(Credits: Far Out / TIDAL)
Sat 25 October 2025 16:30, UK
The worst thing about success, according to Phil Collins, is having to work overtime.
To be successful, there’s a popular misconception that you have to be constantly switched on. It might not necessarily be a misconception, per se, as most people get out what they put in when it comes to the music industry. But the thing that irks Collins the most, and probably countless others, for that matter, is that at some point it becomes a “conveyor belt” you either launch into or remove yourself from.
But learning the balance comes from admiring others, too, and knowing that many historical legends are the ones who went against the grain and did something out of the ordinary, even when there were other forces telling them to play it safe. Most of Collins’ heroes – musical or otherwise – have been people who have stuck to their guns, no matter what consequences they face for doing so.
One of the more notable examples of Collins admiring people committing to the cause is Davy Crockett. The story of the King of the Wild Frontier floored Collins because of the immense “bravery” he saw in it, so much so that he once admitted he was one of his major heroes.
“Crockett was an example of someone who could have left the fort, but he did the right thing and stayed, and he was killed for it,” he told Rolling Stone.
When it comes to music, Collins has always had ridiculously eclectic taste. As a kid, he naturally gravitated towards drummers – soaking up the styles of Ringo Starr, Charlie Watts, Ginger Baker, Keith Moon and, of course, the mighty John Bonham. But it wasn’t just about rock. He was mad about The Action, and he had a real soft spot for soul and Motown too – especially legends like The Temptations, The Ronettes, and Stevie Wonder.
While he was constantly keyed into the charms of drummers, he always cherished a good vocal performance, which is why he found Bonnie Raitt a force like no other. In fact, he once said he’d “never heard a voice like it” and especially loved her tune ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’, once including it in a list of his favourite songs of all time.
In film, Collins becomes endeared to certain actors and directors for all the same reasons. If someone seems unique and brave, and is clued enough into the powers of nuance to make you truly believe that the characters are real, the talent speaks for itself. It’s also why one of his favourite actors ever is Jack Nicholson because, as he put it, there’s no one more authentic.
“I know this sounds random, but I admire Jack Nicholson,” he told Rolling Stone. “He’s so honest as an actor, down to his hair. It’s always out of place.”
The admiration goes both ways. Not only did Nicholson reportedly show up at a show in LA once, he also famously introduced Collins during 1985’s Live Aid in Philadelphia, a major moment made even more surreal when he dialled in to the complete and utter surprise of the audience. Always out of place, as Collins would say, but entirely charming nonetheless.
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