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Genesis pulled off one of the most controversial career changes ever. Some fans haven’t forgiven them
Genesis gradually moved from progressive rock towards shorter, more radio-friendly songs in the 1980s, a shift that some fans still resent. Phil Collins said the change reflected the band’s shared evolution and longstanding ambition to have hit singles, rather than a deliberate break with their past.
The article also recounts how Collins became the group’s singer after Peter Gabriel left in 1975. The band struggled to find a replacement while recording *A Trick of the Tail*, and Collins volunteered to sing after auditions failed; the album and its successor, *Wind and Wuthering*, were well received.
In short
- Genesis’s move towards pop was a group evolution.
- Collins stepped up after Gabriel’s departure.
- The band initially struggled to find a replacement singer.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Genesis had good reason to pursue more concise, accessible songs: the members shared an ambition to reach a wider audience, and their changing sound reflected their development as musicians. Commercial success did not necessarily mean abandoning their progressive roots; it allowed the band to evolve while keeping its identity and reaching listeners who might not have heard them otherwise.
The case against
Fans who valued Genesis for its expansive, intricate progressive rock can reasonably feel that the move towards radio-friendly songs changed what made the band distinctive. Even if the shift was shared and commercially successful, the new direction may have left longtime listeners feeling that the music they loved had been sidelined.