With an impressive collection of eight Grammy awards, Phil Collins, the drummer and lead singer of Genesis, stands out as one of the most prominent musicians. In a league with Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney, he is among the three artists who have surpassed 100 million album sales both as a solo artist and as a band member.
Born on January 30, 1951, in London, England, to creatively inclined parents, Collins developed a passion for creating music from an early age.
At the age of five, his uncle crafted a makeshift drum kit using tambourines, triangles, cymbals, and toy drums, as Collins fondly recalled. Reflecting on that time, he shared with Interview Magazine, “The old cliché is, ‘Well, at least it will keep him quiet.'”
Shortly thereafter, Collins found himself performing in shows at his parents’ boating club.
“When I delved into serious drumming, it was during the emergence of the English beat scene in the early ’60s, with bands like the Shadows making waves,” reminisced Collins.
“I vividly recall purchasing ‘Please Please Me.’ I’d crank up the record player to maximum volume and position my drums to face the mirror, ensuring I didn’t watch my own performance.
“By the age of fourteen, I sought out a teacher to learn drum notation. I had this notion that once the rock-and-roll era subsided, I’d need to earn a living playing in a dance band or an orchestra pit. While I acquired the skill of reading drum music, I discovered that my aptitude for reading was nowhere near as strong as my ability to play by instinct.”
In the 1970s, Phil Collins experienced a transformative moment in his life. While already involved with various bands, his destiny took a turn when he stumbled upon an advertisement from a group called Genesis in search of a drummer. Taking the initiative, he reached out to them, and the rest is now history. During Collins’ initial years with the band, Genesis produced five albums featuring chart-topping singles.
Following the departure of Genesis’ founder and lead singer, Collins stepped into the dual role of singer and drummer. Reflecting on this transition, he admitted to feeling somewhat uneasy, but with the group struggling to find a replacement singer, he seamlessly assumed the role.
In addition to his contributions to Genesis, Collins carved out an impressive solo career. Propelled by hits like “In The Air Tonight,” “You Can’t Hurry Love,” and “I Don’t Care Anymore,” he swiftly ascended to become one of the music industry’s foremost talents.
Upon opting to depart from the group and dedicate himself to his solo endeavors, Collins expressed, “After 25 years with Genesis, I felt it was time to shift the course of my musical journey. Moving forward, I’ll be focusing on music for movies, engaging in some jazz projects, and, of course, nurturing my solo career. I extend my heartfelt wishes to the Genesis guys for all the success in their future endeavors. We remain the closest of friends.”
However, in 2017, he made the decision to reunite with the band. Last year, they unveiled plans for a world tour titled “The Last Domino,” which unfortunately had to be postponed due to the global pandemic.
As anticipation among fans grew for the group’s reunion on stage, concerns about Phil Collins’ health surfaced after he granted an interview with BBC Breakfast. In response, Collins and his bandmates revealed that his son, Nicholas, would handle the drumming duties while Collins would focus solely on singing.
Commenting on the decision, Genesis band member Tony Banks remarked, “Nic is a fantastic drummer, and he has the ability to capture the early Phil sound. For Mike and me, that was always quite thrilling. It opens up the possibility to perform songs that haven’t been played with Phil as the drummer for quite some time.”
Discussing why he won’t be taking his place behind the drums, the musician shared, “I’d love to, but you know, I mean, I can barely hold a stick with this hand. So there are certain physical limitations that hinder me. I’m facing some physical challenges, which is very frustrating because I would love to be up there playing alongside my son.” He added that he’s unsure about his desire to continue touring, stating, “We’re all men of our age, and I think, to some extent, it probably is putting it to bed. Yeah, just in general, I don’t know if I want to go out on the road anymore.”
Over the recent years, Collins faced health challenges that significantly impacted his mobility. In an interview with Billboard, he disclosed that following a surgery in 2009, he endured dislocated vertebrae and nerve damage, contributing to his health struggles.
