Phil Collins on the legendary drummer who had “the most style”
When it came down to style, Phil Collins was one of the most unique drummers out there. While he is held in high regard, he is still often underappreciated for what he did for music and percussion as a whole. His ability as a drummer and his understanding of song structures meant that he knew when to hold back and when to give it his all, which meant that in Genesis and with his solo career, he was responsible for some incredibly exciting music.
In addition, he was able to bring the electric drum kit into the mainstream. While many people thought that the electric kit was uncool, Phil Collins showed its potential, not only in the array of sounds that it could portray but also in how its versatility could bring forward a new dynamic for bands that otherwise might have been considered one-dimensional.
Needless to say, Collins knew a lot about style. However, style in the world of music often means a couple of things. Firstly, it can mean playing style, how someone has mastery over their instrument and their performance to the point that it’s hard to turn away from them. In other terms, it can literally mean the way someone looks. Being a rock star is just as much about your appearance as it is your sound, and no band knew this better than The Rolling Stones.
Charlie Watts was a crucial component in The Rolling Stones’ exciting sound. The way they played meant that people everywhere simply couldn’t get enough. Their swagger was completely unavoidable, and their danceable rhythm section was incredibly necessary for achieving this.
When Keith Richards was asked about his favourite drummers, he named a long list of legends. “I mean, when you think about it, it always seems that the good drummers and great drummers are thin on the ground. But when you start to think about them… It’s Steve Jordan, Charley Drayton, George Recile, Gene Krupa, Baby Dodds; I can go back and back,” he said. However, despite those great names, there is one who always takes the top spot. When talking about Watts, Richards said, “We will put him there,” motioning his hand high, right to the top of the list.
Watts had an undeniable style, but as a member of The Rolling Stones, that extended beyond his musicianship. It also meant the way he looked was as important to him as his music. Phil Collins recalled this when he was performing in Paris, and Watts reached out to see if he could come to the gig.
“He called me, and he said, ‘You’re playing the big band show tonight, and I’d love to come’, so I said, ‘Please come.’” Excited to see Watts, Collins was disappointed when he received a call later saying he wouldn’t be attending, “He called just before we were supposed to leave and he said, ‘I can’t leave my clothes, they arrived, and I have to lay everything properly’… Anyway, he did turn up.”
Rocking a three-piece suit and a big smile, Collins couldn’t help but be enamoured at the sight of Charlie Watts. Not only was he an unbelievable percussionist, but he also looked the part, which was rare for many drummers at the time. Collins concluded with, “He has the most style I’ve seen of any drummer.”
