Six of the Best

Six of the Best was the name chosen for the reunion concert of the rock band Genesis with former founding member Peter Gabriel which took place on a wet October 2, 1982 at National Bowl, in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England. The show was introduced by Jonathan King.

Support bands for the concert were John Martyn, The Blues Band and Talk Talk.

Background

Vocalist Peter Gabriel left Genesis following the "Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" tour in 1975. However, the band continued to thrive, with drummer Phil Collins assuming the duties of lead vocalist and frontman. The classic quintet featuring Peter Gabriel, Mike Rutherford (whose birthday it was), Tony Banks, Steve Hackett and Phil Collins became a quartet during the period 1975-1977, helped by an invited drummer on tours (Bill Bruford Ex-Yes and Ex-King Crimson and then Chester Thompson, who became the touring drummer for the band until 1992 and since 2006).

By 1978, Hackett's departure had left Genesis a trio. Peter Gabriel was continuing his solo career, doing some experimental music, but in 1982 he and his company -- which had funded WOMAD -- faced economic disaster due to its commercial failure. At the suggestion of Genesis manager Tony Smith [ [http://www.solsburyhill.org/essays/security.htm Secuirty Essay] , solsburyhill.org] , he and his ex-band mates agreed to play together for a single show under the name 'Six of the Best' [ [http://www.genesis-path.net/art-82RS.html The 'Reunion Concert' program,] genesis-path.net] along with Daryl Stuermer (second guitarist and bassist on live shows 1978-1992, 2006-), Chester Thompson, and fellow ex-member Steve Hackett (who appeared onstage during the encores after arriving late from South America). The money made that night helped Gabriel resume his solo career.

et List

#Back in N.Y.C.
#Dancing With the Moonlit Knight (Intro)/The Carpet Crawlers
#Firth of Fifth
#The Musical Box
#Solsbury Hill
#Turn it on Again (vocals: Phil Collins; drums: Peter Gabriel)
#The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
#Fly on a Windshield
#Broadway Melody of 1974
#In the Cage
#Supper's Ready
#I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) (guitar: Steve Hackett)
#The Knife (guitar: Steve Hackett)

Recording

Officially no recording of this concert has ever been released but several audience recordings were gathered together during 2007 by Tom Morgenstern of TM Productions and digitally remastered. In early 2008 a rare soundboard of the rehearsals surfaced and, along with the concert, comprised a fan created album released on The Pirate Bay on 27th May 2008.

References