Author:Mario Giammetti
Italian journalist Mario Giammetti has written numerous books on Genesis and the individual band members over the years, although this is only the third to be translated into English. It is, in fact, a revised and updated version of a title that was originally published in Italy twenty years ago, now bringing Banks story completely up to date. He is undoubtedly a very gifted writer and performer – I think he maybe doesn’t always come across in the best light in interviews, but he was undoubtedly one of, if not the, main musical and creative driving forces in Genesis. This very comprehensively researched book delves exhaustively into his life and work, from his childhood days through the various iterations of Genesis and on to his frequently overlooked solo outings, which are finally given the in depth attention they deserve. The translation can at times perhaps feel a little clunky, but nevertheless you can’t fault the level of detail the author goes into, with quotes from numerous interviews over the years both with the man himself and with an extensive and impressive cast of friends and collaborators. As always, Kingmaker have done a great job on the book, producing it on top quality paper and including for your delectation a veritable myriad of photographs, many of which are rare or previously unpublished, and overall this is a very fine critical assessment of the subject’s long and storied career.
Length of Read:Medium
Might appeal to people who enjoyed…
Genesis fans of course, and if you haven’t already done so then you really should take a look at the author’s two-volume history of the band.
One thing you’ve learned
This must surely be the definitive account of the life and works of Tony Banks.
I think TB gets some bad press. He’s a quite brilliant writer and player and has always had an eye on technical instrument development to keep the sound fresh. The interviews I’ve heard of him don’t support the view that he’s upright, priggish, prog dinosaur etc. Au contraire, for the Phil era he said “it’s good to change things a bit, and it’s quite nice having hits…”
I think he is an underrated presence in the band – al the members seem to talk him up as “the heart of the band”.
It’s true he does come across distant and a bit smug, but he wouldn’t still be in the band if his contribution was not (at least) the qual of the others.
Still can’t get past the fact he looks like Tony Blair though …
I am probably the only person who likes his album The Fugitive. I think his voice is well-suited to the odd tunes, makes it sound a bit ‘outsider’. Some of the songs are really peculiar, especially By You. Problem is that he’s just hard to like as a person, and he isn’t convincing as a rock star (despite being a member of one of the biggest bands of the era.)
I doubt he thinks he’s a rock star. I think he probably thinks he’s a “serious musician”.
For wheat its worth i met him a few years at an event and had a chat with him for fifteen minutes or so and he seemed pretty well balanced, modest and unassuming -the thing he was most interested in chatting about was his classical compositions.
Although not too familiar with Tony Bank’s solo career, his work with Genesis is nothing short of outstanding. If he had never done anything else, his piano intro, and synthesisers on Firth of Fifth, would mark him out as something special. That middle section after the flute when the song explodes, still sends shivers down my spine. Yes, Steve Hackett’s solo is superb, and deserves all the credit it gets, but for me it’s what Tony Bank’s gives to the song that marks him out as a brilliant musician.
A very tasteful player who got the most out of his modest keyboard array in the 70s.