Peter Gabriel on the Depression that Gripped Genesis’ Phil Collins: ‘It’s Been a Very Difficult Time’

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Peter Gabriel says the idea of getting back together with Genesis isn’t out of the question. He’s simply found the enormity of doing such a thing, some 40 years later, a bit daunting.

“I was looking seriously at a reunion for a while,” he tells The Daily Mail, “but it seemed to be growing into a bigger project than I was ready for. It’s about time and energy, and what you’re letting go of to pursue that.”

Gabriel, whose last album of original material was issued 12 years ago, has spent the interim starting a new family. The 64-year-old has two children with wife Meabh Flynn, aged 12 and and 5 — to go with two adult daughters from his first marriage.

As such, his career has been in a bit of a turnaround.

Gabriel has rerecorded his own songs in an orchestral setting, participated in a covers project, and undertaken a massive reissue and tour celebrating his biggest hit, 1986’s So. Next, Gabriel says he’s finally ready to take on some original material.

Still, questions about Genesis persist, likely because of his old bandmate Phil Collins’ recent announcement that he was leaving a premature retirement. That followed rumors that the drumming legend was suffering from depression during his time away.

“It’s been a very difficult time for Phil,” Gabriel says. “If he’s getting out of that it would be a great thing. He was the workaholics’ workaholic, so it was strange to see him stop.”

The busy Gabriel won’t deny that a reunion is still possible, though it wouldn’t be anytime soon: “There’s nothing planned, but we’re all still above the turf and I would never say never.”

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