Hit Parade | The Invisible Miracle Sledgehammer Edition
Host: Chris Molanphy
Date: May 31, 2019

Episode Overview

In this episode of Hit Parade, Chris Molanphy dives into the fascinating, unlikely history of Genesis—a band that, instead of fracturing under solo ambitions and side projects, grew stronger and more successful as its members spun off career-defining hits, both together and apart. The episode explores how Genesis and its alumni—Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford (with Mike + the Mechanics), and even lesser-known group members—became chart fixtures in the 1980s. It reaches its climax during the summer of 1986, when Genesis' "Invisible Touch" and Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" consecutively held the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, an unprecedented pop chart event.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Genesis Phenomenon: A Band Strengthened by Side Projects

• Unusual Success Pattern: Unlike most bands where solo success signals the group's decline, Genesis uniquely managed to thrive as a collective even while members launched dazzling solo runs.
• Genesis's Chart Miracle: Chris spotlights how rare it is for side projects and the parent group to peak in popularity simultaneously, referencing similar but less symbiotic stories with The Beatles, Lionel Richie, and others (05:04).
  • Notable example: Black Eyed Peas and Fergie in the late 2000s, Matchbox Twenty and Rob Thomas in the 2000s (04:03).

The Early Days: Prog Rock, Peter Gabriel, and Outrageous Antics

• Peter Gabriel's Genesis Era: The band began as a quintessential British prog rock act, heavy on theatrics and sprawling album cuts, fronted by a flamboyant Gabriel whose exploits included wild stage costumes and experimental storytelling (10:24).
  • "Gabriel's most conservative onstage outfit was a mask of white makeup… He would put on ever more outrageous outfits… it was a show" (10:24).
• First Taste of Radio Success: Genesis didn't chart until 1974’s UK hit "I Know What I Like," which preceded Gabriel's abrupt departure.

The Aftermath of Gabriel: Phil Collins Steps Up

• Accidental Frontman: Drummer Phil Collins takes over as lead singer almost by accident after a failed search for new vocalists, infusing the band with a more accessible, melodic approach.
  • "These temporary Phil Collins vocals became permanent. Unsatisfied with any of the singers auditioning for the group, Genesis wound up giving Collins the frontman position, essentially by default." (15:00)
• Evolving Sound: Genesis moves from dense prog to radio-friendly pop-rock, culminating in the US breakthrough with "Follow You Follow Me" (22:54).

Parallel Journeys: Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins Find Their Voices

• Gabriel's Reinvention: Peter Gabriel's solo work begins with "Salisbury Hill," a poetic (and pointed) ode to his Genesis exit:
  • "It could easily have been titled Why I Left Genesis… With lyrics like, 'My friends would think I was a nut… I walked right out of the machinery.'" (19:57)
• Collins's Solitude and Innovation: Phil's divorce sparks a creative burst and unexpected home demos, utilizing new tech (Roland drum machine) and emotional openness. This era produces seeds for "In the Air Tonight" (23:12).
  • Introduction of gated drum sound—a happy accident during a Peter Gabriel record session—becomes an iconic 80s production style (30:22).

Solo and Band Synergy: Chart Takeover

• Collins's Solo Stardom: Releases "Face Value," including "In the Air Tonight," to international acclaim. Instead of leaving Genesis, Collins brings his star power back, fueling the band's rise with albums like "Abacab" (35:06).
• Influence and Collaboration: Collins becomes the go-to pop collaborator (Robert Plant, Adam Ant, Frida from ABBA), while Peter Gabriel pushes his avant-garde boundaries but finds mass appeal with "Shock the Monkey" and MTV (43:00).

