Introduction
Phil Collins Names the One Band He’ll Never Forgive
Phil Collins, the legendary drummer, singer, and songwriter whose career has spanned over five decades, has never been shy about speaking his mind. Known for his sharp wit and candid reflections, Collins has often used interviews to open up about the highs and lows of his journey in music. Recently, in a rare and revealing moment, he named the one band he says he’ll never forgive—a statement that has stunned fans and reignited conversations about the struggles he endured both as a member of Genesis and as a solo artist navigating the industry.
Collins’ career has been extraordinary by any measure. As the drummer-turned-frontman of Genesis, he helped transform the band from a progressive rock outfit into one of the most successful groups of the 1980s. His solo career only magnified his fame, with albums like Face Value and No Jacket Required producing era-defining hits such as “In the Air Tonight” and “One More Night.” Yet, behind the sold-out tours and Grammy Awards, Collins has often spoken of how harsh the music world could be—filled with rivalries, criticism, and moments of betrayal.
When pressed on whether he held grudges in the industry, Collins admitted there was one band he could never quite forgive. While he refrained from excessive detail, he explained that the hurt came not from competition, but from what he perceived as personal disrespect. “I can take a bad review,” he said. “I can take people not liking my songs. But when someone goes out of their way to make it personal, to tear you down as a person, that’s different. That’s not just criticism—that’s betrayal.”
Though Collins did not name the group in the same breath as his explanation, longtime fans and industry insiders immediately recalled past feuds. In particular, his contentious relationship with certain British rock bands in the 1980s, who mocked his pop success and dismissed him as “too commercial,” seemed to fit the bill. For Collins, who poured himself into every project, such attacks were more than artistic disagreements—they felt like wounds to his character. “I worked hard to make music that connected with people,” he once explained. “To be written off by other musicians, as if that somehow made me less real, hurt more than fans ever knew.”
The revelation struck a chord because Collins’ entire career has often walked the line between acclaim and criticism. For every chart-topping single, there was a critic ready to call him “overexposed.” For every stadium tour, there was a backlash against his ubiquity in the 1980s. The unnamed band he “could never forgive” symbolized not just one feud, but an entire era of dismissiveness he endured while still dominating the charts.
At 74, Collins speaks of it not with bitterness but with a kind of weary honesty. The sting of betrayal, he admits, never fully fades. Yet he also emphasizes that his career—and his fans—gave him more than enough love to outweigh the negativity. “I don’t dwell on it,” he concluded, “but I don’t forget either.”
For fans, the moment was both surprising and deeply humanizing. Phil Collins, one of the most successful artists of his generation, still carries the scars of a business that often pits artists against one another. And while he may never forgive that one band, the world has long since forgiven him for his honesty—and continues to celebrate the music that defines his legacy.