Tony Banks Reveals the Genesis of A Chord Too Far and His Not-So-Curious Love of Surround Sound

BY MIKE METTLER — AUGUST 13, 2015

In a band of equals, some can appear to be more equal than others. “I always like to have the first word and the last word on albums,” laughs keyboardist Tony Banks, one of the main songwriters in Genesis. Banks has always felt making an impression right as […]

Roland Orzabal & Curt Smith of Tears for Fears Enjoy Taking Their Seats in the High-Resolution Big Chair

BY MIKE METTLER — JANUARY 14, 2015

“Once we had dipped our toe in the water, it set us on a course to have a much bigger, much more robust, and not-so-introspective sound.” Roland Orzabal is describing the veritable aural sea change he and his Tears for Fears creative partner and bandmate Curt Smith underwent […]

Mark Rivera Digs Into a Deep Groove to Share His Uncommon Bond With Vinyl

BY MIKE METTLER — DECEMBER 10, 2014

When Mark Rivera isn’t splitting his time being Music Director for Ringo Starr or serving as a versatile multi-instrumentalist with Billy Joel (the latter for 32 years and counting), he’s doing what any good audiophile would — dropping the needle on some fine, fine wax. “The warmth of vinyl is like […]

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Steve Hackett Re-Revisits Genesis and Looks Forward to Being “Ambushed” by Music in All Channels

BY MIKE METTLER — NOVEMBER 26, 2014

“I personally like to be surrounded and ambushed by music. I want it to surprise me, and I want it to come from surprising places,” says Steve Hackett, echoing the sentiments of scores of audiophiles the world over. The progressive-minded guitarist has been enjoying accolades for the depth, compositional excellence, […]

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Play Me My Song: Mike Rutherford Opens Up About Genesis’ R-KIVE, Mike + The Mechanics & More

BY MIKE METTLER — SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

And then there were… five? The photo above is no trick of the tale, for you’re indeed seeing the five key members of Genesis — from the top of the stairs down, Phil Collins, Tony Banks, Steve Hackett, Peter Gabriel, and Mike Rutherford — together again for the […]

The Rhythmatist’s Method: Stewart Copeland on Restoring the 1925 Silent Film Ben-Hur, That Snare Drum Sound & a Few Police Matters

BY MIKE METTLER — APRIL 18, 2014

Never let it be said that Stewart Copeland has idle hands. The innovative Police percussionist and ace composer has been working tirelessly on composing a soundtrack to MGM’s 1925 silent film Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, which, in addition to being a legendary broad-sweeping and groundbreaking epic tale, is […]

King of Hertz: The Continuing Saga of Tony Levin’s Low-End Progressions in the High-End World

Above, an exclusive YouTube clip of Levin Minnemann Rudess jamming on “Marcopolis”

BY MIKE METTLER — OCTOBER 25, 2013

“I work hard on the music end of things, and record my bass parts as high quality as I can.” That, in a nutshell, is the mission statement for Tony Levin, noted bassmaster and Chapman Stick innovator […]

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