It took me awhile to read through Not Dead Yet because I’m a really slow reader. It’s such a fast paced book where every second of his life is recorded and things seem to be going at the speed of lightening. His words seemed honest and often cocksure envisaging the journey of Genesis, his solo career and his tumultuous personal life. In the Heart of the Passage with Phil Collins.
[Highlighted Excerpts taken for reference from Not Dead Yet by Phil Collins.]
Philip David Charles Collins LVO (born 30 January 1951) is an English singer, drummer, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and later became the lead singer of the rock band Genesis and had a successful solo career, achieving three UK number one singles and seven US number one singles as a solo artist. In total, his work with Genesis, other artists, and solo resulted in more US top-40 singles than any other artist throughout the 1980s. His most successful singles from the period include “In the Air Tonight“, “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)“, “One More Night“, “Sussudio“, “Another Day in Paradise” and “I Wish It Would Rain Down“.
Beyond a certain point, the music isn’t mine anymore it’s yours.
Phil Collins
A Dream in a Plastic Drum
A passage in the book from his childhood is significant when Phil Collins as a toddler receives a new toy a plastic drum for Christmas. He takes to it and I like how he says even at that age he doesn’t doubt the brilliance of the new toy and that he can seem to communicate now through it.
Beatle Mania
Phil Collins narrates this witty anecdote about being part of A Hard Day’s Night and finding that his performance ended on the cutting floor. Years later when he gets to see the scenes he realizes he’s just sitting there transfixed amongst kids standing up and screaming. The reason he may have been cut out. It was not like he was trying to be cool he was just amazed to be experiencing the Beatles.
I noticed all through the book that Phil Collins has such a huge body of work ever since he was young acting, drumming, singing, producing. It’s amazing how much you could do with your life and the countless things you could juggle if you have his kind of drive. It’s truly remarkable.
Ronnie
I like how Phil Collins when he needs another guitar player invites his friend Ronnie who is a bit apart in his ways from the group. Although they embark on a silent mutiny Ronnie is soon fully integrated into the group and harmony reigns. This passage brings out how friendships play a part in his life and he’s one to stick by his friends.
Phil Collins Sings
Leaving twopence on the plate,
They hurry down the path and through the gate
And wait to board the bus
That ambles down the street.
This is ‘For Absent Friends’ Phil Collins’ first Genesis lead vocal. Born from the writing sessions they would have where the drummer sings a song too. After reading the book there’s a lot of Genesis that I need to hear and look back on all the songs from the book.
Words
It was beautiful how Phil Collins brought out the many emotional and career upheavals and changes he was having and the multiple roles he was playing at the time.
I just have to mention that passage here. It brings out the pain he was feeling over his relationship so honestly.
Less than four years have passed since my teenage girl friend and I reconnected in Vancouver. In that time we have absorbed seismic changes: a transatlantic relocation, the creation of a family, the departure of a frontman, the elevation of a drummer, the transformation of a cult band beloved by students into something of an international rock phenomenon. My becoming the singer in Genesis has supercharged my working life in ways I could never have imagined. But it looks like it’s also accelerating the demise of my personal life.
I think he’s been blatantly honest about all his relations letting his heart take the reins.
Not Dead Yet
Phil Collins has always been a part of that 90s era for me. Among the songs we would love catching on MTV were Another Day in Paradise and Groovy Kind of Love. My favourite of his will always be Separate Lives, Everyday and Against All Odds. The book left me amazed at his drive for work, his creativity, his ability to fill in multiple roles either with his band or solo, his honesty with relationships, his bond with his children, his charity work, his enthusiasm for acting. There must be ‘other sides’ to this legend, who took each minute of his life and made it count because I hear he’s Not Dead Yet.
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