As a college newspaper photographer I happened to get on the freight elevator to my office with some guys loading in. I said "Are you the band's roadies?" and they said "No We're The Band!" It was Genesis. I shot the concert. They blew my freaking mind. And I was hooked forever.

I remember seeing Tony Banks in numerous videos when I was younger, and he always seemed to be like a guy working the keyboard as if he was working a menial job in a cubicle.

Of course he never did any of that stuff, subby. He was born without a personality.

....was never heard of by anybody....

....was never heard of by anybody....

Yeah, because he was in such an obscure band.

The multiple baffling time signatures are twisting my mind into knots, ah, ah, I can't think, all I hear are dodecahedrons.

...1/1

He once played a show wearing a snorkel.

Me thinks Subby has an inflated opinion of himself, his musical tastes, and whoever was in the video.

/not a troll
//just thought the whole thing sucked out loud.

Warpigpen: //just thought the whole thing sucked out loud.

I didn't think it was that good.

/sounds like the organ lady at the church down the block
//except less interesting.

subby

you forgot "never smiles".

or, in the same tense as your headline, "never smiled".

lol.

Warpigpen: Me thinks Subby has an inflated opinion of himself, his musical tastes, and whoever was in the video.

/not a troll
//just thought the whole thing sucked out loud.

Well, heck, we don't want you to be cheated out of a good time!

Don't say I never gave you nuthin'.

tony banks is awesome
nevermind the early inspiration of tresspass or nursery cryme
foxtrot secured their place in the art rok pantheon
and the keyboards were more pumped than ever

on masterwerks like supper's ready, watcher of the sky
or can-utility and the coastliners,
tony banks cemented his reputation as a passionate innovator-

genesis albums selling england by the pound and lamb lies down
are more amazing testament to his spirit
nevermind the rest of the band

and so I say HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU OLD BASTID

The moods of Tony Banks:

Apprehensive


Frustrated


Amused


Tired


Anxious


Joyful


Depressed


Eager


Pissed-off

Forgot one:

Filter-own3d

I always though Genesis was a second-rate bunch of pretentious shiat - and I am an art rock fan from back in the day. I'm glad to see my memory has not failed me. Jeebus, that was a terrible song. Did Banks play through the whole thing with one hand? I sort of skipped around the video lest I fall asleep.

/Badger was better than Genesis and they had ham-fisted Tony Kaye, possible the worst musician ever in Yes.

thought

Pretentious is hardly the word-
it depends upon your depth of spirit I've no doubt
radioman

fear not, you may yet be reincarnated, my friend.

davynelson: tony banks is awesome
nevermind the early inspiration of tresspass or nursery cryme
foxtrot secured their place in the art rok pantheon
and the keyboards were more pumped than ever

on masterwerks like supper's ready, watcher of the sky
or can-utility and the coastliners,
tony banks cemented his reputation as a passionate innovator-

genesis albums selling england by the pound and lamb lies down
are more amazing testament to his spirit
nevermind the rest of the band

and so I say HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU OLD BASTID

This. Pretty much summed up what I wanted to say.

Tony Banks was the one who gave Genesis that 'athemaic' sound in so many of their songs. The truly unsung hero of the group.

Happy Birthday mate.

Off to Youtube some favourites...

Used to be a HUGE fan of Genesis, in the late 80's, early 90's. I can't watch the video at work, so I'll check from home in an hour, if I can stay awake that long..

Hmm... watcher is more of a rutherford, collins showcase... we need us some in the cage/apocalypse in 9/8/cinema show/the raven up in here...

hibouface: Hmm... watcher is more of a rutherford, collins showcase... we need us some in the cage/apocalypse in 9/8/cinema show/the raven up in here...

or firth of fifth but i cant find a good youtube of that. they either have suck quality or cut the intro.

For my birthday, my son got me the entire Shepperton concert 16mm film burned to DVD. It was the most awesome birthday present of recent memory. Some great concert footage shot on October 30 & 31, 1973. My son and I have seen The Musical Box twice in Chicago and those concert trips with my son are some of the best experience of my life. Thank you Tony Banks and the rest of Genesis for all that you've done.

Genesis use to rule.

Happy B-Day. Tony.

Warpigpen: Me thinks Subby has an inflated opinion of himself, his musical tastes, and whoever was in the video.

/not a troll
//just thought the whole thing sucked out loud.

You don't know what you're talking about.

gunsmack: Warpigpen: //just thought the whole thing sucked out loud.

I didn't think it was that good.

/sounds like the organ lady at the church down the block
//except less interesting.

Nor do you

radioman_: I always though Genesis was a second-rate bunch of pretentious shiat - and I am an art rock fan from back in the day. I'm glad to see my memory has not failed me. Jeebus, that was a terrible song. Did Banks play through the whole thing with one hand? I sort of skipped around the video lest I fall asleep.

/Badger was better than Genesis and they had ham-fisted Tony Kaye, possible the worst musician ever in Yes.

I'm off to search for Badger on youtube, but I doubt they're as good as Genesis. Peter Gabriel was the best prog frontman ever.

Tony Banks actually smiling:

Ant
Peter Gabriel was the best prog frontman ever.

You're totally right, but I just want to add that i think Peter Hammill [Van Der Graaf Generator] comes in [close?] second place.

Thanks for providing us with an awesome clip with this...
/loves Genesis with PG
//without PG? not so much
///Used to listen to this on a reel to reel in my Mom's basement with beers and weed
//// end of flashback

I guess I hadn't seen any Genesis videos that old, but I guess I didn't really realize that Peter Gabriel used to dress like a Doctor Who villain..

While there is no doubt Tony is the epitome of the boring, workmanlike Brit, he has the most incredible talent. Just that opening chord sequence from Watcher of the Skies elevates him to godlike status in my book. And then how about the ending sequence of Los Endos? Or the entire Dance on a Volcano? That guy could work a Mellotron like no one else. Him and Wakeman are the Mellotron masters.