Phil Collins

Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins LVO (born 30 January 1951 in Chiswick, London) is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, keyboardist and actor best known as the lead singer and drummer of English progressive rock group Genesis and as a Grammy and Academy Award-winning solo artist.

Collins sang the lead vocals on eight American chart-toppers between 1984 and 1989; seven as a solo artist and one with Genesis. His singles, often dealing with lost love, ranged from the drum-heavy "In the Air Tonight", to the dance pop of "Sussudio", to the political statements of his most successful song, "Another Day in Paradise". His international popularity transformed Genesis from a progressive rock group to a regular on the pop charts and an early MTV mainstay. According to britishhitsongwriters.com he is the forty eighth most successful songwriter in U.K. singles chart history based on weeks that his compositions have spent on the chart.

Collins' professional career began as a drummer, first with obscure rock group Flaming Youth and then more famously with Genesis. In Genesis, Collins originally supplied backing vocals for front man Peter Gabriel, singing lead on only two songs: "For Absent Friends" from 1971's Nursery Cryme album and "More Fool Me" from Selling England by the Pound, which was released in 1973. On Gabriel's departure in 1975, Collins became the group's lead singer. As the decade closed, Genesis's first international hit, "Follow You, Follow Me", demonstrated a drastic change from the band's early years.

His concurrent solo career, heavily influenced by his personal life, brought both him and Genesis commercial success. According to Atlantic Records, Collins' total worldwide sales as a solo artist, as of 2002, were 150 million.

Early life and career

Collins was given a toy drum kit for Christmas when he was five. Later, his uncle Mark Wade made him a makeshift one that he used regularly. As Collins grew older these were followed by more complete sets bought by his parents. He practiced by playing alongside the television and radio, and never learned to read and write conventional musical notation; instead, he uses a system he devised himself.

His professional training began at fourteen when he entered Barbara Speake Stage School. He began a career as a child actor and model, and won his first major role as The Artful Dodger in the London production of Oliver!. He was an extra in The Beatles' A Hard Day's Night - one of hundreds of screaming teenagers during the TV concert sequence and seen fleetingly in a close-up. He was also in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He also auditioned for the role of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet (1968), a role won by fellow "Artful Dodger" actor, Leonard Whiting. In 1970, the 19-year old Collins played percussion on the George Harrison song "The Art of Dying". Harrison credited him in the liner notes to the remastered CD version of the album released in 2000. Collins was among the last three finalists for the role of "I.Q." on the American children's television show The Bugaloos (he lost out to English actor/musician John McIndoe).

Despite the beginnings of an acting career, Collins continued to gravitate towards music. While attending Chiswick Community School he formed a band called The Real Thing and later joined The Freehold. With the latter group, he wrote his first song titled "Lying Crying Dying".

Collins' first record deal came as drummer for Flaming Youth who released a single album, Ark 2 (1969). A concept album inspired by the recent media attention surrounding the moon landing, Ark 2 (with Ronnie Caryl, Brian Chatton and Gordon (Flash) Smith), failed to make much commercial success despite positive critical reviews. Melody Maker featured the album as "Pop Album of the Month", describing it as "adult music beautifully played with nice tight harmonies".[16] The album's main single, "From Now On", failed on the radio. After a year of touring, band tensions and the lack of commercial success dissolved the group.

Drum equipment

Phil Collins uses Gretsch drums and Sabian Cymbals.

Drums: 20" Bass Drum, 18" Floor tom, 16" Floor Tom, 15" Mounted Tom, 12" Tom, 10" Tom, 8" Tom, 14"x4" Snare.

Cymbals: HH Medium Crash 20" - HH Extra Thin Crash 17" - Hi-Hats 15" - HH Chinese 20" - HH Medium-Thin Crash 16" -HH Chinese 22" - HH Raw Bell Dry Ride 21". [41]

Until 1986, Collins played Paiste and Zildjian Cymbals. Other drums he's used over the years are Premier, Noble & Cooley, Pearl, and Ludwig drums. He uses a Ludwig Speed King pedal and Pro Mark sticks.

Discography


Studio albums
The following list includes all Phil Collins' albums with the exception of compilations, live and remix albums. For a complete album list, see Phil Collins discography.

* 1981: Face Value
* 1982: Hello, I Must Be Going!
* 1985: No Jacket Required
* 1989: …But Seriously
* 1993: Both Sides
* 1996: Dance Into the Light
* 1999: Tarzan: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack
* 2002: Testify
* 2003: Brother Bear: Original Soundtrack

Number One singles

1982 "You Can't Hurry Love"
1984 "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)"
"Easy Lover" (With Philip Bailey)
1985 "One More Night"
"Sussudio"
"Separate Lives" (With Marilyn Martin)
1988 "A Groovy Kind of Love"
"Two Hearts"
1989 (Charted in 1990) "Another Day in Paradise"