The '80s Zenith: The Pop Takeover and Chart Duel

• Simultaneous Hits: By 1986, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Mike + the Mechanics, and even Steve Hackett's GTR all have singles on the Hot 100:
  • "The Genesis chart-o-matic universe of 1986 was an essentially unrepeatable phenomenon." (71:59)
  • Six separate projects with charting singles, a pop music 'Big Bang' moment (64:54).
• Chart History is Made:
  • Genesis' "Invisible Touch" goes to #1, followed by Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" knocking it off the top—never before had bandmates and a former frontman topped the charts back-to-back (69:46, summarized at 70:36).
    • "Genesis and their song 'Invisible Touch' is knocked out of the top spot and their former lead singer moves into the number one spot… The new number one song in America is 'Sledgehammer,' by former lead singer of Genesis, now solo singer Peter Gabriel." (70:36)

Aftermath, Legacy, and Pop-Culture Reflections

• Overexposure and Retreat: The flood of Genesis-related hits leads to a backlash and creative retreats. Collins and Gabriel slow down; Mike + the Mechanics and GTR fade but score lasting hits.
• Pop-Culture Satire: Phil Collins becomes a punchline—centerpiece in "American Psycho," spoofed by South Park and SNL, but his influence on modern drummers and producers remains profound (73:00).
• Late Career and Reflection:
  • Gabriel and Hackett continue to tour, Collins battles health issues but stages successful comeback appearances, sometimes with his son on drums.
  • The band is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010, with Gabriel notably absent (78:50).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Genesis's Unique Place in Pop:
  • “It’s exceedingly rare for a successful side project to not only coexist with the original group but to bring that stalwart act to new pop chart heights.” (04:08)
• Peter Gabriel on His Exit:
  • "I walked right out of the machinery." —Peter Gabriel lyric in "Salisbury Hill" (20:03)
• Happy Accidents in the Studio:
  • “It came to be called the gated drum or gated reverb… making it sound both sharply contained and yet massive.” (30:24)
  • “With hindsight, I now know that that day or two I'd spent working on Peter's third album was life changing.” —Phil Collins on recording with Gabriel (31:09)
• Unexpected Chart Magic:
  • "Both acts wound up winners from their 1986 chart duel. Peter Gabriel's 'Sledgehammer' wound up the longer-lasting hit… but Genesis' 'Invisible Touch' made them a radio fixture." (70:36, 71:59)
• Bittersweet Pop History:
  • “The Genesis chart-o-matic universe of 1986 was an essentially unrepeatable phenomenon.” (71:59)
  • "After so, Gabriel receded from the spotlight for several years... But the man who found it most difficult to say no… was Phil Collins." (73:00, 74:00)

Essential Timestamps

• 00:00 – Episode introduction and the premise: how Genesis broke the rules of band/solo success
• 04:00 – Chart trivia: other bands and solo spinoff patterns
• 10:24 – Peter Gabriel's theatrical legacy and Genesis's prog era
• 15:00 – Phil Collins’ unlikely rise as frontman
• 19:57 – Gabriel’s “Salisbury Hill” reflects on leaving Genesis
• 23:12 – Collins' divorce-driven creativity; the invention of gated reverb
• 30:22–31:09 – Invention and impact of the gated drum sound
• 35:06 – “In the Air Tonight”; Collins' first solo chart-topper
• 43:00 – Peter Gabriel’s MTV breakthrough ("Shock the Monkey")
• 45:52 – Genesis’s first US top-10 hit (“That’s All”)
• 49:31 – Phil Collins’ Oscar-nominated “Against All Odds”
• 56:00 – The Live Aid marathon: Collins’ legendary double-header (London/Philadelphia)
• 62:07 – Mike Rutherford’s Mike + the Mechanics breakthrough
• 64:54 – GTR & the chart-collision of 1986: six Genesis-related singles at once
• 69:46–70:36 – The consecutive #1s: “Invisible Touch” and “Sledgehammer”
• 71:59 – The domino effect: Genesis and Gabriel both become radio staples
• 73:00–74:00 – Backlash and the pop culture legacy
• 78:50 – Genesis’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, late-career updates

Final Thoughts

This episode vividly illustrates the “invisible miracle” of Genesis—not just a band reborn with each membership change, but a pop-cultural phenomenon whose members repeatedly redefined the rules for band dynamics and solo stardom. Chris Molanphy’s storytelling, deep chart expertise, and use of colorful musical anecdotes create a rich tapestry of 80s pop history.

Whether you're a Genesis superfan, a child of 80s MTV pop, or simply fascinated by the mechanics of pop stardom, this episode is a must-listen (or, thanks to this summary, a must-read).