For thirty years, Genesis have been a major force in popular music: from early mini-opuses like Foxtrot and lavish theatrical productions such as The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, through more mainstream prog rock landmarks such as And Then There Were Three, and on to the phenomenally successful melodic pop of Abacab. Compiled by the editor of The Waiting Room, the definitive Genesis magazine, Opening The Musical Box, is a highly detailed and informative chronicle of the band's career - from early beginnings at Charterhouse school through to worldwide stardom. It is also the first book to document in detail the solo recording careers and offshoot bands of Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Steve Hackett, Mike and The Mechanics, Anthony Phillips and Tony Banks. Drawing on hours of new interviews, packed with insights, anecdotes and trivia, and featuring the definitive discography, gigography and a guide to collectables, this is the ultimate compendium to one of the most successful and inventive bands of the modern rock era.
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This book is intended as a work of reference NOT biography
It seems to me that most reviewers of this book seem to have missed the entire point of this project. The book was intended as asource of reference for the fans who has asked just such questions as "did the band play a gig on such and such a date?" or "what was the B side of that single?" A such this project should be viewed more as an anorak's "bible" than as a biography and if you treat it that way I am sure you will find it a useful (if not exhaustive)source of reference. As for any errors well- the author is only human; sadly!
It seems to me that most reviewers of this book seem to have missed the entire point of this project. The book was intended as asource of reference for the fans who has asked just such questions as "did the band play a gig on such and such a date?" or "what was the B side of that single?" A such this project should be viewed more as an anorak's "bible" than as a biography and if you treat it that way I am sure you will find it a useful (if not exhaustive)source of reference. As for any errors well- the author is only human; sadly!
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Whilst this book is stuffed with Gig Guides and TV guides (who's interested in the fact that, for example, Genesis appeared on Midlands News on 26/2/84?!?) it fails to compete with other, much better researched biographies, such as "Genesis - A Biography" by Dave Bowler and Bryan Dray... Dray's and Bowler's book actually gives a detailed account of the history and turns every Genesis-novice into an expert. Whilst Genesis collectors MIGHT have some use for Opening The Musical Box, readers seeking a good biography should not waste their money by purchasing this book. No interesting interviews and too brief in its account of the many twists and turns of Genesis' history.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This book accomplishes a rare feat. It is difficult to find anything new these days about Genesis. The popularity of the band in the last 15 years has inspired numerous books, none of which truly provide anything new or newsworthy to the dedicated Genesis fan. The definitive book on Genesis was written by Armando Gallo. Gallo's "I Know What I Like" is acknowledged by all Genesis fans as THE Book on Genesis. Gallo's book, however, stops at 1980, just before the band was about to breakthrough to their highest levels of popularity. Others have attempted to write about this popular era of Genesis but have missed the boat, simply covering the obvious elements of their success. The real story of Genesis lies in the details, and in their history. Hewitt's "Opening the Musical Box" does something that no book on Genesis has attempted to do....it covers the smaller details of the band's history that are left untouched by other authors. It offers a comprehensive gigography, something never attempted in print before, and a monumental undertaking for a band that has been playing live shows for four decades. And as if that wasn't enough, Hewitt also manages to provide complete gig listings for all solo tours of Genesis members, past and present. The author covers the history of the band in a way that gives the reader a good overview of their past, but without getting bogged down in the obvious. And every era of the band's history is given equal treatment - a rarity among most books on Genesis which inevitably concentrate on the 1980s and 1990s. Plus within the text of each era, tidbits of new information can be found, and this exercise is carried into the chapters that focus on each of the individual members of the group. Even the most knowledgeable Genesis fan will learn something by reading "Opening the Musical Box". A must have for anyone serious about learning about Genesis.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book gives the ultimate reference information to one of the greatest rock bands in the world. It is a bible to the anarak fan who needs to know the who, what and when stuff. Leave the persoanl attacks on Alan Hewitt out of this, he's a devoted fan who has put pen to paper and put his effort into helping his fellow fan(s).
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