Well all kidding aside about his career...just look at the health aspect of it, put yourself in Phil's place and you grew up loving music and playing it all your life, basically he's been doing it for 50's and now, you cant hear it properly, or better yet, you have been playing drums since your were a child and now you cant even pick up the sticks and grip them. Why wouldnt ANY person be depressed over this.

As for his career, Phil shouldnt apologize for anything, what he did was own a decade along with some of the best, in what i feel was the last great musical diverse talented decade, the 80's. People always jump on artists that have hits and especially if ballads are in there, i mean, people always jump on Richard Marx, Air Supply, Lionel Richie etc...but you know i would take them in a second over anything today, and they are at least talented musicians and writers and singers unlike the mess u have today.

As someone pointed out before "legacy" acts continue to put out music all the time its just not on your airwaves and maybe on your radar, but they are doing it much better than anyone NEW today, and that is fact.

...Who the hell hates him? He's awesome.

If he just wants to retire because he's sick of doing music and wants to take a break - that's one thing, and he's definitely earned the right to do so.

But I sure as hell hope he doesn't think his music sucks, or that no one appreciates it; and if anything, the fact that most of the music coming out nowadays is so shitty, just shows how much we need people like Phil Collins around - real musicians who actually make good music.

This shit sounds like some early "April Fool's" joke or something.

again? He keeps milking this story; read it all this nearly 2 years ago. Phil's a troubled man.

Well I'm not a fan of Phil Collins' work, but I could think of 50 on top of my head who owe my severely injured eardrums a sincere 10 pages apology than good ol' Phil.

Timmy84 said:

To be honest I'm not surprised at the news. Phil had expressed his desire to retire some time ago. He stopped doing world tours after 2004, only to briefly coming out of that retirement when he reunited with Genesis. And he did tell press that Going Back was definitely his final statement as a recording artist so if true, au revoir, Phil, and thank you.

I know that some will say that Phil should be able to deal with criticism, but in reality, i think he has. I mean think of some artists in that "vein" of popularity , groups like Air Supply, or Singers like Manilow or Richard Marx, the more "ballad" type guys, guys that can just craft fucking great pop melodies, but i think all of them have gone on and just accepting who they are, I mean Phil is a mega star, and looks nothing like a "pop star" that was the beauty of it though, here was this guy losing his air crafting some of the best songs of the decade for himself and a band. And im tired of hearing that it was "gabriels" band, and the whole Progressive rock shit, all bands started as Progressive rock with these 20 minute songs, bands like Journey and Styx all had this early on, but you cant limit yourself to one thing, i mean i think of bands that always do the same thing, and after awhhile, im sorry a 20 minute song with solos and keyboards and shit, gets annoying regardless of who "artsy" it is, so Gabriel wore his welcome out, there was only so far they could go with him, after a while Peter wearing a goat head to the gigs gets tired. Now Phil beleive it or not, wrote alot of long jams on albums, but the singles were the 3 minute pop gems, but go check out every genesis album after peter and you still will find that element. One of their best records ever was the "Genesis" album from 1983. and im sorry "thats all" is a fucking gem and classic from that along with others

Timmy84 said:

Seriously? This came from THE SUN!

I'm gonna need a video of him stating he'll retire. The hell he gotta apologize for? It wasn't his fault people loved his shit (obviously no one put a gun to 100 million people's heads to buy his stuff).

I love Phil Collins music, so his comment, "I don't think anyone's going to miss me", is sooo not true!!

Nick715 said:

That makes me sad. I grew up on 80's music as did most of you. Loved his work with Genesis and as a solo artist. Hey Phil, the current music industry is what you should be embarassed about!

Can I get an amen?

A-FREAKIN-MEN!!

panther514 said:

Phil has no reason to apologize for his work...these no-talent hacks that are putting out disposable styrofoamed crap on the airwaves today are the ones that should be sorry for being sorry!

Agreed! The news about Phil retiring makes me genuinely sad.

I don't think anyone has really claimed that Genesis was Peter Gabriel's band. It's widely known that he didn't write many of their songs and he was hardly responsible for the band's extended instrumental sections either (I don't recall many of them being that long, for that matter). Collins, however, sort of just drifted into the band. They needed a skilled drummer and apparently he was the best they could find then. When he became the singer later on he had to adapt to Gabriel's style for a while and had the just follow the artistic vision of the other guys. He probably didn't start to have that much influence on the band's direction until "Wind & Wuthering" or "And Then There Were Three". So, in some sense he didn't get to develop a style of his own as a songwriter or as a singer until quite late. If you listen to "A Trick Of The Tail", he's clearly trying to imitate Gabriel's vocal style on many of the songs. He sounded like that for quite a while too.

