Daryl Stuermer

Guitarist Daryl Stuermer contributed to major commercial successes by Genesis and Phil Collins while also issuing multiple solo projects under his own name. Born on November 27, 1952, in Milwaukee, WI, he began playing guitar at age 11. Early influences included the Beatles and the Ventures, after which he explored jazz guitar through the recordings of Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass and later absorbed the innovations of Jimi Hendrix and John McLaughlin. In the early to mid-1970s Stuermer performed with Milwaukee ensemble Sweetbottom, whose music caught the attention of George Duke, then keyboardist with Frank Zappa. Duke arranged an audition with jazz violinist Jean-Luc Ponty that led to Stuermer’s appearances on the albums Aurora (1975), Imaginary Voyage (1976), and Enigmatic Ocean (1977) plus the associated tours. Late in 1977 Genesis auditioned guitarists to replace Steve Hackett; Stuermer secured the position. For the next two decades he served as the band’s touring guitarist, appearing only on the live albums Three Sides Live (1983) and The Way We Walk (1992) rather than any studio releases.

When Genesis drummer and singer Phil Collins began his solo career in the early 1980s, Stuermer joined his band and supplied guitar parts on the hit albums Face Value (1981), Hello, I Must Be Going! (1983), No Jacket Required (1985), But Seriously (1990), and Dance into the Light (1996). He also received co-writing credits on the Collins songs “Something Happened on the Way to Heaven,” “I Don’t Wanna Know,” “Doesn’t Anybody Stay Together Anymore,” and “Only You Know and I Know.” Despite this schedule, Stuermer released his own recordings at intervals—Steppin’ Out (1987), Live & Learn (1998), Another Side of Genesis (2000), and the limited-edition Waiting in the Wings (2001)—and founded the independent label Urban Island Music in 1998. Additional session work includes contributions to Philip Bailey’s Chinese Wall, Frida’s I Know There’s Something Going On, Joan Armatrading’s The Key, Mike Rutherford’s Acting Very Strange, and Tony Banks’ The Fugitive and Still.