Phil Collins says goodbye to fans in emotional final concert

Phil Collins, celebrated drummer and lead vocalist for Genesis, has carved out a remarkable career in the music industry.

Alongside icons like Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney, he is one of only three artists to have achieved the rare feat of selling over 100 million records both solo and as part of a group. Born to a creative family on January 30, 1951, in London, England, Collins was exposed to music from a young age.

His distinctive musical style began to develop when he was just five years old, after receiving a homemade drum kit from his uncle that included tambourines, triangles, cymbals, and small drums.

Essential bands like The Shadows led the way as the English beat scene started to emerge. Collins would later lead this movement and frequently play social events thrown by his parents’ boating club.

At the tender age of fourteen, Collins was exposed to rock and roll and was moved to buy a record player and Please Please Me by The Beatles. He’d put the record player on loud and play the drums in front of a mirror so he didn’t have to look at what he was doing.

In order to learn how to read drum music, which was necessary if one wanted to work in a dance band or orchestra pit, he decided to take drum lessons from a tutor. Collins realized right away, though, that playing intuitively was far superior to reading music.

When Collin came across a Genesis drummer job listing in the 1970s, his life took an astounding turn. Collins contacted them, and they welcomed him on board, starting his illustrious musical career.

Many of the songs on The Beatles’ five studio albums went on to become timeless classics that we still adore. Due to a dearth of suitable candidates, Collins quickly took over as the band’s lead singer.

Although it took him some time to get used to playing the drums and singing at the same time, he persisted and eventually made himself known as one of the best musicians of our time.

As both a member of the legendary band Genesis and as a solo artist, Phil Collins achieved tremendous success in the music industry. His rise to prominence was fueled by hits such as “I Don’t Care Anymore,” “In The Air Tonight,” and “You Can’t Hurry Love.”

After spending 25 years with Genesis, Phil Collins decided to shift his focus towards jazz projects, film music, and his solo career. While he wished his former bandmates well, in 2017 he chose to reunite with them for their Last Domino world tour.

Unfortunately, the pandemic led to the cancellation of this tour, and just before it was to start, an interview with Phil on BBC Breakfast raised concerns about his health. Despite these challenges, the band plans to reunite and perform live again, with Phil’s son, Nicholas Collins, taking over drumming duties while Phil handles the vocals.

Tony Banks, a bandmate, remarked that although Nic is a fantastic drummer, he brings a new energy to the early Phil Collins songs, enhancing their power.

When asked why he wasn’t drumming anymore, Phil responded, “I’d like to, but I can hardly grip a stick with this hand.” Despite these physical challenges, Phil continues to follow his passion for music without letting limitations hold him back.

The storyteller, a man of our own age, conveyed a deep sense of loss as he talked about his physical limitations. He expressed regret over not being able to travel and experience adventures alongside his son.

He was uncertain about continuing to travel given his condition. His tone suggested he had come to terms with the reality that certain activities were now beyond his reach and that he could no longer partake in them.

He struggled with the time-consuming decision of whether to continue traveling the same path or to cease his excursions. He realized that, whether by choice or due to physical constraints, he would eventually have to relinquish something he cherished. The idea of forgoing numerous life opportunities because of this abrupt change weighed heavily on him, filling him with a profound sense of loss.