What's sort of sad with these comments is that he knows he fucked up somewhere along the process. In fact, these "I'm sorry" statements that he's made recently sound more like the statement he had made earlier to Genesis fans about the direction the band went into in the 1980s. Or perhaps it isn't so much "sad" as they're quite telling of the prolonged identity crisis that he's had to face with as a musician and an artist. He had all the musical talent needed for what he did, but in the end he was just a hired gun stretching out to areas he never thought he'd got into. He just did his work, you know?

60 is a good age to retire in any case.

novabrkr said:

I don't think anyone has really claimed that Genesis was Peter Gabriel's band. It's widely known that he didn't write many of their songs and he was hardly responsible for the band's extended instrumental sections either (I don't recall many of them being that long, for that matter). Collins, however, sort of just drifted into the band. They needed a skilled drummer and apparently he was the best they could find then. When he became the singer later on he had to adapt to Gabriel's style for a while and had the just follow the artistic vision of the other guys. He probably didn't start to have that much influence on the band's direction until "Wind & Wuthering" or "And Then There Were Three". So, in some sense he didn't get to develop a style of his own as a songwriter or as a singer until quite late. If you listen to "A Trick Of The Tail", he's clearly trying to imitate Gabriel's vocal style on many of the songs. He sounded like that for quite a while too.

What's sort of sad with these comments is that he knows he fucked up somewhere along the process. In fact, these "I'm sorry" statements that he's made recently sound more like the statement he had made earlier to Genesis fans about the direction the band went into in the 1980s. Or perhaps it isn't so much "sad" as they're quite telling of the prolonged identity crisis that he's had to face with as a musician and an artist. He had all the musical talent needed for what he did, but in the end he was just a hired gun stretching out to areas he never thought he'd got into. He just did his work, you know?

60 is a good age to retire in any case.

Yeah Phil had made some comments that his solo career was an accident. When he wrote all those songs about his first wife, he had no idea how Atlantic wanted to use them to bolster his career. He was almost against the idea in fear his Genesis members would be upset so he took a year off to think about it and by the end of 1980 agreed to do it. He always took his solo career (and his later tenure with Genesis as lead vocalist) as a reluctant position almost. He's probably surprised how well he did in the 30-plus years he spent in Genesis and solo.

With all of the Eminem's and Usher's of the world, it sad that talented singers like Phil Collins are frustrated because they can no longer receive proper exposure in this circus of a music industry.

Timmy84 said:

novabrkr said:

I don't think anyone has really claimed that Genesis was Peter Gabriel's band. It's widely known that he didn't write many of their songs and he was hardly responsible for the band's extended instrumental sections either (I don't recall many of them being that long, for that matter). Collins, however, sort of just drifted into the band. They needed a skilled drummer and apparently he was the best they could find then. When he became the singer later on he had to adapt to Gabriel's style for a while and had the just follow the artistic vision of the other guys. He probably didn't start to have that much influence on the band's direction until "Wind & Wuthering" or "And Then There Were Three". So, in some sense he didn't get to develop a style of his own as a songwriter or as a singer until quite late. If you listen to "A Trick Of The Tail", he's clearly trying to imitate Gabriel's vocal style on many of the songs. He sounded like that for quite a while too.

What's sort of sad with these comments is that he knows he fucked up somewhere along the process. In fact, these "I'm sorry" statements that he's made recently sound more like the statement he had made earlier to Genesis fans about the direction the band went into in the 1980s. Or perhaps it isn't so much "sad" as they're quite telling of the prolonged identity crisis that he's had to face with as a musician and an artist. He had all the musical talent needed for what he did, but in the end he was just a hired gun stretching out to areas he never thought he'd got into. He just did his work, you know?

60 is a good age to retire in any case.

