Genesis: Drawing Inspiration from Literature in Progressive Rock

Genesis Draws Inspiration from Literature for Iconic Song ‘A Trick of the Tail’

Progressive rock band Genesis has long been known for drawing inspiration from the literary world for their songwriting. Even after the peak of the prog-rock scene, Genesis continued to incorporate literary themes into their music, solidifying their place as a commanding force in the music industry.

The band, born out of the psychedelic rock scene, was a standout in the progressive rock movement for their pop-leaning sound. Despite facing challenges like the departure of original lead singer Peter Gabriel in 1975, Genesis continued to thrive with talented songwriters like Tony Banks at the helm.

For their first album post-Gabriel, Banks turned to literature for inspiration, drawing from William Golding’s novel ‘The Inheritors’. The novel, which explores the extinction of the Neanderthal race at the hands of homo sapiens, inspired the Genesis track ‘A Trick of the Tail’.

Banks explained that the ending of Golding’s novel, which focuses on the reaction of modern humans to an alien with horns and a tail, served as the basis for the song. ‘A Trick of the Tail’ helped solidify Genesis’s place in both the progressive rock and pop worlds, showcasing their ability to create captivating music with literary influences.

While ‘The Inheritors’ may not have achieved the same level of success as Golding’s previous work ‘Lord of the Flies’, it left a lasting impact on popular culture through Genesis’s interpretation in ‘A Trick of the Tail’. The band’s ability to weave literary themes into their music set them apart as a unique and innovative force in the music industry.