With cameos from Kanye, Adele, and J.
Lo’s Miami Mansion.
So why did he choose that moment to record his debut solo album?
Credit: Tony Buckingham/Redferns
He may have been unlucky
in love but what a boon for his music.
I was encouraged by a lot of younger artists listing me as one of their influences, he says.
Might the reissues be a prelude to Collins coming out of retirement?
People ask me, When are you going to make another record?
When are you going out on tour again?
And that makes me want to work.
I feel, Yeah, Ill do that.
Have you ever met him?
I didnt even know hed done it.
You should get some of his money.
Yeah, well, that will put petrol in the car, wont it?
That song in particular has got an incredible life of its own.
It also has one of the most famous drum fills of all time.
When you recorded it did you think, Yeah, thats a good one?
Well, I thought itwasa good one.
Thats why we kept it!
It will be on my gravestone, you know: Da-da da-da da-da…
It just seemed natural to me to do that.
I had no idea that it would be as recognized.
Mike Tyson inThe Hangover, you know.
Yeah, it took me by surprise.
In the 80s, you seemed to be everywhere.
What do you remember about that time?
note: Collins recollection of the review is almost word-perfect.]
Itwasntyou, was it?
I realize now that my omnipresence pissed a lot of people off.
I was only having fun.
I was just taking advantage of the opportunities that came my way.
So, I apologize to the pages ofEntertainment Weekly!
I apologize for being so in-your-face!
And Im better now.
On behalf ofEWI accept your apology.
How are you feeling these days?
Youve had some health issues in recent years.
Yes, Ive had my fair share.
I mean, up to 2011 I dont think Id ever been in hospital.
But I seem to have spent an awful lot of time there [since].
But Im in good shape, apart from that.
I was under the impression that you had a spinal problem that prevented you from drumming.
During theGenesis reunion tour [in 2007]something happened nerve-wise, and it buggered up my left arm.
Its better now, but its still not anywhere near what it should be.
Until that rights itself, I dont think I can really play drums.
But I can still sing, so if I decide to do something, I will do it.
Could you imagine re-forming Genesis at some point?
With me, drumming comes along with [Genesis].
I dont really want to go out half-arsed.
Im not saying no to Genesis.
I love Tony [Banks] and I love Mike [Rutherford].
We all have a great relationship and its not outside the realms of possibility that something might happen.
If youre asking me, Is there a possibility?
Well, theres always a possibility.
Speaking of Genesis, your old bandmate Peter Gabriel and Sting announced a tour this summer.
If they play in Miami, where you live, will you go see them?
Sure, good friends of both.
[Laughs] I didnt know [about the tour].
At one point, Sting was talking to my manager, and now I find out Petes doing it!
I would go see them, of course.
Probably what would happen is, Id end up singing with both on stage.
You met with Adele about the possibility ofco-writing a song for her recent album,25.
That didnt come to pass.
But [then] I couldnt find her.
She was like a ghost, you know.
Ive read that she said that it was too early, she wasnt ready to make another album yet.
Which is great that she did.
I [was worried] people would think that I failed the audition.
It didnt go anywhere, but I was very flattered to be asked.
What do you remember about that?
It was a fantastic day in my life.
I wasnt actually on the finished product.
But I was there.
Unfortunately, I cashed the check, because I needed it.
That 15 quid meant a lot in 1969.
I met George a few times.
I liked him very much.
In fact, it was a Harrison joke.
Hed recorded [percussionist] Ray Cooper.
[George] said, Play bad, Im going to record it and send it to Phil.
I couldnt believe that a Beatle had actually spent that much time on a practical joke for me.
Youre one of the worlds leading collectors of memorabilia from the Alamo.
If the building were to catch fire and you could save just one artifact, what would it be?
I mean, Ive given [all my collectibles] to the Alamo now.
If I still had it, maybe it would be Davy Crocketts rifle.
I had his musket, one of four that Im aware of.
I had lots of relics: certain peoples knives, swords, documents.
I didnt collect Ferraris.
I collected Alamo memorabilia, some of which was pretty pricey.
I read you now live in J.
Los old home in Miami.
I liked it and bought it.
My eldest daughter, Joely, she said, Oh, you bought J. I had no idea.
Ive never met J.
Maybe one day shell come back looking for her vacuum.
Id talk to her.
What advice would you give to the younger Phil Collins?
Never let go of the ladys leg.
[Laughs] Thats a Steve Martin-ism, sorry.
There are songs I shouldnt have written, there are relationships that I should have put first.
So, there are mistakes.
But would I have done it differently?
Because I like where I am now.
A version of this story appeared inEntertainment Weeklyissue #1403, on newsstands now and available for purchasehere.
