Who's Your Phil Collins?

We’ve all got one. That band you’re not supposed to like because it’s not “cool.” The singer you listen to in secrecy for fear of being shunned by your rocker friends. The artist you share your admiration for only with those you trust the most. 

That artist for me is Phil Collins. 

Don’t get me wrong, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a Phil fan. He’s a crazy-talented pop singer who sold a billion albums in the 80’s and 90’s. And he shares my hairline. 

But he’s also a radio-friendly, cookie-cutter, mainstream performer with a dull-as-dishwater rock reputation. Or is he?

Think about it—the guy played drums before anybody even knew he could sing. And he played them damn well for one of the best prog-rock bands of all-time. That’s pretty kickass.

But I’m supposed to lean more on the heavy side. A self-proclaimed rock ’n roll elitist who likes a little edge and anger in his music. 

Guess what. Phil brings all of that and more. Then he mixes in a little bit of heartbreak.

You want anger? Turn up Mama. Wow. If it’s heartbreak you’re looking for, give Man on the Corner a few spins. Ouch.

Politics your thing? Land of Confusion is more relevant today than it was in 1986.

Just want to hear the perfect song and not think about anything else? Listen to Throwing it All Away or In Too Deep. Right now. 

Maybe it’s not very metal of me to be a Phil fan. But then again, maybe it is.

Disturbed, Nonpoint, and the lead singer from Mudvayne—they all covered Collins tunes. It doesn’t get much more metal than that.

His list of badass songs with Genesis is more than enough to earn your respect and cement his place in rock history: Abacab, Mama, Man on the Corner, Just a Job to Do, Land of Confusion, That’s All, In Too Deep, Throwing it All Away, Home by the Sea, Invisible Touch. Pretty impressive, right? 

But wait, there’s more. When the guy decided to go solo the hits just kept rolling: I Don’t Care Anymore, In the Air Tonight, Take Me Home, I Missed Again, Easy Lover, Don’t Lose My Number, hell, even Sussudio.

Bottom line, the dude could sing and write a song. (And hopefully still can. I hear he’s having some serious back issues. Me too, Phil, me too.) 

Now, he’s no Robert Plant, or Maynard from A Perfect Circle. He’s no Sebastian Bach, or even Sammy Hagar. But Phil Collins is right up there with some of my all-time favorite vocalists. And as I get older, he seems to be climbing closer to the top of that list.

I guess what I’m saying is, great music is great music. Legendary talent is legendary talent. Don’t let what anybody else thinks change what you listen to. 

That being said, all you die-hard KISS fans, I don’t get you. You ever really listen to Gene Simmons try to play the bass? Or Paul Stanley struggle to hit a note? Yikes. 

But, whatever. You do you. Rock out with your true self out. Play your Phil Collins, and play it loud.

Let’s rock.

JS