This Is Your Life: Mike Rutherford

Mike RUTHERFORD (1950-)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Mike Rutherford, singer, guitarist and songwriter, was surprised by Michael Aspel - with the help of Phil Collins - at Thames Television's Teddington Studios, having been led to believe he was there for an interview.

Mike, the son of a naval officer, was born in Guildford and educated at Charterhouse public school in Surrey, where he co-formed his first band Anon in 1965. Two years later, he formed Genesis with fellow pupils, keyboardist Tony Banks, vocalist Peter Gabriel and drummer Chris Stewart.

Genesis became one of the world's best-selling bands, with sales of over 100 million albums and a string of number one singles around the globe. Mike also had success with two solo albums during breaks from Genesis, and in 1985 he formed the band Mike + The Mechanics, whose hit singles include All I Need Is a Miracle and The Living Years.

"Bloody hell!"

programme details...

Edition No: 1109
Subject No: 1085
Broadcast date: Thu 23 Jan 2003
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Fri 20 Sep 2002 4.00pm
Venue: Teddington Studios
Series: 43
Edition: 4
Code name: Mister

on the guest list...

Angie - wife
Phil Collins
Tony Banks
Steve Hackett
Ray Wilson
Les Adey
Bill Bruford
John Silver
Ant Phillips
Nicky - sister
Kate - daughter
Tom - son
Harry - son
Kenney Jones
John Alexander
Damon Hill
Chris Tarrant
B A Robertson
Rory Robertson
Paul Carrack
Will Carling
Daryl Stuermer
Dr Don Clarke
David Clarke
Peter Gabriel

production team...

Researcher: Jo Grant
Writer: Ian Brown
Director: John Gorman
Associate Producer: Helen Gordon-Smith
Series Producer: Jack Crawshaw
Producer: Sue Green

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Top of the Pops

charting the pop stars

Phil Collins

Chris Tarrant

Screenshots of Mike Rutherford This Is Your Life

Hereford Times 30 January 2003

Guest spot for David

A HEREFORDSHIRE man, whose recovery from an horrendous road accident was aided by a pop legend, appeared as the surprise final guest when the star was the subject of TV's This Is Your Life.

David Clarke was taken to Hereford's intensive care unit where he lay in a coma after being struck by a car as he cycled to Hereford Sixth Form College one day in 1983. His father, Dr Don Clarke, arranged for tapes with familiar sounds to be played to him over and over again in an attempt to rouse him.

These included messages from college friends and former pupils from his old school Kingstone High. And there, too, were words of encouragement and the music of his favourite rock group Genesis.

David eventually regained consciousness and the success story prompted his father to create a 'coma arousal kit' to assist other patients in a similar state.

Twenty years on and one of those Genesis stars, guitarist Mike Rutherford, was presented with Michael Aspel's big red book when he was 'pounced on' for This Is Your Life whose team was aided in their research by The Hereford Times.

Among the guests was Dr Clarke who emotionally related how the group had helped his son. Last to appear was 37-year-old David himself who told the television audience and millions of viewers how the group had not only made the tape, but they also asked him to a concert and invited him backstage.

Series 43 subjects