Yeah Phil had made some comments that his solo career was an accident. When he wrote all those songs about his first wife, he had no idea how Atlantic wanted to use them to bolster his career. He was almost against the idea in fear his Genesis members would be upset so he took a year off to think about it and by the end of 1980 agreed to do it. He always took his solo career (and his later tenure with Genesis as lead vocalist) as a reluctant position almost. He's probably surprised how well he did in the 30-plus years he spent in Genesis and solo.

this is why i had labels put on music, i recently watched an interview with ex-styx man Dennis DeYoung and he was talking about when they had "hits" about the labels, of corporate rock and progressive rock, and he said "fuck this, its either a good song or its not" and i totally agree. Labels are the undoing in many cases, take a group like Extreme, the label on them is hair band ballad wonders, but if anyone listened to their records, you''d hear something very different, and to me one of the best bands to come out of that period in terms of crafting songs. But labels did them in to a point where they too "apologized" for "More than words" why? No apologies, to qoute a new Bon Jovi song where jon basically rants that they have "no apologies" for their career, and why should they, bands go into music back then to make music they wanted to make and most if not all did that, i dont like when artists apologize for their work, if an album doesnt come out the way you want, well, do another one, thats what its about, i mean we spoke about Elton John's "Leather Jackets" album, he never apologized for this record, he just kept making more albums, you cant sulk and apologize for what goes on. Norah Jones first album sold over 20 million worldwide, she thought it would sell about 1000 here, but she didnt say "sorry" the world for a point in time had some taste.

Looks like Philip is having a lil' bit of pity party and that's understandable to a degree. Will anyone miss him? Honestly, no. Time waits for no one and all things come to an end. : shrug:

TD3 said:

Looks like Philip is having a lil' bit of pity party and that's understandable to a degree. Will anyone miss him? Honestly, no. Time waits for no one and all things come to an end. : shrug:

well in that case will anyone miss anyone?

Damn, talk about depressing .

I'm not sure why Phil is being so hard on himself.

I personally think Phil is great. Love his voice.

lastdecember said:

TD3 said:

Looks like Philip is having a lil' bit of pity party and that's understandable to a degree. Will anyone miss him? Honestly, no. Time waits for no one and all things come to an end. : shrug:

well in that case will anyone miss anyone?

To be honest I should speak for myself, who am I to say who'll be missed are not.

I tend to miss people I know or whose impact for the greater good has been indelible

Mr. Collins has a fine, fine discography, those who've always enjoyed his work can continue enjoying it and those who discover his music in the future, will find joy in what they hear. Mr. Collins was a musician, it was his job. At some point many people retire from their jobs for a host of reasons. He's made a decision to retire, he's not dead, and he can learn or find other things to do if he wishes. As I've said, time brings on a change.

=======================================

[Edited 3/5/11 14:07pm]

It's funny how distorted someone's worldview is when depressed. You could be celebrated by 99% of people but you'll still point out or focus on that remaining 1%. I wasn't aware of any backlash from from the Gabriel / Collins transition. I was probably too young at the time. All I remember is the great music they produced corporately and his solo career.

Although the current music scene is quite depressing, that is still not an excuse to leave. So what if you can't get airplay like you did in the 80's. Get on the Adult Contemporary stations, internet based outlets. Connect with other bands/acts from your era and tour. Basically, appeal to the audience base you build for over a decade and fuck the rest. Fuck Top 40 radio and the like. There are plenty of veteran acts that are successful doing this and seem content.

Now if you are physically unable to create music anymore that's something different altogether.

Musicslave said:

It's funny how distorted someone's worldview is when depressed. You could be celebrated by 99% of people but you'll still point out or focus on that remaining 1%. I wasn't aware of any backlash from from the Gabriel / Collins transition. I was probably too young at the time. All I remember is the great music they produced corporately and his solo career.

Although the current music scene is quite depressing, that is still not an excuse to leave. So what if you can't get airplay like you did in the 80's. Get on the Adult Contemporary stations, internet based outlets. Connect with other bands/acts from your era and tour. Basically, appeal to the audience base you build for over a decade and fuck the rest. Fuck Top 40 radio and the like. There are plenty of veteran acts that are successful doing this and seem content.

Now if you are physically unable to create music anymore that's something different altogether.

I think its more the not being able to do it that is getting in "his head" and that is being multiplied many times over, i dont think Phil was really shot down that much back then, there was some backlash on him but lets be real, Genesis had alot more people interested when he was the leader than peter, its more that the cred was gone, and that was unfair. I think its up to the individual whether to stay or go, but i do feel there is clearly an audience, just by the sales of his "covers album", i mean i see bands like Styx out there playing 100's of shows now, and doing new music and not caring where it lands, i mean, people still go to see them and thats what its about end of the day.

