Phil Collins is an artist who almost needs no introduction. He began his famous career in music as the drummer and singer for the historic rock outfit, Genesis. After finding immense success with Genesis, the Chiswick, London native would move on to pursue a solo career that would span multiple decades while snagging numerous accolades. Let’s take a closer look at Phil Collins and his story in order to learn 30 exciting facts about the singer.
Phil Collins didn’t really ‘write’ ‘In the Air Tonight’
There have been numerous urban legends surrounding Collins’ hit song, ‘In the Air Tonight’. Some people think that the song is about how Collins watched another man let someone drown. Others think that it is a vengeful tale about one of his three ex-wives. The truth is, Collins, improvised all of the lyrics. He didn’t ‘write’ anything. You’d need an online degree to sift through all of the urban legends that we just debunked.
Phil Collins didn’t really ‘write’ ‘In the Air Tonight’
Phil Collins had a career in acting!
Well, the word ‘career’ is certainly a term of charity when referencing Collins’ career on stage and on screen. However, Collins did spend much of his early life in plays and he even appeared in ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ (yes, by the Beatles) and ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’. Now, we may need an online degree in filmmaking to actually find Collins hidden in the background of these two projects.
Phil Collins Had A Career In Acting
He wasn’t the original singer of Genesis
To really understand Collins ascension to the top of the musical world, you’d have to understand that he was originally hired as only the drummer for Genesis. Then by way of the charity that is good fortune, the original singer (Peter Gabriel) ditched the band, allowing Collins to take his place. Of course, if you already have your online degree in music history then you probably knew this.
He wasn’t the original singer of Genesis
Phil Collins is focused on charity
Well, specifically charity in relation to The Alamo. Collins has been fascinated by the story of the Alamo ever since his childhood and he has bought and donated several historical Alamo-related items to charity so that they can go into museums in Texas. Does this mean that Collins has an online degree in Texan history? We doubt it, but it wouldn’t surprise us either.
Phil Collins Is Focused On Charity
Collins has collaborated with Disney
If you really want to put your online degree in music history to work, you’ll name the two Disney films that Collins has contributed original music to. Give up yet? Collins wrote two original songs, one for ‘Tarzan’ and the other for ‘Brother Bear’. Collins scored an Academy Award for his bilingual work on ‘Tarzan’.
Collins Has Collaborated With Disney
Collins works backward with his music
Most singer-songwriters start their work by carefully penning beautiful prose and setting it to music. Collins says, “I don’t write them.” Instead, he picks a selection of chords he likes and lays them down first. Collins goes on to admit, “I will then sing into a microphone anything that I think.”
Collins Works Backward With His Music
He was the most successful artist of the ’80s
Well, if you are judging by Top 40 singles, that is. Collins had more songs chart on the Top 40 list than any other artist throughout the eighties. His highlights include ‘Sussudio’, ‘Two Hearts’, ‘In The Air’ and ‘One More Night’.
He was the most successful artist of the ’80s
Collins is in elite company in terms of sales
Phil Collins and Paul McCartney are the only two artists in the history of music to sell over 100 million records around the world as members of a band and as solo recording artists.
Collins Is In Elite Company In Terms Of Sales
Collins has been hit hard by divorce
While his musical ability is never in question, his love life certainly is. Collins has married and divorced three separate times, paying out over $84 million in divorce settlements.
Collins Has Been Hit Hard By Divorce
Collins is one of the wealthiest artists in the world
Despite his numerous divorce settlements, Collins is still worth north of $300 million and more than willing to get married again.
Collins Is One Of The Wealthiest Artists In The World
Health problems have inhibited his performing career
Despite only being 66, Collins has already seen his musical life altered due to health issues. Collins lost hearing in one ear while dislocating vertebrae in his neck. He can’t play the piano or drums anymore.
Health Problems Have Inhibited His Performing Career
Collins and McCartney share another record, this one not so enviable
Collins was divorced and he had to pay out $46 million in the proceedings. This settlement broke McCartney’s record when the legendary singer from the Beatles was forced to pay out $45 million in a divorce.
Collins And McCartney Share Another Record This One Not So Enviable
If the award exists, Phil Collins has it
He landed his Hollywood Walk of Fame star back in 1999. He landed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. He also landed in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003. He even landed in the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame back in 2012. Yeah, we’d say that Phil Collins has had a pretty successful career.
If The Award Exists Phil Collins Has It
The creators of ‘South Park’ do NOT like him
Phil Collins landed an Academy Award in the same year that Matt Stone and Trey Parker were nominated for their song ‘Blame Canida’. Stone and Parker are, of course, the creators of South Park. The duo did not take kindly to losing to Phil Collins and promptly lambasted the singer in a new episode titled, ‘Timmy 2000’.
