No way in hell Steve Hackett was gonna take part. We’d already accepted that, but we were crossing fingers for a four-man Genesis reunion.
At first, the major variable in the equation said such a thing was not out of the question, but when it came down to it, Peter Gabriel was apparently too busy being one of the smartest people in the world to put a huge flower back on his head and play some classic tunes with his old buds. Fine. Be that way. What came down the pike was the three-man, Phil Collins-fronted version, and that announcement initially met with some groans because the band’s really watered-down, adult contemporary final years were, for many, not yet far enough in the rear-view mirror.
But then came the surprise. Collins and his mates, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford (he of equally treacly Mike + The Mechanics fame) were willing to swim further back in the sea of time than We Can’t Dance, or the dismal post-Collins set Calling All Stations.
News of setlists from the opening shows on the band’s North American tour began to circulate and there were (seriously??) songs from Wind & Wuthering, Selling England by the Pound and Trick of the Tail in the mix. Yep, pre-Gabriel-exit and post-Gabriel-but-pre-pop-shift tracks were being included alongside the more familiar hit songs, and being performed with scintillating perfection. And suddenly, those stadium booking were starting to make sense … and sell out.
Now Genesis fans who couldn’t get enough will be happy to hear that Rhino is planning a June 10 release of When In Rome 2007, a triple-DVD package that captures the grand final show on the reunion tour, and it was a biggie. In front of 500,000 fans at Rome’s historic Circo Massimo, the band performed a free, open-air concert spectacle that is as lasting as the balance of its varied career.
The set will boast the entire concert and a bunch of extras (photo galleries, deleted scenes, etc.), as well as Come Rain or Shine, a tour-spanning documentary filmed by Anthony Mathile on the third disc. Where will you get it? In the U.S., you’ll be able to buy it exclusively at Wal-mart and its warehouse sidekick Sam’s Club. Online, it can be pre-ordered at walmart.com, samsclub.com and the band’s genesis-music.com.
When In Rome 2007
DVD track list:
Disc 1
(Dukes Intro)
“Turn It on Again”
“No Son of Mine”
“Land of Confusion”
In the Cage Medley (“In the Cage,” “Cinema Show” (excerpt), “Dukes Travels” (excerpt))
“Afterglow”
“Hold on My Heart”
“Home by the Sea”
“Follow You Follow Me”
“Firth of Fifth” (excerpt)
“I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)”
Disc 1 Extras
How Does Duke’s End End?
We’re Gonna Take It Up A Bit
Plugged In. Turned On. On the Edge
Minimal Confusion
Tony Changed His Mind
We Need More Lights
Counting The Bars To ‘Heart’
Working On Home
Mike Wants Phil’s ‘Feel’ On Drums
From ‘G’ To ‘G’ On ‘Firth’
Time To Dance
Tour Program Gallery
Disc 2
“Mama”
“Ripples”
“Throwing It All Away”
“Domino”
“Conversations With 2 Stools”
“Los Endos”
“Tonight Tonight Tonight” (excerpt)
“Invisible Touch”
“I Can’t Dance”
“Carpet Crawlers”
Disc 2 Extras
Bring the Pitch Down Like Elton
‘Acoustic’ Ripples
‘Throwing It All’ Down
Tony Talks About His Inspiration
The Drum Duet
Not a Period Piece
Invisible Key
Phil, Tony & Mike, And Phil & Mike
Singing Along
Photo Gallery
Deleted Scenes
