Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins LVO is an English singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, record producer and actor. He is known as the drummer and lead singer in the rock band Genesis and as a solo artist. Between 1983 and 1990, Collins scored three UK and seven US number-one singles in his solo career. When his work with Genesis, his work with other artists, as well as his solo career is totalled, Collins had more US top 40 singles than any other...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionRock Singer
Date of Birth30 January 1951
CityLondon, England
I started drumming around the same time I came across this part of American history. But there seemed to be a way forward playing drums. There didn't seem to be a way forward being fascinated by a piece of history.
There's a possibility. I'm open for it. If it doesn't happen, it won't be because we don't want to. It will just be because there are too many things in the way. I'm happy to sit behind the drum kit and let Peter (Gabriel) be the singer, but if it happens, I'll be there.
I'm happy to sit behind the drums and let Peter (Gabriel) be the singer. If (a reunion) happens, I'll be there. If it doesn't happen ... it would just be because there are too many things in the way.
I think I was the best drummer!
It's not often that an English drummer gets an Oscar. So I'm very, very proud of that.
All I set out to do was to earn a living playing drums, you know? And as luck would have it, I've surpassed that.
As a composer I approached the drums differently than a non-composing drummer. I embraced drum machines.
I can't consider myself a drummer any more.
I'm not a singer who plays a bit of drums. I'm a drummer that sings a bit.
I wish it wasn't like this. I sit and watch stuff on the television, I think, 'Why, why, why.
We're all still good friends. We spent like 30 or 25 years of our life in the same office, ... Just because we don't play in the same band anymore doesn't mean we don't see each other and enjoy each other's company.
The difference between the American version of 'Live Aid' and the British one - in England, if you wanted a cup of tea, you made it yourself. If you wanted a sandwich, you bought it. In typical American style, at the American concert, there were laminated tour passes and champagne and caviar.
Yes, I am aware that I have become a caricature. I've thought about this. Conceptually, what I'd like to do is the equivalent of writing myself out of the script.
I've bought pretty much every book ever written about the Alamo, and I talk to my friends that I've made over the past 15, 20 years. It's just a constant learning and fascinating thing for me.