THE early rehearsals of prog rock giants Genesis at the Farnham Maltings have been recounted in graphic detail by Phil Collins in his new autobiography.

Genesis was formed at Charterhouse School near Godalming in 1967 by school-mates Michael Rutherford, Anthony Phillips, Peter Gabriel and Tony Banks, with Phil Collins filling the band’s vacant drummer seat three years later.

In his new book, Not Dead Yet, Collins recounts his first “rock and roll” audition at then-front man Gabriel’s family home in Chobham and afterwards moving in with guitarist Rutherford’s parents’ “grand home” in Farnham.

The band’s new line-up then held its first rehearsals at the Farnham Maltings, and Collins recalls less than sympathetically the state of the buildings prior to their revamp into a modern day arts centre.

Collins’ autobiography goes on to recount his “epic” ascent to becoming one of only three musicians to sell over 100 million records both in a group and as a solo artist.