The biggest "what-if" in progressive rock history dates back to late 2004. The five members of Genesis' beloved '70s lineup—singer Peter Gabriel, singer-drummer Phil Collins, keyboardist Tony Banks, bassist/guitarist Mike Rutherford, and guitarist Steve Hackett—met in Glasgow, Scotland to discuss an ambitious reunion tour focused on their 1974 album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. (Those talks fizzled, leaving the band’s core later-era trio—Collins, Banks, and Rutherford—to organize the Turn It On Again Tour in 2007.)
It’s a shame that original brainstorm didn’t bear fruit—all these years later, even up through the trio’s final tour in 2021/2022, the fan-fiction dreams are tough to shake. But it’s worth remembering that, a decade or so before that pivotal meeting, the classic quintet did reunite in a different way—recording a dreamy and supremely underrated update of The Lamb ballad "The Carpet Crawlers." The revamped song, featuring the intertwined voices of Gabriel and Collins, likely marked the final true studio collaboration between these five prog giants.
- YouTubewww.youtube.com
Strangely, despite the historical significance of this union, it’s hard to track down much information about the recording process. We do know that the slicker "The Carpet Crawlers 1999," released that year as part of the band’s compilation Turn It On Again: The Hits, was helmed by Trevor Horn: former singer of Yes and The Buggles ("Video Killed the Radio Star"), hit producer for the likes of Seal and Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
In 2018, during an interview with Banks for Ultimate Classic Rock, I asked Banks about his memories of the sessions. "Peter’s idea was to use [producer] Trevor Horn since he was neutral territory: None of us had ever worked with him," he said. "It was nice working with Trevor; I'm an admirer of his. He's a talented chap, so it was fun to have done that. We had a good time just getting together at Peter's studio at Real World. Good food. We ate a lot, as I remember—and played a lot of tennis. [We did] about an hour in the studio a day, which is the way Pete tends to work usually, which is the trouble. So we moved into Peter's place, which was quite interesting."
- YouTubewww.youtube.com
Horn—who enthused about the sessions to Prog in 2023, saying, "What fun!"—seems to have loomed large. The track feels more heavily produced than its warmer predecessor, particularly with the presence of synthesizer pads and what Banks described as "little, skippy" drum loop. But it’s still more soulful and atmospheric, elevated by the stunning harmonies and traded lines of Gabriel and Collins. "I thought the way Phil’s voice took over from Pete’s is just an amazing moment," the keyboardist told Dusk in 2013. "Their voices have always had a certain similarity in intensity, but he has a sort of slightly higher pitch that Phil has that seemed to give such excitement to that third verse when he came in…" While Banks thought the song was "good" overall, he added, "[I]f it’s better than the original I don’t know."
It’s indeed hard to top the original: arguably the heartbeat on The Lamb, Gabriel’s final album with the band. (The original version also holds a special place in Genesis lore, being the final song played during their final show.) But "The Carpet Crawlers 1999" is way better than it gets credit for—the single reached a hardly notable No. 18 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart, which I forgot even existed, and the song rarely winds up on any best-of list. (Ranking their whole catalog, I put it at a very respectable No. 79 out of 180, and I’m starting to wonder if I underrated it.)
But even if you think I’m being too generous, it’s worth revisiting this fascinating one-off, which still feels beamed in from an alternate rock universe.
- YouTubewww.youtube.com
This article originally appeared in May.
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21 products that are gaslighting us into thinking they’re essential when they’re not
Some things in life are actually necessary—clean water, decent healthcare, basic human decency. But then there are the things that feel like they’re gaslighting us. The things we’re told we can’t live without, even though we survived just fine before they existed. Things like "smart" fridges, lawn fertilizer services, and yes—whole body deodorant.
Recently, our sister-site Upworthy asked their Facebook audience the question: What's a product or service that feels like it's gaslighting all of us into thinking it's necessary? More than 8,000 responses poured in. The answers were passionate, funny, and surprisingly unified.
Here are 21 products, services, and systems people called out for pretending to be essential—when they might actually be optional, overpriced, or flat-out invented.
1. Whole body deodorant
"Take a shower," said Shannon H.
“How did we ever manage all those years without it!! 😂😵💫” added Karen R.
Others noted it may help people with medical conditions—but for the average person, it's definitely a marketing creation.
