Michael John Cleote Crawford Rutherford (born 2 October 1950 in Guildford, Surrey) is an English musician. He was a founding member of Genesis, initially as a bassist, 12-string guitarist, and backup vocalist.[1] In later incarnations of Genesis, he assumed the role of lead guitarist. He also fronted Mike + The Mechanics.
Rutherford's father, Crawford Rutherford, was a Royal Navy Captain who became a manager in industry upon his retirement from the service. Mike attended the Leas Preparatory School in Hoylake as a boarder, before moving at the age of 13 to Charterhouse School, where he founded Genesis with Tony Banks, Peter Gabriel and Anthony Phillips.
Rutherford's bass lines are known for being tastefully constructed as well as showing a great deal of technical innovation and skill. His bass lines from early Genesis were especially impressive in the rising progressive rock movement.