Phil Collins

Phil Collins, born on 30 January 1951 in Chiswick (United Kingdom), is a British singer-songwriter, actor, and producer. Known as the drummer and singer of the band Genesis, he had a prolific solo career from 1981 to 1996, which he pursued concurrently. He is also an accomplished musician who plays several instruments: drums and percussion are his primary instruments, but he also plays keyboards, guitar, and bass.

Immersed in the soul and doo-wop rhythms of Motown groups and the pop of The Beatles, Phil Collins began his professional drumming career in 1968 with the band Freehold, with whom he produced a single, Lying, Crying, Dying/The Sandman. Subsequently, he formed another band, initially named Hickory, with his friend Ronnie Caryl on guitar, Brian Chatton on keyboards, and Gordon Smith on bass. The band then changed its name to Flaming Youth and released an album titled Ark 2. Despite some TV appearances and favourable reviews, Flaming Youth disbanded in 1970. Shortly after, Phil Collins became a member of Genesis, a progressive rock band founded in 1967. Originally only the band's drummer and backing vocalist, it was following the departure of singer Peter Gabriel in 1975 that Phil Collins became, by default, the voice of Genesis in 1976. The band enlisted a second drummer for tours (Bill Bruford in 1976, Chester Thompson from 1977, and his own son Nicholas Collins from 2020). With successes such as Follow You Follow Me in 1978, Genesis, reduced to a trio, experienced its greatest period of commercial success until the early 1990s. Praised by the triumph of his solo career, he stepped down from his position in the band in 1996, where he was briefly replaced by Ray Wilson. However, Genesis reformed with Phil Collins in 2007 for a major world tour.

From that year, Phil Collins has experienced health problems since injuring his spine, which prevents him from playing the drums. After announcing his retirement, he returned to the stage in 2016. From 2017 to 2019, he toured again with his son Nicholas. In autumn 2021, Genesis returned with The Last Domino? Tour, the last of Phil Collins' career, during which he sings seated in a chair, accompanied by his son Nicholas on drums. On 23 April 2018, he published his autobiography titled Not dead yet, in which he simply shares his life story, looking back on his career.

His most successful songs include: In the Air Tonight, Against All Odds, Another Day in Paradise, One More Night, Easy Lover, Something Happened on the Way to Heaven, Do You Remember?, Two Hearts, Take Me Home, Sussudio.

Phil Collins has been awarded eight Grammy Awards, an Oscar, and two Golden Globes. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.