“I DON'T know if I’d describe music as my life, but it’s been part of the path of everything because I’m living the dream right now,” says Merseyside singer-songwriter Brian Cummins who fronts Genesis tribute band The Carpet Crawlers.

The path has certainly been an unusual one, start a band, The Carpet Crawlers a decade ago, and then spend twelve months touring with Peter Garbriel’s old group.

Cummins was headhunted by ex-members of Gabriel’s group in America to front their own musical project – The Security Project – last year, such was his uncanny likeness to the Genesis co-founder.

“I worshipped Peter Gabriel and now I’ve toured the world with his old band, playing his music with guys like Jerry Marotta, Garbriel’s drummer on the first four albums,” said Cummins, who brings Genesis copyists The Carpet Crawlers to Clitheroe’s Grand Theatre next week.

“I adored Genesis as a kid, particularly the Gabriel era, so I never imagined that I’d meet these guys never mind play with them.

“My Genesis romance began when I got a copy of the ‘Mama Tour’ VHS in the eighties and I’d go into Liverpool and buy their music and collect any memorabilia I could get my hands on.

“Me and my brother used to air drum side by side, and I remember it would drive my mum nuts.”

The Carpet Crawlers play marathon sets, sometimes stretching to three hours, jam-packed with stunning theatrics and costumes.

They celebrate the spirit of those original Genesis shows with Cummins resplendent in Gabriel’s outlandish, but authentic costumes from that era.

Their new show marks the 40th anniversary of ‘The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway,’ Genesis’ top ten LP released in November 1974.

The double concept album was arguably Genesis’ most iconic work.

“We did our first Carpet Crawlers show in a pub on the Wirral ten years ago, and it was just a bit of fun then,” recalled Cummins.

“The audience, I think, expected to hear ‘In The Air Tonight’ and “Easy Lover,’ but we did some of the earlier, darker stuff and it worked.

“But we’ve gone on this incredible journey since. I still feel a little bit uncomfortable when people come up and say, ‘I’m a huge fans of yours Brian, I love your music.’

“But it is not our music, it is Genesis’ music.

“It is great compliment, sure, but the proudest thing for me is that we seemed to have become part of the Genesis legacy.

“Genesis’ management say they are very appreciative of what we are doing as we’ve helped introduce a new generation to their music and that’s amazing.”

The band’s name was culled from a track on The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway album.

“We’ve managed to obtain the original slideshow that Genesis used during the live shows of The Lamb Lies Down tour in ’74 and ’75.

“The costumes are amazing too and, of course, we will be doing the whole album live plus many of Genesis’ greatest hits.”

The Lamb Lies Down was Genesis sixth LP - and the last studio album released by Peter Gabriel as the band’s lead singer.

“Genesis were a ground-breaking band, they had that magical blend, a great chemistry and that’s why their music has endured.

“When I heard the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway for the first time, you really had to delve deep to appreciate the whole concept of the sound.

“Some of it is very accessible, very poppy, some of it is quite dark, and that sums up Genesis.”

n The Carpet Crawlers: The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (40th anniversary). Clitheroe Grand Theatre. Saturday, September 12. Details from 01200 421599