Merriweather back in the day: Genesis

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Genesis - June 14, 1980

The second appearance by the group at Merriweather on their "Duke" tour, which began in March in the UK. By now, Genesis had become more mainstream but still filled the set with their classic material. I noticed a different audience then at the previous show just two years earlier - obviously due to the more radio friendly materiel and videos which attracted a younger crowd pulled in by the radio hits. The hardcore fans however were still treated to a great show. Phil Collins sported a full beard and ran furiously between the front of the stage and back to his drums at various points, assisting excellent (local) tour drummer Chester Thompson.

The tour again featured Chester and also Daryl Stuermer on guitar, with Mike Rutherford using his double neck guitar at times. Chester and Daryl were incredible finds and made a career touring with the group since the 1978 tour. Daryl later went on to write and tour with Phil and in 1989 co-wrote Phil's Grammy Award Winning, Billboard #4 single, "Something Happened On the Way to Heaven."

The audio below from this show features "Turn it on Again" released on the "Duke" album which also was the name of the groups 2007 world tour:

Get the original recording at iTunes - "Turn it on Again"

More pics...

Extra info: A complete list of equipment used on this tour

1 comment:

UnknownJune 19, 2017 at 2:15 PM
Just got back from merriweather last night 6.18.2017 and realized that 37 years ago was my first concert there and first Genesis show. Saw Genesis 20 more times or so timed which says it all.
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Merriweather Memories

Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland has a rich history of diverse concerts dating back to it's opening in 1967. Some of the the most memorable shows were in the 70's & 80's, when the venue attracted major acts whose shows at the forty acre wooded venue provided many fans with experiences to remember for a lifetime. I was lucky enough to have worked there during many of these classic shows. By sharing the sights and sounds of some of those actual concerts decades ago, the memories of those times can be relived once again - Chuck.

Merriweather History

Merriweather opened in July 1967 as the second public building in Columbia, a planned city. It was designed by architect Frank Gehry, known for his design of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. It took eight months and $1 million to build the simple pavilion and grounds. With top-notch acoustics, the amphitheater was initially created to be the summer home of the National Symphony, and it was named for one of the group's key patrons, Marjorie Merriweather Post. In 2010 it was named the second best amphitheater in the country by Billboard magazine. The venue has struggled at times over the years and flirted with closing a decade ago, until new management and an appreciation by the local community for it's legacy has made it vibrant once again.