Mike Rutherford Wife: Who Is Mike Married To? (2026)

By NetWorthTelevision — Updated October 2026

Mike Rutherford, the founding guitarist and bassist of Genesis, is married to Angie Rutherford (née Downing). The couple married on November 13, 1976, and have been together for nearly 50 years. They have three children: Kate, Tom, and Harry.

Who Is Angie Rutherford?

Angie Rutherford, née Angie Downing, worked as a model before and during her marriage. She and Rutherford were friends since they were 17 years old, long before the wedding.

In Rutherford's 2014 memoir, The Living Years: The First Genesis Memoir, he explains that they had known each other for years before becoming a couple: "Because we had been friends for so long, it's hard to become lovers. So I had to choose my moment with Angie, because if it had gone wrong, that's everything fucked."

Angie appeared in the 2008 Genesis documentary Come Rain or Shine, where she jokingly described her husband as a "dreadful mumbler." The family lives in England and shares an interest in equestrian sports — polo, dressage, and horse breeding.

Marriage Timeline

Mike and Angie Rutherford were friends since age 17, but the timing of their relationship was complicated by their careers: Genesis toured constantly through the early 1970s while Angie traveled for her modeling work. "We were away so much in Genesis and she was away so much as a model, the timing wasn't right," Rutherford said in his memoir.

After six years of the album-tour-album cycle that followed Peter Gabriel's 1975 departure and the success of A Trick of the Tail (1976), Rutherford finally married Angie on November 13, 1976.

The couple will mark their 50th wedding anniversary in November 2026, making theirs one of rock music's most enduring marriages. They live in Bisley, Surrey, England.

Children

Mike and Angie Rutherford have three children:

Kate — born 1977 (her godfather is former Genesis guitarist Anthony Phillips)
Tom — born 1980
Harry — born 1986

Career Highlights

Born Michael John Cloete Crawford Rutherford on October 2, 1950, in Chertsey, Surrey, England, he is an English musician and songwriter. He co-founded Genesis in 1967 while attending Charterhouse School, and he and Tony Banks are the group's two continuous members.

Rutherford served as Genesis's bassist and backing vocalist and played most of the band's rhythm guitar parts, frequently on twelve-string guitar. After Steve Hackett's departure in 1977, he took on lead guitar duties from ...And Then There Were Three... (1978) onward. He wrote lyrics for major Genesis hits including "Follow You Follow Me," "Turn It On Again," "Land of Confusion," and "Throwing It All Away."

In 1985, he formed Mike + the Mechanics, which became a chart-topping act with hits like "All I Need Is a Miracle," "Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)," "Over My Shoulder," and "The Living Years." The group earned Rutherford an Ivor Novello Award in 1988 for "The Living Years," along with two Grammy nominations. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010.

FAQ

Who is Mike Rutherford's wife?
Mike Rutherford is married to Angie Rutherford, née Angie Downing, a former model.

When did Mike Rutherford get married?
Mike Rutherford married Angie Downing on November 13, 1976.

How many children does Mike Rutherford have?
He and Angie have three children: Kate (born 1977), Tom (born 1980), and Harry (born 1986).

How long has Mike Rutherford been married?
The couple has been married since November 13, 1976 — nearly 50 years, with their 50th anniversary falling in November 2026.

Where does Mike Rutherford live?
He lives with his wife in Bisley, Surrey, England, where the family enjoys equestrian sports including polo and dressage.

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