Phil Collins stung by recent criticisms, Threatens to take his ball and go home.
From the “Please Let It Be True” file, Phil Collins is apparently so demoralized by recent criticism and his “punch line” status that he is threatening to quit the business.
Oasis’ Noel Gallagher recently quipped, ” You don’t have to be great to be successful. Look at Phil Collins.” Offended by such comments, he told Rolling Stone he wants to stop because he’s tired of criticism. “I don’t understand it. I’ve become a target for no apparent reason,”
Ok Phil , if you’re listening, here’s the deal. Backlash is inevitable, especially when an artist becomes as mega large as you did. Ask Barry Gibb or Neil Diamond, it just happens. So it might help a little if you were a tad thicker-skinned. These cry-baby comments don’t help your situation.
Secondly, we know that you can’t drum anymore because of some degenerative spine condition (getting old does in fact, suck) so other than writing some good songs there is very little you can do to reverse this current perception of you.
These comments may also be stinging you a tad more than they should because you know that deep down you AREN’T Barry Gibb or Neil Diamond and that no one is likely to look at you body of work in 5 to 10 years and get all nostalgic for it. Because the bottom line is that it’s very formulaic and just not all that good.
You were however, one of the truly great percussionists of your era, and maybe you should play up that angle. Maybe write your memoirs and go on a book tour. Just don’t release any more of these lame records of cover tunes and try to pass yourself as some kind of song stylist. You’re no Rod Stewart. Even Rod Stewart is no Rod Stewart these days, know what I mean?