Introduction
Phil Collins: Always a Drummer First
Phil Collins is widely known as a legendary singer, songwriter, and frontman of Genesis, as well as a successful solo artist with hits like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. But long before the spotlight and global fame, Collins considered himself, first and foremost, a drummer. Despite his transition to lead vocalist and pop icon status, he has always remained deeply connected to the rhythm and heart of music—the drums.
Born in London in 1951, Phil Collins developed a passion for drumming at a young age. By the time he was five, he had already received his first drum kit. Influenced by jazz and big band legends like Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa, young Phil honed his skills through practice and natural talent. His sense of timing, technique, and versatility quickly set him apart, even before fame came calling.
His breakthrough came in the 1970s when he joined Genesis as their drummer. At the time, the band was still an experimental progressive rock group led by Peter Gabriel. Collins’ drumming added a new level of precision and creativity to the band’s evolving sound. But when Gabriel left in 1975, Collins reluctantly stepped into the role of lead vocalist. While many were impressed by his voice, Collins never stopped considering himself a drummer who happened to sing.
Even during Genesis’s most commercially successful period in the 1980s, Collins found time to showcase his drumming prowess. He performed complex arrangements both in the studio and on tour, often switching between vocals and drums with ease. In his solo career, even on tracks where his voice took center stage, the percussion was never an afterthought. Songs like I Don’t Care Anymore and Take Me Home highlight his signature drum sound—powerful, emotional, and distinct.
One of his most iconic moments as a drummer came during Live Aid in 1985, where he performed on both sides of the Atlantic in a single day—playing drums for Eric Clapton in London, and later for Led Zeppelin in Philadelphia. While his vocals were appreciated, his drumming was what truly stood out, reminding audiences of where his roots lay.
In interviews throughout his career, Collins often emphasized that drumming was his first love. He even named one of his later tours “Not Dead Yet…Live!” which featured long, emotional drumming sections, even as health problems began limiting his physical ability to play. Despite spinal injuries and nerve damage that affected his grip, Collins remained passionate about the instrument that launched his career.
Today, even as age and health challenges slow him down, Phil Collins continues to be admired as one of the greatest drummers in rock history. To many fans and fellow musicians, he is more than a frontman—he is a rhythmic genius whose drumming shaped the sound of an era.
At his core, Phil Collins has never let the fame or frontman image overshadow where it all began. As he’s said many times before: “I’m a drummer first, always.”