The creators of ‘South Park’ do NOT like him
Collins is technically retired
But only technically. Collins wanted to take a break from performing in 2011 in order to focus on his five children. This retirement never officially went into effect as Collins continued to write, perform, and tour the world.
Collins is technically retired
Collins became a drummer because of a Christmas present
At just five years old, Phil Collins was given a toy drum set as a Christmas present. That toy drum set would spark a lifelong obsession with both music and percussion, leading to one of the most successful careers in music history.
Collins Became A Drummer Because Of A Christmas Present
He did not learn to read music
When Phil Collins was honing his skills on the drums as a child, he opted to avoid learning how to read music. Instead, Collins admits that he created his own system in order to play along with the TV and radio.
He Did Not Learn To Read Music
Collins trained under Lloyd Ryan
Despite this high-profile training, Collins never committed to the technical aspects of the craft. Collins says, “I’ve always felt that if I could hum it, I could play it.” He goes on to admit that this wasn’t a great attitude to have and he still wishes he was more technically proficient.
Collins Trained Under Lloyd Ryan
He was a HUGE Beatles fan
Collins followed the Beatles and aspired to be the next Ringo Starr. His fandom for the band would reach a fever-pitch when he earned an extra role on a musical DVD that the band had produced, as we listed earlier on.
He was a HUGE Beatles fan
Collins is a professionally trained actor
Tagging on to our prior fact, Collins also went to school at the Barbara Speake Stage School where he trained to become an actor. His mother created a talent agency in order to represent him, as well as other members of the school. His daughter, Lily, is following in his acting footsteps having starred in various hit films, like Love, Rosie, To The Bone, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, and so on.
Collins Is A Professionally Trained Actor
He landed his first record deal with a lesser-known group
Success came quickly for Collins when he earned his first record deal as the drummer for a band named Hickory that would eventually rename itself Flaming Youth. They’d release a single record named ‘Ark 2’. The group would break up after a single year on tour.
He landed his first record deal with a lesser-known group
Collins is an activist
Yup, Collins is a vocal animal rights activist. He’s a supporter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, also known as PETA. Collins also supports the Topsy Foundation which is a charity that helps out South Africa’s most impoverished communities. The majority of his royalties are donated to this foundation.
Collins is an activist
Collins is apolitical
Despite many rumors to the contrary, Collin doesn’t pay too much attention to politics. The singer-songwriter admits that he has only voted a single time in his life and that he isn’t on any particular side of the political conversation in the U.K.
Collins Is Apolitical
He still doesn’t think of himself as a singer
Despite his high-profile career as one of the most notable singer-songwriters of all time, Collins still describes himself as a drummer first. Collins says, “I’m a drummer that sings a bit.” Collins said his original goal in life was just to find a way to earn money playing the drums. That certainly worked out in his favor!
He still doesn’t think of himself as a singer
Collins is a published author
Remember that trivia about Collins’ fascination with the Alamo? Well, he is also the author of a book titled, ‘The Alamo and Beyond: A Collector’s Journey”. Talk about taking your passions to the next level!
Collins Is A Published Author
Collins found Genesis through a newspaper
Luck be a lady, Collins was looking for a career in music when he saw an ad looking for ‘a drummer sensitive to acoustic music’. He responded to the ad, met the group known as Genesis, and went on to ascend to the upper echelons of musical history.
Collins Found Genesis Through A Newspaper
He has appeared in a Stephen Spielberg movie!
We’ve talked quite a bit about acting, so let’s tell you where to find Collins on film. Collins appeared in the film ‘Hook’ as a detective for Scotland Yard.
He Has Appeared In A Stephen Spielberg Movie
Collins had a close relationship with George Harrison
He originally worked for Harrison on the man’s first solo record, playing the congas for a session. Collins work was cut from the recording but that began a life of collaboration between the two men.
Collins Had A Close Relationship With George Harrison
He was NOT impressed by Led Zeppelin during Live Aid
Collins famously made a cameo as the drummer for Led Zeppelin during the historic Live Aid concert. Despite the success of the show, Collins admits that he wanted to walk off stage. Moreover Collins lambasted Jimmy Page for being ‘out of it’ and Roobert Plant for not being ‘match-fit with his voice’.
He Was NOT Impressed By Led Zeppelin During Live Aid
Collins wasn’t the first choice to become the lead singer of Genesis
When Genesis lost their lead singer Peter Gabriel, the band panicked trying to replace him. The group auditioned a ton of singers before turning to Collins and giving him the job.
Collins wasn’t the first choice to become the lead singer of Genesis