Genesis start at beginning again with a new world tour

Genesis announced they are re-forming for their first tour together in 15 years.

Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks will play a money-spinning series of stadium gigs across Europe next summer, including Twickenham Stadium in July.

The tour comes 10 years after Collins quit the band to go solo, and 15 years after their last tour, We Can't Dance.

The new tour, named Turn It On Again after their 1980 hit, is bound to prove lucrative for the band, who still have a devoted fanbase.

They first formed after meeting at public school in Surrey, rising to early fame as a prog rock act fronted by Peter Gabriel.

But after he left in 1975 the band replaced him with Collins, who was the drummer. They went on to become one of the world's biggest rock acts, selling more than 130 million albums with hits including Invisible Touch and Land Of Confusion.

But Collins left to go solo in 1996 and the band fell apart after two years, announcing an "indefinite hiatus".

That is now over, with the tour set to kick off at Helsinki's Olympic Stadium on 11 June, followed by concerts in 11 more European cities ending in Rome on 14 July. EMI Records will also be reissuing 14 Genesis studio albums over the next year.

Unveiling the news today, tour promoter John Giddings said: "It is a privilege to work with one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and to see their musical talent together again will be incredible. The live shows are as famous as their music."

Tickets for UK dates go on sale this Friday. See www.genesis-music.com.