This is the home of the Revelation Station, a review podcast currently devoted to celebrating 50 years of the band Genesis.

If life's an opera, bring it on...

September 17, 2021 by Simon Heldreich in Minisode

M.11 Black & White
The Revelation Station
starring Simon Heldreich in
Hackett About A Bit: a special episode
by SIMON HELDREICH
As Steve Hackett tours the UK, Simon
reviews his latest album, Surrender Of
Silence. Will Simon find much to like
in this 27th studio release?
Simon…………………………...……...HIMSELF
Gary……………………………………....ABSENT

Music by STEVE HACKETT.
Script editor GARY STARR
Director SIMON HELDREICH

A REVELATION STATION PODCASTS production

Thanks for listening to this episode. If you’ve enjoyed this podcast you can donate the price of a coffee to help run the website by clicking this link. All donations are gratefully received and give you access to 10 exclusive minisodes only available to people who donate.

If you’d like to share your thoughts about this episode or your opinions of the podcast in general, you can email us at revelationstationpodcast@gmail.com, leave a comment below or join our Facebook group. We would love to hear from you.

There are many things that I would rather do...

December 04, 2020 by Simon Heldreich in Podcast episode

From one guitarist to another, in this week’s episode we are listening to the second album from Steve Hackett.

Please Don’t Touch (how many times have I heard that before?) was released in April 1978 on the Charisma label. It followed a period of time spent recording in America, and features some well known voices from across the pond. Without the restrictions placed on him by a band setting, Steve fully flexed his creative muscles to produce an album that is unlike his debut. Gone are the Genesis influences, with only Chester Thompson on drums, and in are the Rock sounds of Steve Walsh (of Kansas fame). It’s an eclectic mix, but does it work as an album?

That, dear listener, is the question facing our intrepid duo this week. Does the album suffer from sophomore slump? Whose vocal performance does Gary describe as “a tour de force”? Which song does Simon skip? You can find the answers to all these questions, and more, by clicking play and having a listen.

NEXT EPISODE: Peter Gabriel - 2 (or Scratch if you prefer)

I hope you enjoyed that trip into the mind of Steve Hackett, as a special thank you for listening here’s an offer. For a limited time you can get 3 months of Amazon Music Unlimited for absolutely FREE! (Terms and Conditions apply, £7.99 per month after free period for Prime members). By clicking this link and signing up, Amazon will also give some money to the podcast, you’d be helping us out and also getting access to over 70 million songs. It’s literally a win/win situation.

For 10 weeks up until the end of January, we will be releasing an exclusive minisode each Monday. These are only available for people who have donated the price of a coffee to the podcast by clicking on this link. All donations will go towards the running cost of the website and recording equipment, and you’ll get to listen to me talking to myself about records. Also a win/win!

If you’d like to share your thoughts about this album or your opinions of the episode, you can email us at revelationstationpodcast@gmail.com, leave a comment below or join our Facebook group. We would love to hear from you.

Melt In The Dream Void

July 03, 2020 by Simon Heldreich in Podcast episode

***Never steal a bowling ball from Steve Hackett…***

Welcome back to The Revelation Station! For the second season of the show we have decided to have a listen to some of the solo albums released by the band members. We’re going to do them in order of release, rather than each artist individually. That means the honour of the first episode goes to Mr Steve Hackett.

Released in 1975, Voyage of the Acolyte is the first of 25 albums by everyone’s favourite Genesis guitarist (sorry Ant but you know it’s true). Written across several years and recorded in the immediate aftermath of Peter quitting the band, this is often regarded as a lost Genesis record and with good reason. It features tracks that were rehearsed by the band for such classic albums as Foxtrot and Selling England By The Pound. Which ones? Hey, I’m not telling you everything here! I need you to listen to the podcast, what am I? A transcript?

Gasp as Simon tells you which track was the first Steve Hackett song he heard! Chuckle as Gary gets things wrong! Shout as they inevitably dislike one of the tracks you really love! And as a bonus, this episode features a very rare, never heard before archive recording of Steve pitching the album to Tony Stratton Smith for the very first time. What will his reaction be? Listen to find out.

NEXT EPISODE: Peter Gabriel

So thank you for reading this far. We appreciate your commitment. If you want to return that appreciation, you can support us by clicking on this link and contributing the price of a coffee to the running of the podcast. All donations will go towards the running cost of the website and recording equipment. NOT towards booze, no matter what Gary might tell you.

If you’d like to share your thoughts about this album (or the next in the sequence) or your opinions of the episode, you can email us at revelationstationpodcast@gmail.com, leave a comment below or join our Facebook group. We would love to hear from you.

