One of my favourite stories from the proverbial progressive rock storybook is the story of how in the summer of 1970, drummer and not-yet pop star Phil Collins came to join soon-to-be PROG mainstays Genesis.
At this stage, Genesis have enjoyed some success with their debut From Genesis to Revelation, but more importantly have recently finished recording their more ambitious sophomore effort, Trespass, considered by some to be the first “real” Genesis album.
Tragically, however, guitarist Anthony Phillips would have to leave the band before Trespass saw the light of day, due to “ill health and recurring stage fright“. Drummer John Mayhew was also to be replaced. The literature is a bit thin on the reasons in Mayhew’s case, although “sucking” has been suggested as a possible factor. (No I don’t have a source; I may have made that up, probably unfairly).
So either as a result of a conversation with Genesis producer John Anthony at the Marquee Club, where the early Genesis had been playing, or in response to an ad running in Melody Maker at the same time, Phil Collins arrives at the home of Peter Gabriel’s parents, of a summer’s day in late July, 1970.
Collins, along with Flaming Lips bandmate Ronnie Carly, arrive early at the audition. While Carly, hoping for the guitarist spot (which would eventually go to Steve Hackett), auditions with Genesis bassist Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins is asked if he would like to pass the time before his turn by going for a swim in the family pool. He accepts.
So while Collins floats lazily in the pool, the band can be heard auditioning the other drummers. Songs from Trespass (not yet released, and unknown to the hopefuls) are used as the audition pieces. By the time it’s Collins’ turn at the drum kit, he’s already heard all the material, several times, and has it down cold.
It also didn’t hurt that Phil Collins is an amazing drummer. And then there’s that puckish charm and cockiness that would later become so annoying, but which at this point was still endearing. Gabriel would later recall:
“Just the way he sat down on the stool, I knew that he was going to be good”.
I know exactly what he means… never, in my experience, has a drummer looked so comfortable behind the kit as 1970’s era Phil Collins. There’s a cliché about the how, in skilled hands, an instrument can seem like an extension of the body… in Collins’ hands (and feet) this was never more true. His slouched posture on him just looked relaxed, especially alongside the almost-rigidly upright posture of contemporary (and later, for one tour, Genesis co-drummer) Bill Bruford. That said, an upright, limited-motion upper body stance IS considered healthier by today’s RSI-conscious drummer.
And so on this day in PROG, i.e. August 4, 1970, Phil Collins would be informed that he was now a member of Genesis. And the rest is music-nerd history.