WOG: There has been a great deal of controversy recently over the “lost” Genesis Plays Jackson tapes from that period…
AP: I know about it, yeah. You probably know more about it than me… Do you know what’s happened? (laughs)
WOG: I know that the person who possesses the tape got the reel from a friend who’s father apparently, at one time, had some connection to the BBC. A number of tapes were being thrown out and he grabbed a bunch of them, not knowing what he had.
Years later when it was discovered, this person created a website and attempted to auction the reel tape off to the highest bidder…
AP: Yes, I know that much…
WOG: Last I heard, the auction site had been taken down, and I believe there was an interview somewhere with Tony Banks talking about how they were in discussion with this person. I was under the impression that the band was in negotiation to get the tape back either legally or through compensation to that person. I was wondering if you had any news you could share …
AP: No, I’m not aware of what’s happened. I have my views about it, but I don’t have any news about it (laughs).
WOG: What are your thoughts on it?
AP: Well, it gets a bit technical. The fact is, it’s like a painter painting something, isn’t it? He hasn’t paid any money for it…
WOG: I noticed that a lot of the artwork has changed with the various re-prints…
AP: Yeah, they have changed a few things. I think, not put too fine a point on it, I think their budgets aren’t enormous. So, the whole operation is about keeping CDs available, rather than being able to do things to a clearly fantastic level of quality and promotion stuff. I think a lot of us are just grateful for any company that decides to put a bit of energy and time into keeping the stuff out there. So, if people want to get a hold of them they can. We’ve heard so many horror stories over here (in Europe) of major artists that we’ve loved in the past, not being able to get (recording) deals with majors (major record labels). One knows how difficult it is, in the current market, to get any kind of promotion and backing… certainly (radio) airplay as well. So, yeah, I’ve been fairly involved.
If the painting gets lost… Well, it’s the person’s property that painted it, surly! Just as this is our music! Probably, what it is in this case is a copy, but I really don’t see what gives him right if he’s paid nothing for those (songs) in the first place… What gives him the right to demand money for something that actually isn’t his work?!
WOG: I do believe that it is actually the original reel tape, because the picture on the website showed original handwritten notes explaining the pieces. So, I do think it’s probably an original…
AP: I don’t believe that if he’s come into the possession of unreleased Genesis tapes that they are his. Its unreleased material. I don’t see on what level he can maintain that they belong to him. In what way do they belong to him?
He didn’t pay for the sessions, he didn’t own rights to the music, he simply has something that has come into his possession by coincidence, really, which happens to belong to somebody else. It’s a bit like coming across somebody’s jewelry in the road. It’s a finder’s keepers attitude, but I don’t think he’s got a right to auction it.