It's possible that his health problems really play a bigger part in this whole thing than what those articles try to argue for. Some of the stuff he's said recently sounds like he's medicated out of his skull, or something along those lines. That Alamo shit, in particular, seems to be on the level of Michael Jackson's Peter Pan obsession.

psychodelicide said:

Nick715 said:

That makes me sad. I grew up on 80's music as did most of you. Loved his work with Genesis and as a solo artist. Hey Phil, the current music industry is what you should be embarassed about!

Can I get an amen?

A-FREAKIN-MEN!!

novabrkr said:

It's possible that his health problems really play a bigger part in this whole thing than what those articles try to argue for. Some of the stuff he's said recently sounds like he's medicated out of his skull, or something along those lines. That Alamo shit, in particular, seems to be on the level of Michael Jackson's Peter Pan obsession.

You got a good point about that.

Nick715 said:

psychodelicide said:

A-FREAKIN-MEN!!

Se7en said:

There really are 2 distinctly different musical worlds right now.

The first one is absolute shit . . . this includes what's on radio, what's on MTV, what's popular on YouTube and the Top 100 on iTunes. It's really all just pop divas, (c)rap, generic R&B and soundalike country. Really, consider Phil Collins in the company of Britney/Rihanna/Pink/Lady GaGa/Eminem/Lil Wayne/Chris Brown/Usher/Taylor Swift/etc. and you can see where he's coming from.

The second musical world . . . you're not going to really hear about it. Hundreds of "legacy" acts release new albums every year, but you won't hear them on the radio or see them on TV. If you're a follower, you'll probably know about their new album directly from them. It's actually very sad that REAL music is missing from the airwaves and TV. Compare Phil Collins to other peers who are also in this group: Bruce Springsteen/Peter Gabriel/Robert Plant/Bob Dylan/Tom Petty/etc.

Imagine if Paul Simon released a new album this year . . . you might have about a 5% chance of hearing about it, but a 95% chance hearing about Britney Spears. There is something really wrong with that!

He may have become a pop sellout later in his career, but he's hardly the first rocker to do that and won't be the last. Besides, his material post-Peter Gabriel-Genesis from 1978 to 1986 is classic and will stand the test of time. And compared to the pop stuff on the radio now, his pop "crap" is uber prolific in comparison.

But I think his rant about retiring isn't just some "boo-hoo, no one loves my music, I'm no longer relevant" moment. As he mentioned earlier, he has serious health issues involving his hearing and being able to grip everyday objects, and he has gone through three failed marriages. I imagine in addition the the physical ailments he's suffering from, he also has some long standing guilt over his personal life including not being there for his wives and children because he was out on the road being a rock star. An entertainer's lifestyle, even if you're not drunk or high out of your mind or cavorting with any available slezebag chick out there, has got to be difficult because you spend so much time away from friends and family.

And even though folks like Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Tom Petty can't even buy airtime on the radio these days, they arguably have released their finest material ever in the past ten years. The flip side of being a no-longer relavnt pop star is being able to have near-complete control over the content of your music. Because of that, these artists can really delve deep into material that the record companies would have tried to scrap years ago.

728huey said:

Se7en said:

There really are 2 distinctly different musical worlds right now.

The first one is absolute shit . . . this includes what's on radio, what's on MTV, what's popular on YouTube and the Top 100 on iTunes. It's really all just pop divas, (c)rap, generic R&B and soundalike country. Really, consider Phil Collins in the company of Britney/Rihanna/Pink/Lady GaGa/Eminem/Lil Wayne/Chris Brown/Usher/Taylor Swift/etc. and you can see where he's coming from.

The second musical world . . . you're not going to really hear about it. Hundreds of "legacy" acts release new albums every year, but you won't hear them on the radio or see them on TV. If you're a follower, you'll probably know about their new album directly from them. It's actually very sad that REAL music is missing from the airwaves and TV. Compare Phil Collins to other peers who are also in this group: Bruce Springsteen/Peter Gabriel/Robert Plant/Bob Dylan/Tom Petty/etc.

Imagine if Paul Simon released a new album this year . . . you might have about a 5% chance of hearing about it, but a 95% chance hearing about Britney Spears. There is something really wrong with that!

