When Genesis and Phil Collins turned it on again at…

When Genesis and Phil Collins turned it on again at Newcastle City Hall 30 years ago

Genesis were back at Newcastle City Hall this week 30 years ago.

It was a venue the prog rock giants had already graced in the 1970s and 1980s, although much had changed since the early days of the band. Long-gone were singer Peter Gabriel and guitarist Steve Hackett - while the small matter of Phil Collins' solo career had also intervened.

Already one of rock's greatest drummers, Collins had ventured from behind the kit to replace the departed Gabriel on lead vocals in Genesis in 1975, then gone one stage further to launch a stunningly successful career as a best-selling pop singer in the 1980s and beyond.

His 1981 debut hit In The Air Tonight - complete with its famous drum break - was one of the decade’s defining songs. To date, the singer has sold an estimated 150 million record units worldwide.

Back in October, 1992, it was reported that Collins, not for the last time, was suffering from health issues as Genesis travelled North America, Europe, and finally the UK on their sprawling We Can't Dance tour. Taking in a string of provincial dates, as well as six nights at London's cavernous Earls Court, the singer/drummer had shaken off the effects of laryngitis by the time the band rolled into Newcastle to play the City Hall on October 28.

Phil Collins with Genesis perform at Newcastle City Hall, October 28, 1992 (Mirrorpix)

"I'm feeling pretty good tonight," 41-year-old Collins told the sell-out audience after the storming opening number, Land Of Confusion . The set would include songs from right across Genesis's considerable back catalogue, with Collins, Mike Rutherford (bass) and Tony Banks (keyboards) ably augmented by the band's regular touring cohorts, Chester Thompson (drums) and Daryl Stuermer (guitar).

A well-received medley from the early days - a time Collins joked "when some of us had more hair" - included the likes of The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, The Musical Box, Firth of Fifth , I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe), and Follow You Follow Me.

And there was newer material, as our Chronicle reviewer noted: " Jesus He Knows Me was introduced by Phil in mock American TV evangelist tones, Domino with its rhythmic shuffle built to a climatic close, and I Can't Dance was far sleazier and funkier than on record."

Collins and Thompson thrilled the audience with their trademark drum duet before, we reported, "the band closed a marvellous evening in fine style with the anthemic Tonight Tonight Tonight, and Invisible Touch , one of their best hits from the '80s."

Fast forward to October 2021 and Genesis were back in Newcastle, this time at the Arena, for quite possibly their final live show in the city. The Chronicle reported "Despite the fact he was confined to a chair at the front of the stage, Phil Collins remains the star of the show - a charismatic performer and perfect master of ceremonies in-between songs, and still capable of the occasional wisecrack."

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