Phil Collins

Philip David Charles Collins (born January 30, 1951 in London), better known as Phil Collins, is a English rock/pop musician. He was the lead drummer for the jazz-fusion group Brand X and progressive rock band Genesis, and, after the departure of the latter's lead singer Peter Gabriel, lead singer of Genesis.

From Genesis to Revelation

In 1970 Phil Collins answered a Melody Maker classified ad for “..a drummer sensitive to acoustic music and twelve-string guitars”. The ad was for an up and coming rock group called Genesis. During the audition, prospective candidates were asked to play pieces from the group’s sophomore album Trespass. After arriving early, Collins was asked to wait for the other drummers to take their turns. Collins listened and spent his time in the family pool learning the pieces before he sat down at the drum kit. By the time he was to audition he knew all the parts and was quickly hired by the band.

Related Topics:
1970 - Melody Maker - Classified ad - Trespass

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Phil Collins gained acclaim as a “technically sound drummer” and sang lead vocals on “For Absent Friends” (from Nursery Cryme) and “More Fool Me” (from Selling England by the Pound). Collins was also Genesis’ primary backing vocalist up until 1975. Genesis gained acclaim as a major progressive rock outfit with compositions such as 1972's "Supper's Ready", their 23 minute magnum opus from Foxtrot.

Related Topics:
Nursery Cryme - Selling England by the Pound - 1972 - Magnum opus - Foxtrot

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In 1975, after the final tour supporting Genesis’ ambitious, concept album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, frontman Peter Gabriel left the group. After an unfruitful search for a new singer, Collins took over as lead vocalist. The group also recruited former Yes drummer Bill Bruford and later Chester Thompson to play drums during live shows although on some longer pieces live Phil would play drums as well. The follow up album A Trick of the Tail outsold all previous Genesis albums combined. The band enjoyed its most commercially successful period with Collins as vocalist, which essentially began in 1978 when the single "Follow You, Follow Me" became their first UK Top 10 hit.

Related Topics:
1975 - Concept album - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway - Peter Gabriel - Yes - Bill Bruford - Chester Thompson - A Trick of the Tail - 1978

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During the 1970s Collins also played drums for the jazz fusion band Brand X and appeared on albums by Brian Eno, Robert Fripp and John Cale. In the 1980s he did session drumming for such high-profile acts as Adam Ant, Robert Plant, Howard Jones and Tears for Fears.

Related Topics:
1970s - Jazz fusion - Brand X - Brian Eno - Robert Fripp - John Cale - 1980s - Adam Ant - Robert Plant - Howard Jones - Tears for Fears

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In the 1980s, Genesis moved from an progressive rock base to one that was more pop oriented. With Phil Collins as lead singer, the group scored a string of successful albums, including the 1986 Invisible Touch, which was their first UK top hit. The group also received an MTV “Video of the Year” award for “Land of Confusion”.

Related Topics:
1980s - Pop - 1986 - Invisible Touch - MTV

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Phil Collins parted ways with Genesis in 1995 after a massive world tour. Collins and Gabriel reunited with Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford and Steve Hackett in 1999 to re-record "Carpet Crawl" ("The Carpet Crawlers") from The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway for Genesis’ Turn It On Again: The Hits.

Related Topics:
1995 - Tony Banks - Mike Rutherford - Steve Hackett - 1999

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