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Engraved portrait of Phil Collins
Music · 1980s

Phil Collins

Still with us 1951–present
Seven US No. 1 solo singlesus_number_one_singles
Multiple Grammys including Album of the Yeargrammy_awards
Inducted with Genesis (2010) and solo (2026)rock_hall
Over 100 million records as a solo artistrecords_sold
1980s pop-rock dominancesignature_era
The Turning Point

When Peter Gabriel left Genesis in 1975, drummer Phil Collins reluctantly stepped up as lead singer and steered the band toward pop stardom. His 1981 solo debut Face Value, led by the brooding 'In the Air Tonight,' then launched one of the most commercially dominant solo careers of the decade.

From Behind the Drums

Born in London in 1951, Collins joined Genesis as a drummer in 1970. When frontman Peter Gabriel left in 1975, Collins stepped forward as lead singer, reshaping the band's sound for a wider audience.

Solo Superstar

His 1981 debut Face Value, written amid a painful divorce, produced the haunting 'In the Air Tonight.' A run of No. 1 hits and the Grammy-winning No Jacket Required made him one of the decade's biggest stars.

Enduring Legacy

Collins balanced Genesis, a solo career, and film soundtrack work throughout the 1980s. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Genesis in 2010 and as a solo artist in 2026.

Career Timeline

  1. 1970Joins progressive rock band Genesis as drummer
  2. 1975Becomes Genesis lead singer after Peter Gabriel departs
  3. 1981Releases solo debut Face Value with 'In the Air Tonight'
  4. 1984'Against All Odds' becomes his first US No. 1
  5. 1985No Jacket Required album wins Album of the Year Grammy
  6. 1985Plays Live Aid in both London and Philadelphia same day
  7. 1988'Another Day in Paradise' wins Record of the Year
  8. 1994Leaves Genesis to focus on solo work
  9. 2010Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Genesis
  10. 2017Launches Not Dead Yet comeback tour
  11. 2026Inducted into Rock Hall as a solo artist

Biggest Hits

1981
In the Air TonightSignature song with its iconic drum break
1984
Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)His first US Billboard Hot 100 No. 1
1985
SussudioUpbeat US chart-topper from No Jacket Required
1989
Another Day in ParadiseRecord of the Year about homelessness
1988
Two HeartsNo. 1 hit from the film Buster
1988
A Groovy Kind of LoveChart-topping ballad cover
Did You Know
  • He performed at both the London and Philadelphia Live Aid concerts on July 13, 1985, flying across the Atlantic on Concorde.
  • He began as Genesis's drummer and only took the microphone after auditions to replace Peter Gabriel fell through.

Portrait: Will Ireland, Courtesy of Concord · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

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