Obscure 1960s band ‘The Genesis’ releases long-lost music after accidental discovery

A band called The Genesis, active in the 1960s and 70s but unrelated to the famous band Genesis, is releasing an album after their music was accidentally rediscovered. Chris Stokes, an 80-year-old former member, sold his old electric piano on eBay and included sound clips of the band’s music. Producer Will Twynham encountered the clips and was intrigued, eventually meeting Chris and discovering a treasure trove of 80 unreleased tracks recorded between 1964 and 1974. The band, formed in Luton in 1966 by five men including factory workers, had rehearsed locally and created original music, including a pioneering pop opera. Their music stylistically spans 60s beat, psychedelic rock, progressive, glam, and even includes a fully orchestrated British jazz piece. The release is now being managed by Will’s label Hand of Glory. Members of the band expressed surprise and amusement that their decades-old work is now being appreciated. The story highlights how chance and preservation can unearth significant cultural artifacts from obscurity.