He may have become a pop sellout later in his career, but he's hardly the first rocker to do that and won't be the last. Besides, his material post-Peter Gabriel-Genesis from 1978 to 1986 is classic and will stand the test of time. And compared to the pop stuff on the radio now, his pop "crap" is uber prolific in comparison.

But I think his rant about retiring isn't just some "boo-hoo, no one loves my music, I'm no longer relevant" moment. As he mentioned earlier, he has serious health issues involving his hearing and being able to grip everyday objects, and he has gone through three failed marriages. I imagine in addition the the physical ailments he's suffering from, he also has some long standing guilt over his personal life including not being there for his wives and children because he was out on the road being a rock star. An entertainer's lifestyle, even if you're not drunk or high out of your mind or cavorting with any available slezebag chick out there, has got to be difficult because you spend so much time away from friends and family.

And even though folks like Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Tom Petty can't even buy airtime on the radio these days, they arguably have released their finest material ever in the past ten years. The flip side of being a no-longer relavnt pop star is being able to have near-complete control over the content of your music. Because of that, these artists can really delve deep into material that the record companies would have tried to scrap years ago.

rialb said:

728huey said:

He may have become a pop sellout later in his career, but he's hardly the first rocker to do that and won't be the last. Besides, his material post-Peter Gabriel-Genesis from 1978 to 1986 is classic and will stand the test of time. And compared to the pop stuff on the radio now, his pop "crap" is uber prolific in comparison.

But I think his rant about retiring isn't just some "boo-hoo, no one loves my music, I'm no longer relevant" moment. As he mentioned earlier, he has serious health issues involving his hearing and being able to grip everyday objects, and he has gone through three failed marriages. I imagine in addition the the physical ailments he's suffering from, he also has some long standing guilt over his personal life including not being there for his wives and children because he was out on the road being a rock star. An entertainer's lifestyle, even if you're not drunk or high out of your mind or cavorting with any available slezebag chick out there, has got to be difficult because you spend so much time away from friends and family.

And even though folks like Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Tom Petty can't even buy airtime on the radio these days, they arguably have released their finest material ever in the past ten years. The flip side of being a no-longer relavnt pop star is being able to have near-complete control over the content of your music. Because of that, these artists can really delve deep into material that the record companies would have tried to scrap years ago.

If you think I'm crazy abouwhat I said, I'm not. Bruce Springsteen relased some great albums with The Rising, Devis and Dust, and Magic, Paul McCartney released Chaos and Creation in the Backyard which was nominated for a Grammy for Album of the Year, and Elton John released Songs from the West Coast and Peachtree Road, which was some of his best songwriting since his 70's heyday.

I remember liking his music as a little kid too cause of Against All Odds, Easy Lover and Sussidio (I remember being 3 and trying to mimic it) and also without knowing it's him when Genesis' I Can't Dance was on the radio and I thought it was MJ lmao

but yeah I've known more songs since and he's brilliant

[Edited 3/5/11 17:46pm]

728huey said:

rialb said:

If you think I'm crazy abouwhat I said, I'm not. Bruce Springsteen relased some great albums with The Rising, Devis and Dust, and Magic, Paul McCartney released Chaos and Creation in the Backyard which was nominated for a Grammy for Album of the Year, and Elton John released Songs from the West Coast and Peachtree Road, which was some of his best songwriting since his 70's heyday.

What about Tom Petty?

I partially agree with you about Springsteen, he is still producing some great music but I would argue that The Promise is the best album he has released over the last decade and it consists of music circa recorded 1976-1978.

McCartney was nominated for an album of the year Grammy? Eh, so were MC Hammer (Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em) and Nelly (Nellyville). But if that's the kind of company you think he deserves to be compared to who am I to argue.

I quite like Songs From the West Coast and it is very consistent but it does not hit the highs of his best '70s work. Peachtree Road and The Captain and the Kid were a bit of a letdown.

My point is that as good as the new music that these artists may be currently recording it is not in the same league as the material that they were releasing at their peak.

Wow, this is very surprising to me and sad. I really don't know anyone who doesn't dig Phil. I got into Genesis in college but really dug Phil's solo work and respected and appreciated his work. In some regard I can understand but still it's not easy to hear someone wanting to check out of the business this way. I wish him well.