What band was formed by five Charterhouse School pupils?

Genesis was formed by five Charterhouse School pupils. The original members connected with the band were Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Anthony Phillips, Mike Rutherford, and drummer Chris Stewart, all associated with the English boarding school in Surrey.

The group grew out of two school bands. Phillips and Rutherford had played in Anon, while Gabriel, Banks, and Stewart formed Garden Wall. After those groups dissolved, the five musicians collaborated on demo recordings in 1967. Their music attracted the attention of Charterhouse alumnus Jonathan King, who helped them secure a recording contract with Decca.

King suggested the name Genesis, which represented the beginning of his production career. The early lineup did not last: Chris Stewart soon left and was replaced by John Silver, while later changes brought drummer John Mayhew and vocalist Peter Gabriel’s eventual successor, Phil Collins. Genesis ultimately became one of progressive rock’s major acts, especially after albums such as Foxtrot and Selling England by the Pound.