Phil Collins

Phil Collins is one of the most commercially successful musicians in the history of popular music, with a career spanning over five decades. Born in Chiswick, London, he showed musical talent from an early age, receiving his first drum kit as a Christmas present at age five. After training at the Barbara Speake Stage School and appearing as an extra in the Beatles’ film A Hard Day’s Night (1964), Collins pursued a career in music and joined the progressive rock band Genesis as their drummer in 1970.

When Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel departed in 1975, Collins stepped up as the band’s lead vocalist while continuing to play drums. Under his leadership, Genesis evolved from a progressive rock act into one of the most successful pop-rock bands of the 1980s, scoring massive hits like Invisible Touch, Land of Confusion, and Tonight, Tonight, Tonight. Simultaneously, Collins launched a solo career that would prove even more commercially dominant. His solo debut, Face Value (1981), featuring the iconic hit “In the Air Tonight,” sold over 25 million copies worldwide.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Collins was one of the best-selling music artists in the world. His solo albums No Jacket Required (1985) and …But Seriously (1989) each sold tens of millions of copies. He accumulated eight Grammy Awards, an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “You’ll Be in My Heart” from Disney’s Tarzan (1999), and six Brit Awards. He has sold over 150 million records worldwide as both a solo artist and member of Genesis.

Collins announced his retirement from touring in 2022 during Genesis’s The Last Domino? tour, citing ongoing health issues that had limited his ability to play drums. Despite his physical challenges, his legacy as one of the greatest drummers, vocalists, and songwriters of his era is firmly cemented. His catalog continues to generate substantial royalty income, and songs like In the Air Tonight have experienced renewed popularity through viral internet moments and streaming platforms.