I don't believe that's Collins---I think it's Chester Thompson who blows Mr Collins away!!!!!
30 responses Add your response
I don't think it's any accident that Buddy Rich's daughter Cathy and Phil Collins are fast friends. If Collins weren't a serious drummer, I doubt Buddy would have posed for this picture. |
Buddy may have been acerbic, moody, unpredictable, self-confident, and volatile, but pompous he was not. He also toured his band tirelessly, playing at least 60% of his gigs at high schools to expose the next generation to jazz. He also threw a party for Gene Krupa when Gene was in the last stages of leukemia, and made sure all the jazz greats that Gene had played with had a chance to say good-bye. Heifetz and Horowitz were known in their lifetimes for a bit of arrogance as well, but they--and Buddy--represented the pinnacle of what could be done with their instruments. |
05-11-09: Johnnyb53 In my dictionary, pompous fits with several of the other adjectives in the list. Anyway, the comment was based on anecdotes from musicians with whom I have spoken. I never met Buddy Rich, so I had no business making the comment in the first place. |
Im a drummer...not pro, just a crazy amature. Phil, for those who understand drumming technique, is an AMAZING drummer. Period. The only reason that he has Chester playing with him (aside from the fact that hes an excellent drummer) is because Phil cannot sing and drum to every song. Its quite simple. He is one of the most relaxed technical drummers out there. So much so, that he looks like he is not doing much. Thats one way you can tell whos great and who ok. Vinnie Coliuta (studio drummer and most recently with Sting) is VERY technical and it shows. But that does not necessarily means he is better than Phil (as an example). If you want to see, or hear, one of the BEST drummers of all time (IMHO) check out Billy Cobham. |
A Wiki link about how they got the drum sound for that recording. It appears that there were two drummers and a drum machine. |
Onhwy61, I read the Wiki link you posted, including the section titled "Drum Sound", and I could not find any reference to two drummers and a drum machine being used on "In The Air Tonight". All I found was an explanation of the drum sound being an accidental discovery during a Peter Gabriel recording session when Collin's drums were accidentally recorded with the recording engineer's talkback mic engaged, which resulted in the drum sound that was later replicated on "In The Air Tonight". Maybe, you would cut and paste the two drummer, drum machine reference. |
Phil was quite good and unique in his prime (aka Brand X) and probably still is to some degree. But we all mellow and change over time, so he's not nearly as adventerous. Of course, you can't write a pop song in 11/8, so his technical drumming on those is quite different from what you hear on the commercial Genesis and solo stuff. Bob |
Onhwy61, I found the section to which you referred. The Roland drum machine was not used for the now classic "Phil Collins" drum sound, which is described in detail later in the link, and which I thought was being discussed when the topic of the "In the Air Tonight" drum solo was mentioned. Anyway, thanks for getting me to read more thoroughly. |
I am not sure if anyone is aware but Phil Collins has been involved in trials testing a new drug that fights baldness - you can see him in this recent performance of In the Air Tonight. Obviously the new product seems to work but they have not released the drug yet to the public, as there still appears to be some side effects. (Phil Collins has since started a Broadway musical, "Tarzan" and has been spotted more than once climbing New York skyscrapers with a beautiful TV anchorwoman under his arm) |