And Then There Were Three: Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford in 2020 (Photo: Patrick Balls Martin Griffin; used with permission)
Genesis began their long-awaited reunion tour on September 20, 2021, with the opening night of their “The Last Domino?” tour at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, U.K. The band, who had slimmed down to the threesome of Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks all the way back in 1977, hadn’t performed live together since 2007. This edition was announced on March 4, 2020, just weeks before all live events were effectively shutdown.
Due to severe issues with his back, Collins, who turned 70 on January 30, was no longer able to drum. He has also dealt with hip issues in recent years and now sits center stage. The trio are joined on this tour by Collins’ son, Nic, who has filled in for his father behind the kit during his recent solo tours. (The younger Collins turned 20 that April 21.) Longtime Genesis touring band member, Daryl Stuermer, returns on guitar and bass.
On opening night, the 23-song setlist mirrored many of the songs on the group’s new compilation, also called The Last Domino, with tracks such as “Carpet Crawlers” and “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway” dating back to 1974, their final album with their original frontman, Peter Gabriel. Watch several clips below.
Watch their show opening numbers and see how tight they are after all these years
Watch them play 1983’s “That’s All”
Related: Our recap of their Nov. 15, 2021 North American tour opener
Watch their acoustic performance of “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway”
Here’s “Follow You Follow Me,” their 1978 breakthrough single
Watch them perform “Firth of Fifth” and “I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)”
Next up, they performed the lengthy composition, “Domino”
Genesis concerts were always known to have outstanding light shows. The 2021 tour appears to follow that pattern.
Watch the main set’s closers, “Tonight, Tonight, Tonight” and “Invisible Touch,” which reached #15 in the U.K. in 1986 (and a #1 single in the U.S.)
In a band interview broadcast by the BBC on Sept. 9, Collins intimated that this reunion tour would be their last. “We’re all men of our age and I think to some extent it probably is putting it to bed,” he said. “I think, just generally for me, I don’t know if I want to go out on the road any more.”
Watch the concert finale (from a distance)
Thanks to DeadMike for the great videos.
Related: Genesis finished the reunion tour in London in 2022
Genesis, Utilita Arena, Birmingham, U.K., Sept. 20, 2021
Behind the Lines / Duke’s End
Turn It On Again
Mama
Land of Confusion
Home By the Sea
Second Home By the Sea
Fading Lights
The Cinema Show
Afterglow
That’s All
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Follow You Follow Me
Duchess
No Son of Mine
Firth of Fifth
I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)
Domino
Throwing It All Away
Tonight Tonight Tonight
Invisible Touch
Encore
I Can’t Dance
Dancing With the Moonlight Knight
Carpet Crawlers
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15 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationCan’t wait until December 6th at the world’s most famous arena , MSG in NYC.
We’re gonna see them November 15 in Chicago. So looking forward to it!
Got my ticket for London O2 and I’m sure I’ll enjoy the show. But wouldn’t it have been nice to have thrown in something out of left field – Burning Rope, Mad Man Moon, Stagnation. Ah well, More Fool Me 😉
Or how about Harlequin or Entangled. Saw them in Birmingham on Monday. Still unparalleled and with an awesome light show.
Clearly, one’s talent and abilities wane significantly at 70. This is hard to watch.
Got my tickets for me and my daughters for November 2021 in Toronto
We can’t sit still waiting!!!!
Can’t wait to take my mom to see them Phil Collins is here favorite in Raliegh NC on Nov 19th
Not sure what to expect last night but having seen Phil in Toronto a few years ago I knew he was frail looking and his voice was weak it was better than I thought after Turn it on again Collins started to get stronger vocally although he spent most of the evening sat on a chair he did move to get a close look at his son Nic during the 2nd half of home by the sea his son is very good and dad looked on with pride!
It was a good set list leaning heavily on the invisible touch album which is disappointing as personally I can live without ever hearing it again!!
Last tour was better with I believe 3 songs from trick of the tail album were aired which is my favourite Collins fronted album that said although the set list wasn’t to my liking it was a good show and it was great to be at a gig again the band looked to be really enjoying themselves looking forward to 2 nights in Toronto.
Pretty sure this really will be the end of the band
This is truly awful.
It pains me to see Phil Collins in such poor health until recently I had no idea his health had deteriorated. I agree it is hard to watch.
One tour that should never have happened…do people really want to remember Phil Collins and Genesis like this?
I am grateful for my memories of the ‘And then there were 3’ Knebworth performance…that was a truly spectacular night…watching this makes me very sad
I was at Knebworth in 78, and again in 1992. I was at Twickenham in 2007. My earliest concert was Birmingham Hippodrome in 1973, many followed. On Monday night I was at the Utilita Arena. Great concert, very emotional, but nothing to feel sad about. Favourite remains the 1973 concert. Had no idea what to expect and it blew me away. Since then my expectations have been high and always met. We all age, and our bodies fail us eventually. Phil did well.
I totally agree. It was kinda upsetting really. His both sides tour all those years ago is how I want “Phil Collins’ to be. Remember my dad taking me to the NEC when I was 14. (I’m 39 and 14 months now)!! He looked uncomfortable and almost like he was in pain.
Genesis are Brill. We’re. Are. Always will be. xx.
I have tickets for tomorrow. Understand why there are so many tracks which like Afterglow allow Phil the rest periods he clearly now needs. I’m glad I am going to see the final tour but like everyone else it’s with mixed feelings about what what was once and now will not happen again. I was abroad in 2007 and didn’t see Knebworth. I will always have if only time.
Phil hasn’t been the performer he was for a good many years and was always the major link between band and audience. Consequently, despite a great light show (for which Genesis were always famed), this tour relies heavily on great musicianship, nostalgia and poignancy and has all three in bucketloads. It’s not Genesis as many will remember them, but the music (despite the vocal shortcomings) will remind us what a great band they were.
Some one needs to tell Phil his voice has gone and and he needs to call it a day now. Musically they are still at the top of their game and young Nicholas Collins is a superb drummer just as his father was. But dear old Phil is a pitiful sight sitting up on stage. Don’t get me wrong I’m a massive Genesis fan but enough is enough. Relax and take it easy now Phil, you’ve well and truly done your bit.
Got My tickets for North Carolina November 20th having to fly in from Texas to see him but Phil Collins is worth it can’t wait!