The '70s, '80s and '90s belonged to Phil Collins. First, of course, as (second) frontman of Genesis and later also as a solo artist. Who hasn't air-drummed to "In the Air Tonight"?
On 8 December 2019, the album "Face Value" was played on our Sunday Morning Classics.
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles (Phil) Collins (30 January 1951) is a British pop musician. He became known as the drummer and lead singer of the progressive rock band Genesis, won several Grammys and an Academy Award as a solo artist, and also has a successful career as an actor.
His singles, often about lost loves, ranged from the drum-heavy In the Air Tonight, to the dance-pop track Sussudio, and the political views of his successful song Another Day in Paradise. His international popularity transformed Genesis from a progressive rock band with a relatively small fan base into one of the greatest rock bands of all time with a familiar name in the charts.
At Genesis, he initially only drummed and was a backing vocalist for lead singer Peter Gabriel. Only in 1975, when Gabriel left the band, did Collins become the lead singer of Genesis. By the end of the 1970s, with the hit Follow You Follow Me, the drastic change from the early years was clear and it became evident that the band could do well without Gabriel. His solo career, heavily influenced by his private life, brought him and Genesis commercial success. According to Atlantic Records, Collins' total worldwide sales as a solo artist in 2002 exceeded 100 million albums. This makes Collins, along with Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney, one of the only artists to have sold over 100 million albums both with a band and solo.
Collins collaborated with many artists, including The Four Tops, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Robert Plant, Eric Clapton, ABBA's Frida, Mike Oldfield, Sting, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, Led Zeppelin, Ozzy Osbourne, Queen, Laura Pausini, Lil' Kim, Philip Bailey, John Martyn, and The Who.
A few days before the release of his autobiography Not Dead Yet on 20 October 2016, Collins announced he would tour again. In June 2017, he would perform with one of his sons at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, and the Accor Hotels Arena in Paris. His son would take on the role of drummer. Eleven of the fourteen concerts he would give in these three cities sold out within half a day.
Source: Wikipedia Photo: public domain and Philippe Roos from Strasbourg
