Anyone with the slightest knowledge of, or interest in, the history of Genesis will quickly acknowledge the importance of keyboard player, songwriter and founding member Tony Banks within its various line-ups. Like me then, they would probably be surprised that, while all the other main players have had much written about them over the years this is the first time a biography of Tony Banks has been published, at least in English.

Music journalist Mario Giammetti, with two English language Genesis books already published by Kingmaker, was clearly the obvious choice for the publishers to write this biography . The fact that Giammetti had written earlier edition (2006) in his native Italian would no doubt have influenced that decision while also offering the author the opportunity to bring Banks’ story up to date.

At over 250 pages, lavishly illustrated with more than 100 images, this is no lightweight skim through a musical career. Giammetti has clear built a rapport with Banks and the conversations between the two men, recorded between 1996 and 2022 form the basis of this excellent book. Many of Banks’ collaborators have also been interviewed with the result that this is an incredibly detailed study into the way he approaches songwriting both with Genesis and outside the band. In fact, it is the forensic examination of the hitherto largely ignored but extensive solo career where the greatest interest lies. There are some fascinating insights into the songwriting process, the effect that the changing technology had on his approach both on stage and in the studio and, the gradual move from rock and pop via soundtracks to composing classical pieces.

While aspects of his early life and the tough years boarding at Charterhouse school are touched upon, the history of his time in Genesis is almost a sideshow, with just the most important stages in the development of the band getting a mention.

A complex, reserved and introverted character, I was intrigued by the insight into his personality, which is presented here. In press interviews Banks can seem aloof, often displaying a rather superior attitude and, to be honest, he still comes across as someone that wants things done his way and can be somewhat grumpy if it isn’t. There are frequent references to his frustration at seeing his band mates having various degrees of solo success while his projects are ignored, despite, arguably being the principal writer within Genesis. His frustration at the public perception that, for instance in the early days of Genesis, Peter Gabriel did ‘everything’ is a case in point. And yet, he eschewed the limelight that came with rock stardom, refusing for instance to help Collins make stage announcements on the early, post Gabriel tours.

Overall, the chronological approach makes this an eminently readable book. There is no index but, there are two guest written appendices, looking more closely at compositional structure, individual keyboard solos and song parts, and a chronological history of Bank’s keyboard set up. Finally, a comprehensive illustrated discography closes the book.

Whether this will appeal to many outside the, admittedly vast, fan base of Genesis is questionable but, it would be a great shame if this did not reach a wider audience. It is extremely well written and informative and leaves one with a much clearer understanding of the man, the maestro, the magician that is Tony Banks.

Review by Neil Pudney

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