TB: Well, it was never quite as strong a thing as that with Chester. It was a fun possibility, and we did, obviously, consider it. We did want Daryl (Stuermer), I have to say. We asked Daryl, but he was involved with Phil at the time, and he wasn’t up for it. I think had we gotten the two of them together, we might well have gone with that approach. 

From the audience point of view, it might have been easier, because there would have been Daryl and Chester there. The problem was, Mike and I obviously write together. I think to have Chester there during the writing session would have been quite difficult, because he’s not used to the way that we work or anything. The way that we approach songwriting is different from a lot of people, I think. So, I suppose that’s why we decided against it a bit. 

Beyond that, I think the idea of just working with new people seemed quite exciting, too. We could get a whole new thing going. That was one of the other reasons. But, it was more of a tentative thing than I think is sometimes put across… this thing with Chester. It wasn’t such a big thing.

WOG: Whether it be through this classical project or for a rock album, do you ever see yourself touring as a solo artist?

TB: It’s one of those things that I’ve shied away from, really. There is a certain aspect of it that is quite appealing. The idea of doing the songs on stage is obviously fun, but to be the main man in something like this would be difficult for me, I think. I’ve gotten so used to depending on other people.

The way Mike does it (with the Mechanics) he is obviously very dependent on his singers and stuff. I did see Steve (Hackett) on stage a couple of months ago, and I was very impressed with the way that he kind of fronted his show. I mean, he’s not the front man anymore than I am, but got the audience on his side and it worked quite well.

"I’ve been writing new stuff 
for the first time in a long
time as well as developing
one or two older things. So, 
there is stuff around, but I
 have no particular plans. I 
don’t know what form, if 
any, the next thing will take.
I’m in no hurry, let’s put it 
like that!"
 

In terms of the classical project, in order to do that live, it would be another thing all together. There are talks of orchestras that want to do it. In terms of doing something that I am organizing, I just don’t know. It would depend on how things go. 

What I would most like, in some ways, is to take a piece out of context (from Seven) and have it performed in a regular concert if you like. That’s definitely the best way to introduce people to new music. That way, you are not always preaching to the converted. If I did something, the people who would come would be the people who knew that they liked it already. It wouldn’t be people who were coming but didn’t know it.

WOG: There has been much discussion in the Genesis fan community about the Genesis Plays Jackson tapes. Is the band now in possession of the tapes? What are your thoughts on the recordings themselves? Do you plan to make those recordings available to the public?

TB: There was talk about a year or two ago that some guy got them, and they were being offered, and then there was a legal thing about them. I don’t really know. I haven’t heard them since then. We haven’t got them, no. 

 Tony Banks - 
Selected Discography