Music - Phil Collins

Steve Taylor-Bryant tries to remove his depressing week by remembering the Phil Collins stuff that makes him smile...



Sadness, fear and facing my own mortality are filling my week. After a couple of years of some of the world's best stars passing away I have had to admit to myself that I am middle aged and the luminaries I had growing up aren’t going to go on forever. With my own mental health issues and, shall we say, "slightly irresponsible" past lifestyle choices, the fact I can call myself middle aged at 42 is a blessing, I won the first bet of “you’ll never make 30” years ago and whether it’s a happier, healthier life now or my own stubbornness and refusal to pass over to the afterlife I don’t know, but I’m here. Sadly many of my heroes are not and the rest are ageing. So that’s the facing of my own mortality randomness. The Fear came from seeing Billy Joel trending on social media. Nowadays I see a name trending I instantly think death or porn film so when Billy Joel popped up I’ll admit to an overwhelming dread, I mean I’m a huge fan but no one wants to see a man in his 60’s nakedly thrashing about, and his death, IF (I’m not convinced that he’s not a god) it comes, I’ve actually been preparing for with my therapist for a number of years, such is the impact he’s had on my life. Luckily this time it was about a TV show briefly showing his concert or some such nonsense so I’m safe for now. The sadness though was serious and comes from watching a rehearsal video for Phil Collins Hyde Park concert.



I’d heard that Phil had some health issues, I knew he couldn’t drum anymore - and, by the way, he is a massively underrated drummer, but I didn’t expect this video to show my hero, one of my favourite lyricists, one of my top 5 drummers of all time, as an almost decrepit old man. I was first of all shocked and horrified, then I was full of sympathy for Phil, then I was just very sad, then I faced my own mortality and that vicious bastard circle started all over again. I do however have a head full of wonderful memories. I’ve seen Phil Collins live a couple of times, I have the albums, I have the videos, I have a Chester Thompson drumstick somewhere and I turned to these memories and memorabilia to lift the gloom. If Phil Collins with all his ailments can rock the hell out of Hyde Park the least I could do is cheer up and celebrate what he’s achieved rather than wallow. So here’s my happiness, a number of Phil Collins videos that put a smile on my face. I’m off to watch Frauds as Phil Collins is also a massively underrated actor. Watch some videos whilst I’m gone...



Drums, Drums, and More Drums... 









Playing with The Buddy Rich Big Band... 







Dance Into The Light...









Jesus He Knows Me...









Sussudio live in Dallas...









Image - Telegraph.