This summer's free concert by British rock group Genesis will be staged in Circus Maximus instead of the traditional location of the Coliseum, organizers said on Tuesday.
The July 14, 2007 concert is expected to be the only Italian date on the 'Turn it on Again' reunion tour of original band members Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks.
The decision to move the location concert was based on the band's need for a massive stage to host their elaborate special effects.
Had the stage been set up in front of the Coliseum as it has in the first four editions, organizers observed, there would have been less room for the public.
The Rome free concert, sponsored by the City of Rome and Telecom Italia, has in the past seen performances by Paul McCartney, who also held an acoustic concert inside the ancient arena for a select audience, Simon and Garfunkel, Elton John and last year Billy Joel.
Diehard Genesis fans appear to be keeping their hopes up that the possibility of performing in front of an ancient Roman backdrop may lure back Genesis' original frontman Peter Gabriel.
Aside from a one-off concert in 1982, the original Genesis lineup has not played together since 1975.
Gabriel told BBC radio before the Genesis comeback tour was officially announced that he would not be involved.
Gabriel himself was in Rome last November to accept the Man of Peace prize, which is awarded annually in Rome by a panel of Nobel prize winners.
The 57-year-old singer and songwriter was awarded the Man of Peace prize for his "great contribution and commitment to peace and human rights",
Considered a 'progressive' rock band in the 1970s and '80s, Genesis sold over 130 million albums, including such 'classics' as Nursery Cryme, Selling England By The Pound and Invisible Touch.
