Mike Rutherford
{{Guitarist infobox
name = Mike Rutherford | image = | born = October 2, 1950
Guildford, Surrey | genre = Progressive rock | affiliation = Genesis | notable guitars = | years = 1967 - present | website = Michael John Cleote Crawford "Mike" Rutherford (born October 2, 1950 in Guildford, Surrey) is an English musician. Whilst attending Charterhouse School he became a founding member of Genesis, initially as a bassist, 12-string guitarist, and backup vocalist. In later incarnations of Genesis, he assumed the role of lead guitarist.
Rutherford's basslines are known for being tastefully constructed as well as showing a great deal of technical innovation and skill. His basslines from early Genesis are some of the most innovative and complex lines from any time period and were especially impressive in the rising progressive rock movement. He and bassist Chris Squire pushed the envelope of creativity for the bass guitar in the genre. When Rutherford is not playing a dynamic and complex bassline, he plays the bass in a melodic manner that is well respected.
Rutherford was also noted for his use of the 12-string guitar. A distinctive sound of early and classic Genesis recordings was the double acoustic twelve string playing of Rutherford intertwined with that of Anthony Phillips, and, later, Steve Hackett. Genesis "classic" recordings often featured simultaneous 12 string guitar and Dewtron "Mister Bassman" bass pedal synthesizer playing by Rutherford. Often, bass guitar, 12-string guitar, and bass pedal playing would feature in different sections of a single song, "Supper's Ready", "Firth of Fifth", and "The Cinema Show" being good examples of this. He often played a double necked bass and 12-string guitar on stage, which facilitated his playing of such arrangements.
After the departure of guitarist Steve Hackett, Rutherford took over all guitarist roles for the band in the recording studio. His style, while not at the level of Hackett, is highly melodic and creative, yet contains more of textural and minimalistic structures. On tour, he would alternate between guitar and bass on live shows with touring-only guitarist/bassist Daryl Stuermer.
During breaks in Genesis, he recorded two solo albums, Smallcreep's Day and Acting Very Strange, and later performed in the band Mike and the Mechanics, a group he founded on one such break in 1985.
Mike and the Mechanics' most popular songs are "All I Need Is a Miracle", "The Living Years", and Silent Running."
He played mainly Rickenbacker and Shergold basses.* Small Creep's Day (1980)
* Acting Very Strange (1982)
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