2. Health insurance
It topped the list. Erica L. explained: “My doctor prescribes, the pharmacist issues meds, nurses care for people, surgeons do surgery—Health Insurance stands between health care and patients and says no, exclusively on whether they think it’s financially effective to treat you.”
Important note: Health insurance can provide life-saving access for many—but what people are frustrated by here is the profit-first system, not care itself.
3. The wedding industry
Multiple people slammed the high cost of modern weddings.
JoElla B. put it plainly: “We spend too much time and money planning one day, and not enough thought on how to blend two lives in a mutually beneficial one.”
Others called out expensive dresses, venues, and pressure to perform for social media.
4. Bottled water
Carole D. said: “Water in plastic bottles! Get a cup!”
While bottled water has value in emergencies, it’s often just filtered tap water—sold for profit in plastic.
5. Baby product overload
“Most baby products,” wrote Kelli O. “They really aren’t as needy and complicated as companies want us to think.”
6. Fabric softener
“It’s bad for clothes, bad for the Earth, bad for the wallet, and totally unnecessary,” said Gail H.
Some experts agree—many softeners contain chemicals that can reduce fabric lifespan and irritate skin.
7. Smart appliances
“Adding ‘phone controls’ to every appliance instead of making them last as long as they used to,” wrote Sherry S.
When your fridge needs a software update, something’s gone off the rails.
8. Makeup and anti-aging products
“Anything anti-aging,” said Melissa T., “Please just let me age into the gargoyle I was meant to become.”
Others questioned products designed to “fix” eyelashes, eyebrows, pores, and graying hair.
April S. added, “Products that women are convinced they MUST have in order to be ‘beautiful’ and therefore ‘loved.’”
9. Cosmetic surgery
Ron P. called out the industry as a whole. And while body autonomy matters, many commenters questioned whether insecurities are being commodified and sold back to us.
10. Ticketmaster and “convenience fees”
“Let’s go back to waiting in line at a record store,” wrote Nicole C.
Zaida B. added: “Convenience fee for online purchases—then charging $10 more at the actual event.”
11. Engagement rings
James P. didn’t mince words: “Engagement rings.”
The diamond industry has long been criticized for manufactured scarcity and marketing-fueled necessity.
12. Lawn chemicals and services
“Plant native grasses and you don’t have the pests or need for constant watering,” wrote Jamie B.
Environmental groups have raised similar concerns over runoff and unnecessary pesticide use.
13. AI and generative tech
“This stuff squeezes the lifeblood and individuality out of the human experience,” said Teresa L.
Saskia D. and others echoed skepticism about its necessity, even as many of us are being pushed to use it.
14. Funeral services
Amy W. shared: “My parents both have already paid to have themselves cremated and are very adamant that they do not want anything big done for them. In their words, ‘I won’t care, I’m dead.’”
Of course, some families find comfort in tradition—but the cost and pressure can feel overwhelming and predatory.
15. Rinse and repeat
Amy D. nailed it: “It’s just to sell more. Not even sure you need it at all.”
16. Credit Card Surcharges
Shawn S. took aim at the extra fees popping up at checkout: “That is the cost of doing business and shouldn’t be the burden of the purchaser.”
Many questioned why customers are increasingly being asked to pay extra simply for the convenience of using a card.
17. Constant phone upgrades
“Apple are notorious for releasing the same shit every year,” said Steph S.
Diana H. added, “Needing to upgrade our phones so frequently.”
Built-in obsolescence and marketing cycles drive most of the demand.
18. Vitamins and supplements
“If I took every supplement they say I NEED I wouldn’t need food. Nor could I afford it,” said Tausha L.
19. Fake pockets on women’s pants
Jessica W. said, “I have to buy men’s pants for work because women’s pants would just get torn up too fast!”
Form over function, and then they charge more for it.
20. Disposable everything
“The ‘convenience’ of disposable everything,” said Rick R.
It’s killing the planet—and draining wallets.
21. Tipping
“I’m sick of supplementing for corporations that refuse to pay a living wage,” wrote Susan V.
Tipping culture has evolved into something far removed from its original intent, and for many, it now feels like a burden shifted onto the customer.
The bigger picture
People aren’t saying all these things should vanish tomorrow. But when we start seeing convenience sold as necessity, and insecurity turned into billion-dollar markets, it's worth asking: who benefits from all of this?
And more importantly—who pays?
This article originally appeared earlier this year.