Every so often a surprising or interesting fact or piece of trivia arises about Crowborough that we didn’t previously know. When we pick these up we will share them under the “Crowborough – did you know?” banner. This month, a link between our town and the world famous music band, Genesis.
You may know Genesis for their 80s rock classics, Phil Collins’ drumming, or for songs such as “Land of Confusion” or “The Invisible Touch”.
With between 100 million and 150 million albums sold worldwide, Genesis are one of the world’s best-selling music artists and they released fifteen studio and six live albums. In 2010, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
But musical officiandos will know the band’s influence stretches beyond and before the 80s. Formed in 1967 Genesis were among the pioneers of progressive rock during 1970s, and one of their pivotal albums was created…where?…here in Crowborough!
The band were signed to Charisma Records, owned by Tony Stratton Smith, who lived in Luxford House (no relation), the sixteenth century grade II listed house at the junction of Luxford Road and Luxford Lane in Crowborough.
Apparently, it was here, in the summer of 1971, that Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, and Steve Hackett (all giants in the musical world) wrote and rehearsed “Nursery Cryme” – still considered one of their best prog rock albums.