Mike Rutherford

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Mike Rutherford
Image:MRutherford-1973.jpg
Born	October 2, 1950 Image:Flag of England (bordered).svg Guildford, Surrey, England
Genre(s)	Progressive rock
Affiliation(s)	Genesis
Years active	1967 - present

Michael John Cleote Crawford Rutherford (born October 2, 1950 in Guildford, Surrey) is an English musician. Whilst attending Charterhouse School he became a founding member of Genesis, initially as a bassist, 12-string guitarist, and backup vocalist. In later incarnations of Genesis, he assumed the role of lead guitarist. He also fronted Mike and the Mechanics.

1 History
2 Style
3 Solo
4 Instruments
5 Mike Rutherford solo discography

[edit] History

Rutherford's basslines are known for being tastefully constructed as well as showing a great deal of technical innovation and skill. His basslines from early Genesis are some of the most innovative and complex lines from any time period and were especially impressive in the rising progressive rock movement.

Rutherford was also noted for his use of the 12-string guitar. A distinctive sound of early and classic Genesis recordings was the double acoustic twelve string playing of Rutherford intertwined with that of Anthony Phillips, and, later, Steve Hackett. Genesis "classic" recordings often featured simultaneous 12 string guitar and Dewtron "Mister Bassman" bass pedal synthesizer playing by Rutherford. He used the very famous Moog Taurus Bass Pedals as well. Often, bass guitar, 12-string guitar, and bass pedal playing would feature in different sections of a single song, "Supper's Ready", "Firth of Fifth", and "The Cinema Show" being good examples of this. He often played a double necked bass and 12-string guitar on stage, which facilitated his playing of such arrangements.

Image:Genesis pressphoto.jpg

After so much speculation regarding a reunion, a press conference, held on 7th November 2006, by Banks, Collins and Rutherford announced an upcoming tour in 2007. This announcement comes as the band are about to celebrate 40 years in the music business.

[edit] Style

After the departure of guitarist Steve Hackett, Rutherford took over all guitarist roles for the band in the recording studio. His style, while not being as technical as Hackett, is highly melodic and creative, yet contains more of textural and minimalistic structures. On tour, he would alternate between guitar and bass on live shows with touring-only guitarist/bassist Daryl Stuermer. The latter would typically play Hackett's guitar parts, and play bass on the songs where Rutherford played lead guitar.

[edit] Solo

During breaks in Genesis, he recorded two solo albums, Smallcreep's Day and Acting Very Strange, and later performed in the band Mike and the Mechanics, a group he founded on one such break in 1985.

Mike and the Mechanics' most popular songs are "All I Need Is a Miracle", "The Living Years", and "Silent Running."

[edit] Instruments

He played mainly Rickenbacker and Shergold basses. He also developed the idea behind the M-Series Steinberger guitar with the help of English luthier Roger Giffin and he used this extensively in the 80's and during The Invisible Touch Tour with Genesis. In the earlier years of Genesis he used to play bass pedal synthesizers, e.g. the famous Moog-Taurus.