When he is not on stage with his band Mike Rutherford is putting the finishing touches to a book contrasting his life of pop stardom to his father’s naval career.

The ex Genesis singer songwriter spoke with VIBE before his band Mike + The Mechanics take to the stage at Epsom Downs Racecourse after an evening of racing on July 18.

The venue is appropriate given that Rutherford, who used to play polo, confesses to being more of a horse person than a mechanic.

In fact the singer songwriter has now turned his hand to writing a book comparing his own life touring the world and making millions to his father’s days in the navy.

Rutherford said: "My father was a naval officer and wrote very humorous memoirs of his career. I’m writing a book using my father’s memoirs.

"The contrast is between his naval empire days and me being in a rock band."

He hopes to finish the book by the autumn.

In the early 1960s pop music and even the idea of being a teenager were just emerging, Rutherford said, and he admires his father for allowing him to ‘throw away an expensive education and hard work’.

He said: "It’s pretty impressive my father let me have a go at it. Now people their push their kids into it."

More than 45 years later he said it’s his enduring love of music, not money, which keeps him song writing, playing and performing.

He said: "Nowadays people see stardom and want to be famous. In our day there was no concept that you could make money or have a long-term career. You were doing it for the love of music."

Rutherford, who still lives near Guildford where he was born in 1950, formed Genesis with school friends from Charterhouse public school in 1967 at the age of just 17.

When asked what he was expelled from school for, he said: "Nothing fabulous. I now wish I could say I blew up a car or something.

"In those days public schools were very reserved, single-sex and not much fun. We had a housemaster who thought I was a devil."

Rutherford said he was even banned from playing the guitar at Charterhouse, but still found ways to play, adding: "It’s all a long time ago now."

Since then Genesis have sold more than 130 million albums worldwide and have played around 1,500 shows, and Rutherford said there have been many great moments.

He said: "With Genesis there have been so many. Genesis survived because we had a couple of big changes which reboots it each time that happens.

"In the middle of my career I started this other band which was another high moment."

Rutherford said they were briefed that the name should be ‘down to earth’ so Mike + The Mechanics fitted the bill, though he admits: "We are all pretty hopeless at mechanics."

When asked why he formed a band instead of pursuing his solo work, he said: "I’m not a singer, I’m a songwriter.

"If I have a great song I want a good singer to sing it. Also I find collaborating more invigorating."

Next year Mike + The Mechanics will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their hit The Living Years with a UK tour.

Asked if Genesis will ever play together again, he said: "I think it’s pretty unlikely. I think we’re done, But well you know you can never say never."

Epsom Live! With Mike + The Mechanics. Thursday, July 18; Advance tickets £22.50 or £25 on the day. Children aged 17 and under - £10 Children aged three and under - free; Call 0844 579 3004; Visit www.epsomdowns.co.uk/live/Mikeandthemechanics