Phil Collins Still Holding a Grudge Against Paul McCartney — Here’s Why
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For as many riffs as there are in rock n’ roll, there are equally as many rifts. It’s easy to imagine tensions flaring in a genre driven by big personalities and even bigger legacies. And sometimes, all it takes is a single remark to leave a lasting scar.
Such is the case between two iconic figures: Genesis drummer Phil Collins and Beatles legend Paul McCartney. The tension between them didn’t start on stage or over royalties—it began at a royal party. In a brief but memorable exchange, something was said that Collins never forgot.
If you’re holding out hope for a Paul and Phil collaboration, you may want to exhale. What began as a seemingly innocent interaction turned into a decades-long grudge, leaving fans and insiders alike scratching their heads over what really happened.
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The Remark That Sparked It All
The infamous exchange took place in 2002 at The Buckingham Palace Party. Collins, attending the event with admiration for McCartney, brought along a first edition of The Beatles by Hunter Davies, hoping to have it signed. For Collins, this was a moment of tribute—until it went sideways.
Instead of a simple signature, McCartney allegedly responded with a patronizing tone: “Oh, Heather, our little Phil’s a bit of a Beatles fan.” Collins, taken aback and clearly offended, recalled the moment vividly years later, saying, “You f***, you f***. Never forgot it.” For a fellow rock icon, being spoken down to like that left a sour taste.
The quote stuck with Collins so deeply that he shared it publicly in a 2016 interview. Fans were surprised by the depth of the bitterness, but it also humanized the moment—showing that even rock legends aren’t immune to feeling slighted.
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Attempted Peace… Or Just Silence?
After the incident was made public, Paul McCartney reportedly reached out to Collins via email. While it wasn’t a grand apology or dramatic reconciliation, McCartney did try to smooth things over, at least in a Britishly understated way. Collins later said, “I certainly didn’t get any flowers from him.”
Instead, McCartney offered what Collins described as a “Let’s just get on with our lives” type of response. While it wasn’t hostile, it also lacked any real acknowledgment or regret. Collins accepted the gesture for what it was but didn’t exactly rush to forgive.
To this day, there’s no public indication that the two have spoken again. McCartney has stayed mostly quiet on the topic, and Collins hasn’t seemed eager to rekindle the connection. The tension remains, unspoken but unresolved.
A Beatles Cover That Didn’t Help
Long before the grudge, Phil Collins made it clear he held The Beatles in high esteem. His 1981 debut solo album Face Value included a cover of their song “Tomorrow Never Knows”—a tribute, perhaps, to his musical roots. For all its ambition, the track didn’t land well with critics.
Ultimate Classic Rock called it “a giant turd on an otherwise awesome album.” Fans were divided, with many questioning the choice to reinterpret such a psychedelic classic. Whether McCartney ever listened to the cover remains unknown, but it’s doubtful it helped smooth over relations.
Despite the rocky fan reception, the cover served as a reminder that Collins once looked up to McCartney. Ironically, that admiration may have amplified the sting of being spoken to like a mere fan rather than a peer. And for now, it seems both men are content to keep their distance.
