Phil Collins Was Only Asked To Be Genesis’ Singer After 400 Auditions
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 30: Phil Collins performs on stage at the Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time Festival in Hyde Park on June 30, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Genesis had two sides of its coin; the one led by Peter Gabriel and the one led by Phil Collins. And it has its unique distinction to it; with the former, the band was interspersed with the unique arrangement and theatrical musings, while the latter boasts its genuine rock ballads that only the band could pull off. And much like anything in this world, Collins’ career as a lead singer was matched with both talent and luck.
When Gabriel left the band to pursue a solo career, as well as to focus more on his personal life, Genesis was left to cater to the big shoes for filling in that the former frontman abandoned for them. It was a tough thing to decide for them since Genesis at this point was known for its stage theatrics, cunning performances, and unique style.
Collins, who originally joined the band as their drummer, took a shot in the auditions, along with 400 vocalists who wished to become a part of something massive. By then, a ray of light shone on the band, as they’re left to realize that what they’ve been looking for as a singer has been there with them since. Collins was then hired to be the official singer for the group.
With Collins, he was pretty sure of his singing talents but was quite insecure on the theatric side of Genesis. Talking with Guardian, the drummer said: “I didn’t think I’d be very good at doing that theatrical stuff anyway. So, I said: ‘Look, I can sing the songs, but anything else will be a bit of a question mark.’”
It was a long process for Collins to adhere to the Gabriel façade of Genesis, but eventually, the drummer adapted to it, much like how the band embraced this new and different side brought about by Collins’ charm in front of the microphone.
