The Genesis Connection

Two current members of the band Genesis - Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford, and one former member - Peter Gabriel, all enjoyed successful work outside of the band during 1986.

Phil Collins began a solo career as a side project in 1981, and continued to see success for many years through the 1980's, and well into the 1990's. While his hit album No Jacket Required saw its release the previous year, Collins' Take Me Home enjoyed its run with Rock radio fans in 1986, while many of its other tracks still received airplay on AOR stations.

Mike Rutherford, the guitarist for Genesis, started a new band - Mike + the Mechanics - the previous year as a side project. Although he took on his first name as part of the band's name, the lead singer was actually former Ace frontman Paul Carrack. Their self·titled debut album saw immediate success in late 1985 and early 1986, with the track Silent Running topping the Album Rock Tracks chart the last week of 1985, and starting off the first 4 weeks of 1986. Their follow·up track All I Need Is a Miracle reached number 6 on the Album Rock Tracks chart later in the year.

Peter Gabriel left the band Genesis back in 1975 to pursue a solo career. Gabriel's most successful album So saw its release in 1986. The album produced the multiple chart·topping track Sledgehammer, which spent 2 weeks at number one on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart, and also became his first to top Billboard's Hot 100 pop chart as well! Peter Gabriel helped make 1986 a milestone year for Genesis members, past and present!