10 Bands Who Survived A Lead Singer Change
2. Genesis
When Genesis formed in the late 1960's, their sound was a great eclectic mix of styles, with combinations of prog, acoustic, folk, and everything in between. Much of the adulation went to vocalist Peter Gabriel, who not only wrote the lyrics but was one of the best showman in the business, wearing everything from dresses to flowers when he took to the stage.
As the band came off of their ambitious double record The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Gabriel was burned out and decided to leave Genesis as he sorted out his home life and artistic direction. For many, Gabriel was the star of the band whose presence was almost unequaled. As the band endured many auditions for singers, drummer Phil Collins finally stepped up to the plate and was a fantastic fit.
As the band went forward, the Collins era of Genesis garnered some of the band's most successful singles like "Misunderstanding" and "That's All." Though some fans missed the eclecticism of Gabriel's contributions, they couldn't argue when the songs were as infectious as they were. Rather than bring in an unknown face, Genesis's greatest strength was realizing that the best replacement singer was hiding right under their noses.