The Anon
Encyclopedia
Anon was one of two bands made up of pupils from Charterhouse School
in Surrey, members of which went on to form the progressive rock band Genesis
with another band from the same school, called Garden Wall
. The band formed in May 1965 and split up in December 1966. It originally consisted of Rivers Jobe
(bass) (born 1950-died 1979), Richard MacPhail
(vocals), Rob Tyrell
(drums), and Anthony Phillips
(lead guitar). They were later joined by future Genesis guitarist/bassist Mike Rutherford
on rhythm guitar. During a short period of time, Rutherford was forced to leave the band by his house master at Charterhouse and was replaced by Mike Colman (1951–2010).
".
Just after The Anon had formed, a young guitarist called Mike Rutherford, who had been at Charterhouse since November 1964, heard that there was a chance he would be let into the band as a rhythm guitarist. He met up with Phillips and MacPhail, and was given a place in the band.
Anon was dedicated to covering songs by The Beatles
, The Rolling Stones
, and rhythm and blues music from that era, like John Mayall
. The only recording the band ever made was the only original song that the band had during this period, a demo of a song called 'Pennsylvania Flickhouse' written by Anthony Phillips.
The members of Anon and Garden Wall were seen as the rebels of the school, as Charterhouse offered an extensive range of activities for pupils, but the members of the bands chose to play music. All music except for classical music was frowned upon by the teachers in the school. The members of The Anon used to have their hair longer than everyone else and go down to the local pubs as a sign of rebellion. As a result, the band suffered a lot of pressure from their parents and teachers, and this led to MacPhail leaving for a while because of his parents' attitude to him being in a rock band (leaving Rutherford to take over as singer), and Rutherford had his guitar confiscated by his house master (which led to himself temporarily leaving the group).
The band continued to go on with the five-piece lineup until July 1966, when Rivers Jobe and Richard MacPhail were scheduled to leave Charterhouse. MacPhail decided that his band should do a concert with Garden Wall both as top acts and with a third band opening, so The Anon set about getting together a concert that was staged within the school. The event marked the end of the five-piece lineup, and Jobe and MacPhail both quit the band. Jobe went on to join Savoy Brown, MacPhail went on to become a sound engineer for Genesis until 1973.
The band, now only Phillips, Rutherford, and Tyrell, carried on. Eventually Tyrell left, and the band finally broke up in December 1966. Phillips and Rutherford then went on to join with all three members of Garden Wall (Peter Gabriel
, Tony Banks
, and Chris Stewart
), to form Genesis (with Mike buying his first bass), in January 1967.
Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
in Surrey, members of which went on to form the progressive rock band Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
with another band from the same school, called Garden Wall
Garden Wall (band)
Garden Wall were a band from Charterhouse School in Surrey that went on to merge with the remains of another band from the same school, The Anon to form the progressive rock band Genesis. The band was formed around May 1965.-History:...
. The band formed in May 1965 and split up in December 1966. It originally consisted of Rivers Jobe
Rivers Jobe
Rivers Jobe is a British bass player known for being a member of The Anon, one of the two bands which merged to form the progressive rock band Genesis; and for playing on the Savoy Brown album Getting to the Point, as well as on the tracks "Vicksburg Blues", "Train to Nowhere", and "Tolling Bells"...
(bass) (born 1950-died 1979), Richard MacPhail
Richard MacPhail
Richard MacPhail is a former musician and business owner best known for being involved in the early tours of rock band Genesis. He was also the vocalist for The Anon, one of the two bands that merged together to form Genesis in 1967...
(vocals), Rob Tyrell
Rob Tyrell
Rob Tyrell is a drummer known for being a member of The Anon, one of the two bands which merged to form the progressive rock band Genesis. After The Anon broke up Tyrell joined the band Sour Milk Sea to replace founding drummer Boris Williams , which also included future Queen member Freddie...
(drums), and Anthony Phillips
Anthony Phillips
Anthony Edwin "Ant" Phillips is an English multi instrumentalist, best known as a founding member of the band Genesis. He played guitar and sang backing vocals until leaving in 1970, following the recording of their second album, Trespass...
(lead guitar). They were later joined by future Genesis guitarist/bassist Mike Rutherford
Mike Rutherford
Michael John Cleote Crawford Rutherford is an English musician. He is a founding member of Genesis, initially as a bassist and backup vocalist. In later incarnations of Genesis, he assumed the role of lead guitarist. He is one of only two constant members in Genesis . He also fronts Mike + The...
on rhythm guitar. During a short period of time, Rutherford was forced to leave the band by his house master at Charterhouse and was replaced by Mike Colman (1951–2010).
History
The band was originally formed when Anthony Phillips met up with Rivers Jobe. The two had been friends in prep school and had been in a band called The Spiders whilst they had been at prep school. The Spiders had been a Beatles type band, and when Phillips entered Charterhouse in April 1965, he hooked up with his old friend and formed The Anon with Rob Tyrell and Richard MacPhail within a week. The band's name was short for "anonymousAnonymity
Anonymity is derived from the Greek word ἀνωνυμία, anonymia, meaning "without a name" or "namelessness". In colloquial use, anonymity typically refers to the state of an individual's personal identity, or personally identifiable information, being publicly unknown.There are many reasons why a...
".
Just after The Anon had formed, a young guitarist called Mike Rutherford, who had been at Charterhouse since November 1964, heard that there was a chance he would be let into the band as a rhythm guitarist. He met up with Phillips and MacPhail, and was given a place in the band.
Anon was dedicated to covering songs by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, and rhythm and blues music from that era, like John Mayall
John Mayall
John Mayall, OBE is an English blues singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, whose musical career spans over fifty years...
. The only recording the band ever made was the only original song that the band had during this period, a demo of a song called 'Pennsylvania Flickhouse' written by Anthony Phillips.
The members of Anon and Garden Wall were seen as the rebels of the school, as Charterhouse offered an extensive range of activities for pupils, but the members of the bands chose to play music. All music except for classical music was frowned upon by the teachers in the school. The members of The Anon used to have their hair longer than everyone else and go down to the local pubs as a sign of rebellion. As a result, the band suffered a lot of pressure from their parents and teachers, and this led to MacPhail leaving for a while because of his parents' attitude to him being in a rock band (leaving Rutherford to take over as singer), and Rutherford had his guitar confiscated by his house master (which led to himself temporarily leaving the group).
The band continued to go on with the five-piece lineup until July 1966, when Rivers Jobe and Richard MacPhail were scheduled to leave Charterhouse. MacPhail decided that his band should do a concert with Garden Wall both as top acts and with a third band opening, so The Anon set about getting together a concert that was staged within the school. The event marked the end of the five-piece lineup, and Jobe and MacPhail both quit the band. Jobe went on to join Savoy Brown, MacPhail went on to become a sound engineer for Genesis until 1973.
The band, now only Phillips, Rutherford, and Tyrell, carried on. Eventually Tyrell left, and the band finally broke up in December 1966. Phillips and Rutherford then went on to join with all three members of Garden Wall (Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
, Tony Banks
Tony Banks (musician)
This article is about the musician. For other people named Tony Banks, see Tony BanksAnthony George "Tony" Banks is a British composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who performs as a keyboardist and a guitarist...
, and Chris Stewart
Chris Stewart (author)
Christopher 'Chris' Stewart , was the original drummer and a founding member of Genesis. He is now a farmer and an author.-Background and musical career:...
), to form Genesis (with Mike buying his first bass), in January 1967.