Rutherford: Mechanics kept Genesis going

Mike Rutherford believes his side-project Mike + The Mechanics helped give Genesis more longevity.

The guitarist is currently touring the US with vocalists Andrew Roachford and Tim Howar, marking the 30th anniversary of the Mechanics’ debut release.

Rutherford tells the Boston Globe: “Most band members start a solo career because they’re not happy in their main band.

“In our case, we were having a gas with Genesis. But we’d been together for quite a few years. It was a bit like, ‘Let’s just try bait of variety, make the page a little bigger.’

“In a funny way it helped keep Genesis going for a lot longer.”

Mechanics tracks, and solo material from the rest of Genesis, feature alongside Genesis songs in last year’s R-Kive set – and Rutherford says the band were trying to make a point.

“A lot of people don’t tie it all in,” he explains. “People say to me, ‘Was Phil Collins the drummer?’ Or they say, ‘Was Peter Gabriel in Genesis?’ Or, ‘You’re in Mike + The Mechanics as well?’

“When we put the whole package together it has a kind of continuity – it shows the whole picture rather well, I think.”

Mike + The Mechanics launch a UK tour next month:

Apr 08: Gateshead Sage

Apr 09: Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Apr 11: Sheffield City Hall

Apr 12: Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Apr 13: Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

Apr 15: Aberdeen Music Hall

Apr 17: York Barbican Centre

Apr 18: Stevenage Arts Centre

Apr 19: Leicester De Montford Hall

Apr 21: Ipswich Regent Theatre

Apr 23: Cambridge Corn Exchange

Apr 24: Guildford G Live

Apr 25: Cardiff St David’s Hall

Apr 27: Birmingham Symphony Hall

Apr 28: Manchester Bridgewater Hall

Apr 30: Bournemouth Pavilion

May 02: Plymouth Pavilions

May 03: Bristol Colston Hall

May 05: Oxford New Theatre

May 06: Southen Cliffs Pavilion

May 08: London Royal Albert Hall

May 09: Eastbourne Congress Theatre

May 10: Portsmouth Guildhall

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.