Genesis legends Tony Banks, Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett, and Mike Rutherford reunited at the Dolby Screening Rooms in London on Friday, 19th September, for a special Dolby ATMOS playback of their iconic 1974 album *The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway*. Widely regarded as a masterpiece of progressive rock, the sprawling 94-minute concept album tells the surreal story of Rael, a Puerto Rican boy navigating a kaleidoscopic New York City, a narrative crafted by Gabriel himself. The record marked Gabriel’s final album with Genesis before his departure, closing a defining chapter in the band’s history.
To celebrate the album’s 50th anniversary, a Super Deluxe Edition will be released on Friday, 26th September, featuring remastered audio, rare outtakes, and previously unseen material.
During a Q&A with *The Guardian*’s Alexis Petridis, the band reflected on the album’s legacy. Steve Hackett remarked, “The album sounds a little sweeter with the passing of time. When you’re in the thick of it, from day to day, we were all going through different personal difficulties. So it wasn’t the easiest of Genesis albums to make, but I think it sounds pretty damn wonderful.”
Tony Banks added, “I think we felt that we went as far as we could with *The Lamb*—some people might say we went too far! I love *The Lamb*. It would have made a fantastic single album, but no one would agree on the tracks!”
Peter Gabriel reflected on the band’s meticulous approach: “We were perfectionists, just obsessing about every little detail—and often not getting it to where we wanted. But the imperfections that irritated you hugely at the time, sometimes I think they give it a bit of charm.”
Mike Rutherford summed up the album’s significance: “Was *The Lamb* the culmination of everything in Genesis? I don’t know. Look where we all went after the record—Genesis and Peter, we all went different directions. So it was the end of a certain moment, I think, which is fine.”
Half a century later, *The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway* remains a benchmark of ambition and creativity, a record whose surreal narrative and intricate musicianship continue to captivate fans old and new.
