Why did Phil Collins quit Genesis?
We really can’t underrate the magnitude of Genesis. The amount of great work that they did as a band resonates throughout music to this day. There are a lot of trends making up the modern music industry that likely wouldn’t have a place, or certainly wouldn’t have been as popular, had it not been for the work that Genesis put out.
For instance, Phil Collins’ drumming within the band did a lot of good for the way that people perceived the electric drum kit. Previously, electric drums were deemed by many to be uncool and something serious artists should generally stay away from. However, Collins showed just how much untapped potential lay in electronic drums, as he was able to create unique sounds that still leaned into the rock side of the band but also gave the public a taste of something slightly different.
Equally, the band highlighted the importance of knowing when to give everything and when to write with a more stripped-back approach. There was an approach to songwriting where every member wanted what was best for the song as a whole rather than what was best for them as individuals.
Genesis also ran into some issues as they were making iconic music. For instance, Peter Gabriel left, which meant that Phil Collins had to take on the band’s singing duties. This was a welcome challenge for Collins, but it was also one that meant the band had to change over slightly.
Collins could still drum on studio recordings, but needed someone else to step in for live shows. They used Chester Thompson for this period, who had managed to rack up plenty of experience previously drumming for Frank Zappa. “The third night was very rewarding to listen to,” recalled Thompson, discussing his initial run of shows with the band, “The first night, because I’m probably my worst critic, it was not good.”
While the band was able to overcome a variety of different hurdles, one that proved to be too much of an issue was when Phil Collins himself decided to leave. Granted, they continued for a brief period with a new vocalist, Ray Wilson, but when their next album, Calling All Stations, dropped down the charts in comparison to their previous work, they decided to call it a day. It was a shame that such a move brought an end to such an iconic band, and it begs the question: Why did Phil Collins decide to call it quits in the first place?
So, why did Phil Collins decide to leave Genesis?
There are two main reasons why Phil Collins decided to leave Genesis. The first was because his solo career was gaining traction, and as a result, he was eager to continue making music as a solo artist and see how far he could go with it.
The second was because he didn’t want to be restricted when exploring musical themes as much. There was a lot of talk about Collins’ personal life, and rather than address it in interviews or remain silent on some issues, he decided he would rather write about them in his music. The art form had always been a release for him; therefore, it made sense for him to continue using it.
While this was a risky move on Collins’ part, he managed to have a successful solo career, so the move wound up being a good one.
