I feel a mixture of nausea and excitement when I read this article:

     TEL AVIV, Israel (Reuters) – British singer and songwriter Phil Collins said on Sunday he would be open to a reunion of his old band Genesis.

It was pretty much just pure nausea until I read this line:

“I’m happy to sit behind the drums and let Peter (Gabriel) be the singer. If (a reunion) happens, I’ll be there.”

I dunno if this is just phil flappin’ his gums or if there’s something to this. But Genesis – real Genesis, Peter Gabriel genesis, Steve Hackett Genesis, Lamb and Nursery Cryme Genesis, Supper’s Ready Genesis – were and are one of my favorite bands of al time.

Yet – that same band, as members melted away, went on to spawn a band I loath; Invisible Touch Genesis, Abacab. We Can’t Dance Genesis.

And then there’s Phil Collins. Once of the best drummers in rock history, truly, truly brilliant at the kit, and possibly the best singing drummer ever, yet author of some of the most trite pop hits of – well, of his era anyway, in a time before boy bands and spice girls and brittany spears. I fucking hate Phil Collins as a solo artist. And yet, I love his drumming, and his singing in the transition Genesis, Trick of the Tail Genesis, Wind and Wuthering Genesis, Seconds Out Genesis.

So I look at the idea of a reunion – one of the greatest bands ever, certainly one of the two or three most important prog-rock bands (you could make a case for King Crimson being the other), and I want to believe. I want to think Steve Hackett would come back, that Peter Gabriel would come back. That Genesis could be Genesis again.

Gabriel’s burnt out, certainly. He really hasn’t done a lot musically since So. It was obvious when he started naming albums he was out of ideas. He’ll never be that psychotic blur of motion he was. Nor will Phil Collins. I don’t even know if Hackett’s working any more, I’ve lost track. But even if they have not a thing to say musically between them, to hear them play The Knife or Watcher of the Skies. God, I get goosebumps thinking about it.

And then I imagine them playing fucking sussudio, a selection of mike and the mechanics favorites. And I just don’t know.

I hate it when great old bands come back and suck. Leave it the fuck alone, I want to say, don’t show us how old you are, how bad you’ve sold out. Don’t fucking do it. Yet, sometimes, they still have it. They still mean it. They can still play the old songs.

I never saw real Genesis. I picked up on them right after Peter split the band. Yet, Genesis, that first time, stands out in my mind as possibly the most brilliant concert I’ve ever seen. It was one of those I saw god moments. I’ve seen Peter, when we was at his creative peak. I’ve seen Steve Hackett. Great concerts all.

Do I want to go back? I don’t know.

In fact, if they do it, I’ll have to. If Peter stands in front of Genesis, with his flute and bass drum, I have to go. If I get a chance to hear Hackett with Genesis again, if I can listen to them play In The Cage and Back in NYC.

But god. I’m afraid. I don’t know if I can take hearing an unfelt, sellout version Lilywhite Lilith or Dancing With The Moonlit Knight.

Better they don’t, I think. Better they don’t.