Behind the Lines

February 02, 2020 by Simon Heldreich in Podcast episode

***Thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing.***

And so it ends…not with a bang. But a podcast…

Okay so I lied, we’ve got one more episode to spoil you with. 2 years ago we started this podcast with a listen to From Genesis To Revelations. 24 months and 31 episodes later we come to an end.

In this very special episode, find out what it’s meant to us to produce this show. We answer listener questions and discuss the future & past. Which songs are our least and most favourite? Why did Gary agree to get involved when he didn’t really know Genesis or listen to podcasts? Which band would Simon like to cover next? What’s Gary’s dog called? What’s Simon's favourite colour?

Find out the answers to these and many more questions today. And if you’re some sort of masochist, you could watch an unedited version of the conversation on the You Tubes right here.

To everyone who has listened to the show to this point, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We will be back soon with more fun and music.

So…if you’ve read this far you probably enjoy listening. If you do please consider supporting us by clicking on this link and contributing the price of a coffee to the running of the podcast. All donations will go towards the running cost of the website and recording equipment. Big thanks to the people who have already donated, we love you. Not in a weird way…

If you’d like to share your memories of Genesis or your opinions of the episode, you can email us at revelationstationpodcast@gmail.com, leave a comment below or join our Facebook group. We would love to hear from you.

It's the end, but the moment has been prepared for...

January 31, 2020 by Simon Heldreich in Special

***“The Watcher! He was the drummer all the time!”***

In the space year 2000, Genesis were a spent force. With the relative disappointment of the Calling All Stations tour 2 years behind them, there seemed to be only re-issues and greatest hits packages in the future. Enter Archive #2, a three disc collection of B’sides and live tracks culled from the period 1976-1992 (ignoring the Ray Wilson years completely), presented as a follow up to the Gabriel-era Archive of 2 years before.

There are some real gems included on this compilation, from unreleased Hackett-era live tracks to 1980’s B’sides, there is something for all fans and it brings together rare tracks in one place for the first time. I mean…really there’s not much else I can say about it. You should listen to the podcast.

BUT! Gary has been lost forever, seemingly into Hell, and Simon is trying to move on with his life. Enter a mysterious professor and his newest invention. Can Simon continue the podcast alone? Will he find a willing victim…er…co-host, to help him spread the word? Or will he bring about the end of all things in an insane attempt to rescue his friend…er…acquaintance.

Find out in this final episode of The Revelation Station season 1! Will there be anyone left for season 2?
Guest starring:
Sheldon Chemiri as Professor Yanov Karaktur
Ray Grast as Demon
Cherie Ghaldnem as Drive thru girl #1
Ronah el Delireche as Drive thru girl #2
Richmond Leishi as Satan

No business like show business.

December 14, 2018 by Simon Heldreich in Podcast episode

For their second (geddit?) release of 1977, Genesis unleashed their second (geddit) live album, Seconds Out. Recorded at the Palais de Sport in Paris mostly between 11th and 14th June 1977 (with The Cinema Show recorded at the same venue on 23rd June 1976), this double live set is widely regarded as one of “the best live albums ever™”, by Genesis fans at least, and was released to critical acclaim.

The album would be released in October 1977, by which time Steve Hackett had already departed the group for solo pastures, and in fact the remaining trio would have recorded their next release, more of that next time. Another chapter of the book of Genesis closed and a new era would begin in 1978.

Right here, right now, Gary and Simon discuss the album in a most appropriate setting. Do they agree with the fan consensus about the album’s greatness? Does Gary learn to love Suppers Ready? What do they think of Phil covering Peter? All this and more can be found in this episode.

Are you enjoying the podcast? Do you love that scamp Gary? Annoyed by Simon constantly getting things wrong? Write to us and tell us at our email address revelationstationpodcast@gmail.com. All feedback is welcome, if you’re really tragic…I mean…interested, you could join our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/TheRevelationStation/

The grime on the Tyne is mine, all mine, all mine.

October 05, 2018 by Simon Heldreich in Podcast episode

***Out on a wiley, windy moor. Somewhere in Yorkshire.***

In 1976 Phil Collins is the singer in Genesis and they release their brand new album, A Trick of the…hang on, wait a minute! They released another album in 1976? Does Peter Gabriel know about this?

So….released as an early Christmas present, their second album of 1976 arrived on December 17th. Their 8th overall, it firmly cemented Phil Collins as the lead singer and featured classics that would become staples of the live set for many years to come.

