GENESIS - GENESIS DENY 'COPYCAT' REUNION

Eighties rock giants GENESIS have denied "copying" other veteran bands by staging a comeback. PHIL COLLINS, MIKE RUTHERFORD and TONY BANKS officially confirmed yesterday (07NOV06) they will reunite next year (07) to embark on a tour of the US and Europe. THE ROLLING STONES, DURAN DURAN and QUEEN have also recently staged comeback tours but Banks insists Genesis planned the venture years ago. He says, "It's a coincidence if other groups are doing it. For us, we've been talking about it for a long, long time and it's one of those things where it's all come together at this point." Singer Collins also stressed the reunion wasn't motivated by financial concerns either, maintaining, "We're loaded enough not to worry about where the next million or two is coming from. "We could have played a lot more shows if it was about money." The Turn It On Again tour kicks off at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland on 11 June and ends in Rome, Italy on 14 July (07). The three band members will be joined by long time Genesis sidemen CHESTER THOMPSON on drums and DARYL STUERMER on guitar.