Phil Collins asked him to join Genesis without an audition in 1977, but he continued to tour all the way through 2007 and was also a stalwart of Collins’s solo group from the initial tour of Hello, I Must Be Going in 1982.
Following Thompson’s renowned and impressive musical career the American musician rose to fame playing on a Frank Zappa tour. He appeared on Zappa albums like “One Size Fits All”, “Roxy & Elsewhere”, and “Overnite Sensation.” Since 1977 he was with the Genesis group (replacing Phil Collins, who had occupied the position of a vocalist), playing in their concerts in 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983/4, 1986/7, and 1992/3 and he was again called to act in 2007 as part of the Turn it on again tour, which resulted in the album: “Live Over Europe 2007”.
Chester participated in the live albums “Seconds Out”, “Three Sides Live” and “The Way We Walk” 1 and 2. Thompson continued to work with Phil Collins in his solo concerts: Hello I Must Be Going Tour (from 1982 / 83), No Jacket Required tour (1985), But Seriously tour (1990), Both Sides Tour (1993/1994), Dance Into The Light Tour (1997/1998), The Tarzan Première tour (1999) and The Final Farewell tour (2004/05). Also appreciated in the “Serious Hits … Live!” by Phil Collins (CD / DVD), and released in 1991 his only solo album: “A Joyful Noise.”
Keep going for the video below as Phil Collins reveal how he recruited Chester Thompson to replace him as the drummer for Genesis: