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Phil Collins announces musical retirement

Genesis man will longer tour or record

April 25, 2008 | 29 Comments
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Phil Collins has announced that he is retiring from music.

Having completed a reunion tour with Genesis, the multi-instrumentalist has said in a newspaper interview that he has no plans to tour or make another album.

Collins told The Times that he will continue to write, simply because he does not know how to stop.

The interview quotes Collins as saying he is more interested in his collection of memorabilia from the Battle Of The Alamo than music.

Collins said: "It's not that unusual for a man of my age, who grew up reading Davy Crockett."

Collins was speaking ahead of his appearance on Sky Arts TV series 'Songbook'.

He re-ignited an old feud with Noel Gallagher. The Oasis man famously said ahead of the 2005 general election: "Vote Labour, if you don't and the Tories get in, (Collins) is threatening to come back from Switzerland, and none of us want that.

Collins said of the comment: "I don't care if he likes my music or not. I do care if he starts telling people I'm a wanker because of my politics. It's an opinion based on an old misunderstood quote."

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Comments (29)

Add a comment

mul1989

Apr 25, 2008

Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jon Squires

Apr 25, 2008

thank god for that, about 30 years tooo late!

fustymccrank

Apr 25, 2008

And here I was doubting the existence of god

phil.fuse

Apr 25, 2008

at last...

seanceltic

Apr 25, 2008

Praise the lord - he should of been of been shot for Buster alone...

gilly@nme

Apr 25, 2008

As sad as this news is I don't think we've lost the next definately maybe with this news

Ziggychaz

Apr 25, 2008

Sing... 'It's like christmas came early, for me!'

drgonzo2012

Apr 25, 2008

Leave Phil aloooone!he might have written some shite but he's got more talent in his little finger and still had more moments of genius than the silly haired twats most of you idolise.

sc_jag

Apr 25, 2008

Yes! The best piece of news I've heard in ages. The guy is a complete fud and has been an embarrassment to music. And as for Noel Gallagher thinking he's a wanker because of his politics - it's not that man, it's because you're Phil Collins.

rubbersoul7

Apr 25, 2008

I agree with drgonzo2012, stop slagging him off trying to look 'cool' - you just end up coming across as a complete sad little twat. All the people that are leaving these comments probably dont even know who he is.

howarj

Apr 25, 2008

Praise the Lord ! :)) there is one after all :)

cut_copy

Apr 25, 2008

today is a great day for music-we're all safe, people cant have felt like this really since his music career began, possibly since genesis began too!

dreville

Apr 25, 2008

Not only has Phil Collins not got any talent in his little finger or anywhere else. He's also never written a single decent song in his life.He's in the same league as Chris de Burgh, and his retirement is a true blessing and a fine day for music.

a_grylls

Apr 28, 2008

when i saw this headline i was overjoyed. Not Surprisingly so did everyone else.:D

Soundedd

Apr 28, 2008

It's like christmas came early, for me, haha well done Ziggychaz. The "Antichrist" as Mr G calls him is hanging up his boots, Noel is god!

GREENLANTON

Apr 28, 2008

if only followed by james blunt and any other blokes with guitars oh and chris martin but that wont ever happen can only live in hope

danjim

Apr 28, 2008

at long fucking last

Grabino

Apr 28, 2008

Yeah! :-)

paulsimonscat

Apr 28, 2008

Yeah, he's written some shite. But in his defence, he was in one of the most innovative bands of the 70s. Which is more than you can say about Pete Doherty for one...

tallpete67

Apr 28, 2008

hurrah just made my day Phil Collins good riddance

KatiePC

Apr 28, 2008

This is the best news I have heard in years. May he burn in hell for evermore due to his cover of 'Tomorrow Never Knows'. I am overwhelmed with this joyous news.

acedrums

Apr 28, 2008

yes his solo stuff sucks, yes his stuff when he fronted Genesis sucks...but dreville...are you mad?! do you have ANY idea how brilliant a drummer this man is?! Whether you like it or not, listen to an early Genesis album with Peter Gabriel on vocals such as 'Foxtrot' and tell me he has no talent. You are, what they call, a fucking idiot. tho, this news does please me massively at the same time.

sxpstl

Apr 28, 2008

Two Hearts is the best song ever!!!!! lol

bentheguitarist

Apr 28, 2008

Phil isn't really that bad... I mean sure, not everything he did was good, but you can't expect nothing but awesome songs from anybody. Noel Gallagher is a closed minded idiot for saying that, and seriously, Oasis isn't even that good. I don't know what you people are on...

Gra Howling

Apr 28, 2008

All you people just follow on current trends like a flock of sheep, wake up and appreciate great music like Phil's, instead of being funny haired clones!

stargirl

Apr 28, 2008

best news ever!

verbalkint

Apr 29, 2008

I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where, uh, Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as, uh, anything I've heard in rock. Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and, uh, Against All Odds. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite.

Hedgehunter

Apr 29, 2008

Nice one, verbalkint. A big Genesis fan since Duke eh?In which case where do you get the idea that Phil Collins wrote the Land of Confusion lyric?! That was Mike Rutherford's creation. If you like Duke, maybe now is the time to start back-tracking since Duke is the climax of Genesis' first age which is the one that will ultimately stand the test of time.

Faith92

Nov 5, 2008

Gutted at the news!! Phil Collins is an awesome man! and a VERY talented musician, singer and songwriter!! He deserves a lot of credit because he may not have been able to better Peter Gabriel as Genesis frontman (who could?!) but he did a damned good job!! and he made brilliant solo music!! And as for Noel Gallagher?? What have he and Oasis ever done apart from continue to release the same boring repetive "cat squeeling" music!! those who like Oasis or anything related to them CANNOT judge Phil Collins or his work!!