John Mayhew Genesis Jun 2026

Mayhew was recruited in the summer of 1969 to replace John Silver. Contrary to the popular legend that he was found through a Melody Maker ad, Mayhew later clarified that contacted him after finding his phone number on posters he had left across London.

Mayhew’s tenure with Genesis was brief (just over a year, from mid-1969 to August 1970), but it occurred at a pivotal moment. He was the man in the drum seat during the band’s transition from a psychedelic-tinged pop act into the architects of literary, multi-part epics. john mayhew genesis

While Trespass was not an immediate commercial success in the UK, it reached #1 in Belgium , a breakthrough that arguably saved the band's career. Departure and Transition to Phil Collins Mayhew was recruited in the summer of 1969

After leaving Genesis, Mayhew continued to work as a session musician and keyboardist, playing with various bands and artists. He also released several solo albums and worked on various musical projects, including soundtrack work for film and television. He was the man in the drum seat