Phil Collins Biography

On himself:

“I’m not a singer who plays a bit of drums. I’m a drummer that sings a bit.”

“I'm nice until I have a reason not to be. I work hard and people sense that. But I'm different things to different people. To the middle-aged housewife I'm someone who looks like a "little boy lost"; to the people who know only ‘One More Night’ and ‘Against All Odds’, I'm probably this sweet and sensitive guy. But there are many other songs, many other sides. I don't like that sickly sweet image.”

"The stuff that really gets me is the comments about my physical appearance. I guess it's easier to write about than the kind of songs I play. I mean I was called the ugliest man since George Orwell. What's that got to do with the music? And, by the way, how ugly was George Orwell?"

On life:

“The world is in your hands, now use it.”

Other quotes:

“We’re all still good friends. We spent like 30 or 25 years of our life in the same office, …. Just because we don’t play in the same band anymore doesn’t mean we don’t see each other and enjoy each other’s company.” [on splitting up with Genesis]

“I wish it wasn’t like this. I sit and watch television, I think ‘Why, why, why?’.”

I'm happy to sit behind the drums and let Peter be the singer. If it happens, I'll be there. If it doesn't happen, it would just be because there are too many things in the way.” [speaking of a reunion with Peter Gabriel]

“They’re rude and not as talented as they think they are. I won’t mince words here but they’ve had a go at me personally.” [on Liam and Noel Gallagher]