Genesis Opens 2022 Edition of Farewell Tour: Rewind

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Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford in 2020 (Photo: Patrick Balls Martin Griffin; used with permission)

At last, Genesis began the European edition of their long-awaited reunion tour on March 7, 2022 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany. The opening night audience of “The Last Domino?” tour was treated to a 23-song setlist virtually identical to the band’s recent U.K. and U.S. tours, that took place from September through December 2021, with a mix of hits and album cuts. And, of course, the spectacular light show that has always been one of the band’s live hallmarks.

The band, who had slimmed down to the threesome of Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks all the way back in 1977, had abruptly ended the U.K. edition of their farewell tour after their Oct. 7, 2021, performance in Glasgow when they announced that at least one member of the touring band had tested positive for Covid-19. (Rutherford later revealed that it was him.) Prior to the U.K. tour, the group hadn’t performed live together since 2007.

Phil Collins, good-naturedly clowning with the audience in Berlin, March 7, 2022

Due to severe issues with his back, Collins, who turned 71 on January 30, is no longer able to drum. (His percussion playing is limited to the tambourine.) He has also dealt with hip issues in recent years and now sits on center stage. The trio were joined on this tour by Collins’ son, Nic, who also filled in for his father behind the kit during his recent solo tours. (The younger Collins was born on April 21, 2001.) Longtime Genesis touring band member, Daryl Stuermer, returned on guitar and bass. Also on hand were Daniel Pearce on backing vocals and percussion, and Patrick Smyth on backing vocals and tambourine.

The setlist mirrors many of the songs on the group’s recent 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.) The instrumental portion of “The Cinema Show,” which dates back to 1973’s Selling England By the Pound, features the outstanding instrumental middle, driven by Banks on keyboards. Watch several clips below.

Watch them take the stage and perform the opening numbers, “Behind the Lines” / “Duke’s End” and “Turn It On Again”

Watch them perform “Land of Confusion” from the front row

Concertgoers who expected to solely hear the group perform their Top 40 hits probably had no idea what to make of the instrumental, “Second Home By the Sea.”

Watch them perform “Fading Lights, the instrumental portion of “The Cinema Show” and “Afterglow”

“That’s All,” plus the title cut from 1974’s The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway and “Follow You Follow Me” are again performed as part of a mini acoustic set.

The 14 shows were the first time in 15 years that the band had visited Europe, when they reunited for 2007’s “Turn It On Again” tour.

This tour was named after “Domino,” an extended track from Invisible Touch

Watch them perform “Throwing It All Away,” a big hit in 1986

Next up: “Tonight Tonight Tonight”

“Invisible Touch,” their sole U.S. #1 pop hit, closed out the main set.

The concert ended with “Carpet Crawlers,” also from Gabriel’s 1974 swan song with the band.

Genesis, Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin, Germany, March 7, 2022 Setlist
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