’t Want Our Loving To Die

Stardom 23:17 – The first taste of stardom 25:00 – First experience meeting a Beatle (George Harrison) 26:57 – Meeting Ringo Starr and Stephen Stills 27:30 – Meeting Eric Clapton