Phil Collins (the Drummer) - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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Tsevir Leirbag View Drop Down

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Posted: July 14 2009 at 23:17

You felt the need to precise that he was a drummer!

Les mains, les pieds balancés
Sur tant de mers, tant de planchers,
Un marin mort,
Il dormira

- Paul Éluard

J-Man

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Posted: July 15 2009 at 08:38

Phil Collins was a drummer!?!?!? Shocked

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esky

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Posted: July 18 2009 at 13:34

Bruford, Collins, Peart. Collins, Peart, Bruford. Peart, Bruford, Collins. Hey, can we hear anything about probably one of the most underappreciated drummers who ever lived - Andy Ward of Camel!?

lazland

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Posted: July 18 2009 at 13:46

esky wrote:

Bruford, Collins, Peart. Collins, Peart, Bruford. Peart, Bruford, Collins. Hey, can we hear anything about probably one of the most underappreciated drummers who ever lived - Andy Ward of Camel!?

Hi Esky. Ward is, indeed, a great drummer, but I'm sorry, he doesn't hold a candle to any of those three.

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Moogtron III View Drop Down

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Posted: July 18 2009 at 13:54

I remember that some twenty years ago Phil said in an interview that he was annoyed, because there was a moment in time he was producing other people, like Frida from Abba and Philip Bailey from Earth, Wind and Fire, and he was acting in Buster, so he did all kinds of things, but he really thought of his drumming as his core business, and he liked it if people would think of him first and foremost as a drummer.

He should have kept the adventure in his drumming. I still like, for instance, the way he drums in Squonk, but also when he's more subtle, like in The Musical Box. Even though I know that there are technically better drummers, Phil's still my all time favorite drummer.

Conor Fynes View Drop Down

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Posted: July 18 2009 at 13:55

He's decent, but theres ntohign special about him. he definately didnt have the chops to run a band like genesis..

Moogtron III View Drop Down

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Posted: July 18 2009 at 14:13

I think he was quite a sensational drummer in some part of his career.

I don't think you can say that he ran Genesis, but his influence became bigger, and for the sake of good music I wished his influence was a bit less from 1982 on.

It's okay that his own albums have a more simplified sound, but IMHO Genesis should have stayed more complex, artistic.

Edited by Moogtron III - July 18 2009 at 14:13

JROCHA

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Posted: July 18 2009 at 14:23

Hey Conor have you ever listened to Brand X? Listen to his drumming and then tell me if their is something special about his drumming.

The Old Road View Drop Down

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Posted: July 18 2009 at 15:06

Phil's playing at his best had something that few, if any, other drummers could match. The subtlety of his performances on Cinema Show and the Unorthodox Behaviour album is jaw-dropping.

I know that the Mastodon drummer, who is a terrific player, rates him as one of the greatest, and a major influence.

Does anybody think any of the drummers for current bands are in the same league? Nick D'Virgilio (also greatly influenced by Collins) springs to mind.

listen

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Posted: July 18 2009 at 15:15

AlanOB wrote:

I like him as a vocalist too, I think he's seriously underrated in that regard.

I challenge anyone to think of another vocalist who would have done justice to the material on Trick of the Tail as well as Phil did. He was the perfect replacement for Gabriel and the transition was seamless.

I agree. I think he sounds great on ATOTT and W&W. I would venture as far as to say I prefer his vocals on those albums to the majority of Peter Gabriel's in Genesis.

Now is all there is. Be before you think!

harmonium.ro View Drop Down

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Posted: July 18 2009 at 15:15

The Old Road wrote:

Phil's playing at his best had something that few, if any, other drummers could match. The subtlety of his performances on Cinema Show and the Unorthodox Behaviour album is jaw-dropping.

I know that the Mastodon drummer, who is a terrific player, rates him as one of the greatest, and a major influence.

Does anybody think any of the drummers for current bands are in the same league? Nick D'Virgilio (also greatly influenced by Collins) springs to mind.

I know a few who play in a superior league Wink

Seriously now, you seem to have the same taste as mine: Cinema Show and Unorthodox Behaviour have my favourite drumming moments from Collins, too!

Edited by harmonium.ro - July 18 2009 at 15:15

listen

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Posted: July 18 2009 at 15:17

TGM: Orb wrote:

Yeah, I feel he's a great drummer, more, perhaps, because of his ear for doing interesting things with the drums and his solid sound than because he's a technique-monster. He is one of the few drummers who can really make a song like Fly On A Windshield or The Knife (just listen to the Genesis live take).

And personally, I think pop Genesis isn't too bad.

