Mike Rutherford
Mike Rutherford Rutherford playing at Manchester, England, in 2007 Background information Birth name Michael John Cleote Crawford Rutherford Born (1950-10-02) 2 October 1950 (age 64) Portsmouth, Hampshire, England Origin Godalming, Surrey, England Genres Progressive rock, art rock, pop rock, soft rock Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter Instruments Bass guitar, guitar, bass pedals, vocals, keyboards, cello, drums, electric sitar Years active 1967–present Labels Charisma, Atlantic, WEA, Passport (US) Associated acts Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics, Red 7 Website www.genesis-music.com Notable instruments Shergold Double Neck Bass Guitar Rickenbacker Steinberger Guitar Michael John Cleote Crawford "Mike" Rutherford (born 2 October 1950) is an English musician. He is a founding member of Genesis and one of the band's only two constant members (the other is keyboardist Tony Banks). He used his full name Michael Rutherford in credits on all the group's albums with Peter Gabriel. Initially serving as Genesis' bass guitarist and backing vocalist, Rutherford also performed most of the band's rhythm guitar parts - frequently on twelve-string guitar - in collaboration with successive Genesis lead guitarists Anthony Phillips and Steve Hackett. Following Hackett's departure from Genesis in 1977, Rutherford assumed the additional role of lead guitarist on the band's studio albums (beginning with ...And Then There Were Three... in 1978). Rutherford was one of the main Genesis songwriters throughout their career and wrote the lyrics for some of the band's biggest international hits, such as "Follow You Follow Me", "Turn It On Again", "Land of Confusion" and "Throwing It All Away". He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010. In addition to his work with Genesis, Rutherford released two solo albums in the early 1980s. In 1985, he formed the highly-successful spin-off band Mike + The Mechanics, which became a chart-topping act and significant live draw in its own right, as well as earning Rutherford an Ivor Novello Award for their 1988 single "The Living Years".