But How Do You Really Feel?

With lots of time on my hands presently, I went into the "Prog Polls" lounge way back to Page 789 (the last with threads dating back to 2004). One poll that stood out for me titled simply "Phil Collins" asked those who cared to rate the man with such choices as "He’s done good things in and out of Genesis" (which got the most votes of 12) to "He ruined Genesis" (the second highest choice at 7 votes). Now I'm sure there's been several or more threads through the years concentrating on this legendary prog drummer, so I'm assuredly not delving into anything new here. What needs to be said though is that for the poll referenced, there was such a notable lack of interest as shown in the pawltry number of bloggers who responded. So I put it straightforwardly to those who care with the original question framed back in 2004: "Phil Collins: How do you feel about him?"

I love to hate him.

I mean, I do not REALLY hate him. I find stupid to hate songs/albums/artists, but I do think its funny to dislike somethings and to play with it.

So, bugger off, Phill!

He was great as a drummer ......

Great drummer. Brand X should not be forgotten. He was complicit in destroying Genesis. Banks and Rutherford helped him destroy the band. If he (perhaps with Banks and Rutherford) would regain some interest in Prog and actually put out some new Prog albums, I'm sure much would be forgiven, but he/they simply aren't about to do that. He/they have shown no interest in repairing or rekindling a relationship with Prog fans.

HackettFan wrote: Great drummer. Brand X should not be forgotten. (...)

^ Spot-on !!

Great drummer, charismatic singer, and a great pop songwriter. Say what you will about some of his more adult-contemporary sounding material from the latter part of his solo career (a bit too soft for me), the man has an ear for hooks and IMO did some of the best pop of the 80s. I don't like every last one of his songs, but I have fond memories of his 80s music from my childhood and find it far superior to the majority of what's being produced in the mainstream these days. 

Hercules wrote: Drummer - great. Singer - pretty good; not quite Gabriel, but a good impersonation vocally. Not a bad frontman. Composer - not sure how much writing he did for Genesis, but his solo stuff is pretty mediocre with a few gems.

Great chap.

When Genesis went pop, I lost interest in them, and I only know Collin's music that played in the radio, which is not to my taste, so I did not pay attention then, nor I do now, to his solo stuff. He is a good musician/artist, but he went to write very simple music, intended for the mass of people, not for the ones who like to listen to interesting arrangements/orchestrations/compositions, even though he is more than capable to do so.