What about the live take of the Knife (on Genesis Live ('73), right?)? I just listened to it and didn't catch anything spectacular at all. Can you point me to a time or times in the song that you particularly like?

Now is all there is. Be before you think!

American Khatru View Drop Down

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Posted: July 19 2009 at 10:28

^ This all has more to do with artful, tasteful decisions in these songs; though often exhibiting technical difficulty, it's more the first point that makes him "sensational". Including on live Knife. Remember, this is pretty much orchestral playing with everyone in Genesis playing a part. Being a big old look-at-me drum-filler would really have been unfortunate. That being said, Can-Utility, Fly on a Windshield, heck, Behind the Lines, I could go on ad nauseum. And the gentle touches in the exciting parts of Salmacis, the drama at all volumes in Watcher of the Skies.

Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"?

Nov

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Posted: July 19 2009 at 15:25

Conor Fynes wrote:

He's decent, but theres ntohign special about him. he definately didnt have the chops to run a band like genesis..

Ha ha - hilarious Tongue

He was hired back in 1970 precisely because Tony, Mike and Pete recognised that he was a briliant drummer and elevated them musically to where they wanted to be.

In fact, all three of them would probably say that at that time he was the only proper musician in the band.

In short, I disagree with your comment.

Edited by Nov - July 19 2009 at 15:28

Nov

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Posted: July 19 2009 at 15:28

The Old Road wrote:

Does anybody think any of the drummers for current bands are in the same league? Nick D'Virgilio (also greatly influenced by Collins) springs to mind.

I'd agree with that.

Zoltan Csorsz (who has played with The Flower Kings) is probably technically a better drummer.

American Khatru View Drop Down

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Posted: July 19 2009 at 17:15

Listen to Trespass. That's all you need to know.

I love this album, it's good enough in the song writing to get through to me despite the flaw, but the drumming is poor by comparison to the next album when Collins comes on board.

Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"?

Drummerboy View Drop Down

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Posted: July 20 2009 at 09:08

Moogtron III wrote:

I think he was quite a sensational drummer in some part of his career.

I don't think you can say that he ran Genesis, but his influence became bigger, and for the sake of good music I wished his influence was a bit less from 1982 on.

It's okay that his own albums have a more simplified sound, but IMHO Genesis should have stayed more complex, artistic.

Collins was the front person for Genesis when it changed direction in the 80's. In a recent interview with all members I saw on VH-1 Classic, one of them (Tony Banks I think) responded unprompted to the accusation of sell-out by saying that their audience had been almost all male college students. Went on that their music was too "demanding" for most women (and non-college students, I guess) and they consciously wanted to broaden their audience. Not trying to start a whole thread of female prog appreciation, but interesting observation by the band of their audience.

listen

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Posted: July 20 2009 at 09:44

American Khatru wrote:

^ This all has more to do with artful, tasteful decisions in these songs; though often exhibiting technical difficulty, it's more the first point that makes him "sensational". Including on live Knife. Remember, this is pretty much orchestral playing with everyone in Genesis playing a part. Being a big old look-at-me drum-filler would really have been unfortunate. That being said, Can-Utility, Fly on a Windshield, heck, Behind the Lines, I could go on ad nauseum. And the gentle touches in the exciting parts of Salmacis, the drama at all volumes in Watcher of the Skies.

Yeah I get that... but I still don't see really anything special about the drumming in that song

Now is all there is. Be before you think!

Moogtron III View Drop Down

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Posted: July 20 2009 at 13:56

Drummerboy wrote:

Moogtron III wrote:

I think he was quite a sensational drummer in some part of his career.

I don't think you can say that he ran Genesis, but his influence became bigger, and for the sake of good music I wished his influence was a bit less from 1982 on.

It's okay that his own albums have a more simplified sound, but IMHO Genesis should have stayed more complex, artistic.

Collins was the main motor for the changes, no doubt. It's just that I think it would be going too far to say that he ran Genesis. Tony Banks said in another (old) interview that he was a hopeless person to dominate, and that from Abacab on each of the Genesis members had a 33% influence. But without Collins no such radical changes, that's true. I remember an old interview where they let Collins listen to some tracks by other bands. When they played him "Assassing" by Marillion, he hated the lyrics and he said that he had to put some trouble into preventing Genesis to put anymore nonsense like that on paper. Which says something about his influence.

Too bad about the conscious change of direction. Commercial motives seldom make music better.

Conor Fynes View Drop Down

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Posted: July 20 2009 at 17:06

JROCHA wrote:

Hey Conor have you ever listened to Brand X? Listen to his drumming and then tell me if their is something special about his drumming.

I have not in fact. I will listen to them now. Standby.