However, all was not happy in the Genesis camp, and Steve Hackett was counting out time before he left, frustrated that his songwriting efforts were being side-lined *cough* AllInAMouse’sNight *cough*, he made the decision to leave the band in mid-1977.

In this episode! Gary and Simon find themselves in a salty situation, but use the time to discuss the second chapter in the “Phil Ruins Genesis” story (Spoiler: Phil doesn’t ruin Genesis, don’t be ridiculous). Do they enjoy the album? Which song makes it into Simon’s “Top 500” tracks list? How exactly does one eat a juicy raw rat? All these answers and more can be found in this episode!

Like what we’re doing? Hate what we’re doing? You can tell us by emailing revelationstationpodcast@gmail.com. All comments and suggestions are welcomed. Heck, if you really, like us you could join the Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/TheRevelationStation/

Midweek Hackett Madness!

October 03, 2018 by Simon Heldreich in Minisode

On October 1st 2018, Steve Hackett began his Genesis Revisited with Band and Orchestra tour in Nottingham.

Here are the thoughts of two fools who went to see that show. Recorded live, respectively, on a Tram; in a branch of Starbucks and in Simon's car. The sound quality is variable in places and topics of discussion include: Coffee, Trams, Vodka and what Steve might get up to on his visit to Nottingham.

NOTE: May contain some swears!

You lucky things! A new episode to follow on Friday! Woo-hoo!

Enter the drummer.

August 24, 2018 by Simon Heldreich in Podcast episode

In 1975 Peter Gabriel quit Genesis just as they were about to hit the big time! Or, pay off some debts at least. He retired to his vegetable patch and, eventually, on to a successful solo career. But his involvement in the Genesis story was over for the most part. Which leaves the group without a singer...

Enter Phil, reluctantly at first, but with increasing confidence he takes on the mantle of front man and wins over literally everybody ever (note: maybe not everybody). After sifting through hundreds of demo tapes, the band finally settle on Phil and get down to recording their breakthrough album, A Trick Of The Tail. Released on 13th February 1976 to critical and commercial success, the album and subsequent tour raised the band's profile in the USA which ultimately led to the sell out tours of later years.

Back in the present day, Simon is taking Gary to get his casts removed and they decide to fill the hours waiting with a discussion about this seminal album. Do the boys take to Phil as lead vocalist? Is everything the band do from now on rubbish? What is the connection to Russ Abbot? Which classic does Gary hate this time? All this, and maybe more, is answered in this episode, featuring a surprise appearance from a popular comedian.

Got anything to want to share with us? Stories about upcoming albums? How you got into Genesis in the first place? Even feedback about the episodes, anything is welcome. Send it to revelationstationpodcast@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

Look out for the next episode in 4 weeks time, where we indulge in a little Wind & Wuthering.

The History Makers

August 03, 2018 by Simon Heldreich

*Would you buy a used demo off these men?*

In 1998, barely a year after the band released their last studio album, the classic 5 man line up reunited to compile 4CDs of largely unreleased tracks. Covering the years 1967-1975 (although the tracks are placed in roughly reverse order) this gem contains the only official live recording of the whole of The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (bar "IT" due to a lazy tape op), and demos of the band from before they were even tied to a record deal.

Returning to the pub a broken man, literally, Gary does his best to find some joy within these tracks. Will he agree that Supper's Ready is a masterpiece? Will Simon be able to convince him it's worth the purchase? Will either of them get beaten up by the barman? Find out the answer to all these questions and more in this special episode.

Got anything you want to share with us? Stories about upcoming albums? How you got into Genesis in the first place? Even feedback about the episodes, anything is welcome. Send it to revelationstationpodcast@gmail.com.

Look out for the next episode coming soon, in which we turn our attention back to the regular releases with A Trick Of The Tail.

Alive-a-live-o!

July 13, 2018 by Simon Heldreich in Minisode

**One of Magog's hordes, swarming around.**

We've been so far from here, but now we're back again. And babe it's gonna work out fine. Probably.

After a hiatus, to recover from the traumatic events of episode 6a & 6b, Gary and Simon turn their attention to the classic Genesis Live album in the first of two special "minisodes".

Released on 20th July 1973, Genesis Live was the bands first UK top 10 album. Originally conceived as a double album, the eventual release was a stripped down compilation released at a budget price.

Gary and Simon cast their eye...their ear? Over the LP and give their opinions in their own unique way. Where could Gary be going? Which track does Simon hate? Which zone is for unloading only? Find out in this mini-episode.

If you enjoyed this episode let us know at revelationstationpodcast@gmail.com and listen out for the second minisode next week.

Good morning Rael, so sorry you had to wait...

June 01, 2018 by Simon Heldreich in Podcast episode

*Caution! Podcast contains excessive use of the word "dick". I mean, it's a bit too much to be honest. You should definitely avoid it if that offends you.*

Rat infested and excrement covered, and that's just Gary and Simon, the recording of the Lamb was labourious but resulted in a masterpiece. This second half notably features the only lyrics on the album not written by Peter Gabriel. Funnily enough they are the only ones that make sense. Released on 18th November 1974, the album reached number 10 in the UK, number 14 in the band's second home of Italy and, surprisingly, number 15 in Canada.

In this engorged episode, Simon and Gary finish up their discussion of the Lamb. They chat about what might have happened if Peter had stayed in the group, and almost, almost, come to blows (again) about the classic nature of the whole thing. Does the story reach a satisfying conclusion? Is it a fitting end to Peter Gabriel's time with the band? Will the boys find a way out of the weird place they are in and back to the pub in time for last orders? Find out in this episode.

You can contact us at revelationstationpodcast@gmail.com.

Early morning Manhattan...

May 18, 2018 by Simon Heldreich in Podcast episode

In a rat-infested, excrement covered house in Wales, Genesis reconvene, for the last time, following the Selling England Tour. Despite Peter leaving the group during recording (only to return), and through a lot of emotional twists and turns the band come together to deliver a bona-fide classic of the prog rock genre with The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. Finally released in November 1974 it marked the end of the Peter Gabriel era, and went on to become one of the most popular prog rock concept albums. It made it to number 10 in the UK album charts but failed to produce a hit single.
In this episode Simon and Gary find themselves trapped in a weird landscape so they take the opportunity to discuss the tumultuous recording of the album and manage to get to the Chamber of 32 Doors, although Simon somehow manages to end up wet again. What do they think of this first half? Why don't the hundreds of people in the chamber just work together to escape? Why is brother John such a dick? All this, and more is discussed.
Part 2 coming soon! In the meantime you can contact us at revelationstationpodcast@gmail.com

It lies with me, cries the Queen of maybe...

April 27, 2018 by Simon Heldreich in Podcast episode

***An Englishman, hard at work, pictured this morning.***

Released on 13th October 1973, just days after Simon’s first birthday, Selling England By The Pound is the 5th Album by Genesis. It becomes their best seller to date, reaching number 3 in the UK charts on the back of hit single “I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)”. Betty Swanwick delivers a decent cover, Steve delivers several guitar riffs and Peter just can’t seem to locate his country.

In this episode Gary decides he can multi-task and drags Simon around the local supermarket to discuss the album in an appropriate setting. In a quest for table jellies they encounter west-end hoodlums, the spirit of Britain and love in the 1970’s. What do they think of the album? Will Tess finally co-operate? Find out in this episode.

You can contact us at revelationstationpodcast@gmail.com

There's an angel standing in the sun...

April 12, 2018 by Simon Heldreich in Podcast episode

*A fox on the rocks, pictured yesterday.*

The classic line-up of Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins and Steve Hackett release their most successful UK album up to this point. Paul Whitehead delivers his best cover, and then is never used again, Peter dresses as a lady fox and Tony & Mike contemplate being alone on an empty planet.

In this episode Simon and Gary discuss the very first album Simon went out and bought with his own money. It's 1972 and Genesis release their best album to date, Foxtrot. But! There's trouble a-brewing as Simon and Gary disagree over one of the all time Genesis classics. Which track is it? Who likes it and who doesn't? Find out by listening to this.

We're all going to the zoo tomorrow.

April 05, 2018 by Simon Heldreich in Podcast episode

A drummer and a guitarist complete the classic line up. There is literally no stopping them...in Italy at least where they play to adoring crowds. Not so much back home in Britain.

In this episode Gary does his best to avoid talking about Genesis with Simon. He doesn't succeed. The boys discuss the popularity of the band's third LP Nursery Cryme on the continent. Find out why Simon ends up wet and what exactly they think of the addition of Steve Hackett and Phil Collins to the line up.

In the beginning...

April 05, 2018 by Simon Heldreich in Podcast episode

...There was the word. And the word was Genesis...

Genesis released their first single 50 years ago! 50 years! So to celebrate Simon made his friend Gary listen to all the Genesis albums in order and then review them in the local pub, commonly known as The Revelation Station. What will Gary think? Will they stay friends? Is the beer here any good? The answer to these questions will probably be revealed.

In this introductory first episode we meet the boys, who enjoy a quiet pint in the snug and discuss how they first heard the band.