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Phil Collins’ opinion on Eric Clapton
Phil Collins is one of the most versatile artists of his generation. He began his career as a drummer and eventually evolved into a frontman and even a producer. His hugely successful career showcased his talents not only as a member of Genesis but also as a solo artist.
Over the years, Collins had the opportunity to witness many incredible artists from his era perform. Throughout the decades, he has spoken about several of them, including Eric Clapton.
What is Phil Collins' opinion on Eric Clapton
Collins loves Clapton as a musician, and they have also been really good friends since the late 1970s. He has always been a fan and had the chance to produce his records and play the drums in his songs. "At heart, I'm still a fan of people. If someone like Clapton or Philip Bailey asks me to produce him, I'm completely flattered. It's like I couldn't say no. I learn a lot, too. There's another aspect, particularly for the lesser-known performers. I really liked John Martyn, an English blues musician, who was going to make a record."
"I sort of felt I understood his music. So I wanted in there basically because I didn't want anyone else in there, fucking it up. With Clapton, well, Eric has been one of my best friends for some time, and one day he just called me up. I was blown away by it. "My God, Eric Clapton wants me to produce him." Even though we're best mates, he's still Eric Clapton. I used to play Cream songs in my school band."
"Anyway, the fashion of music keeps changing, and people like Eric sort of get left behind a hit in people's minds, if nothing else. I saw producing his records as an opportunity to make people realize that this guy is still a fantastic guitar player and he's got a great voice," Phil Collins said in an interview with David Sheff.
They first met each other when they worked together on the album "Glorious Fool", by the British singer and guitarist John Martyn. Four years later they teamed up to make Clapton's "Behind the Sun" album, which Collins co-produced and played the drums on some tracks.
The Eric Clapton album Phil Collins called lame
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1TEEdzHa40&list=RDF1TEEdzHa40&start_radio=1&pp=ygUPc2xvdyBkb3duIGxpbmRhoAcB
Collins doesn't like "Money and Cigarettes" (1983), the album Clapton did before the one they worked together. Talking with Consequence in 2016, the Genesis frontman described that record as "lame". “I was grateful to get closer to Clapton. I mean, we were great friends in England even before I produced two albums for him. (So) I kind of felt like I brought him into this era. Because sometimes some of his earlier albums. I’m not talking about Dominos or Cream or even his early solo years. But ‘Money and Cigarettes’ was a little lame. I think he was on automatic pilot. I kicked him out of that and made him start writing.”
“I’m not a full-blooded record producer. If someone asks me to do things, there has to be a reason for them to ask me or for me to do it. I don’t work with anybody that I didn’t want to work with or didn’t know. I mean, Adam Ant came to meet me and pitch me the idea before I thought it was a good idea (For Ant’s album). There’s always a reason why I go into the studio. I want to be sure that I could add something,” Phil Collins said.
The album he mentioned didn’t have many hits, but it included the famous track "Slow Down Linda", which became one of his best-known songs. After "Behind the Sun", Collins continued to work with Clapton, co-producing the 1986 record "August". He also played the drums on the hit "Bad Love", from the 1989 album "Journeyman". According to Phil, they were really good friends, especially in the 1980s and they used to go to football together or play billiards all night long.
Collins believes Clapton didn't know who he was when they first met
Curiously, Phil Collins believes that Clapton didn't even know he was a musician when they first met. "I met him when he was drinking quite heavily, I think he didn't know I was a musician. I was doing John Martyn's album, probably in 1978 and we just met, just got on. Then I invited him to a show Genesis was doing for Hammersmith."
"He came and I couldn't believe, suddenly I seen this bloke in the front row. We've always had great fun together. (In the early 80s) he rang me up and said 'I want to talk to you about producing my album,' which is 'Behind the Sun' (1985). It was just amazing for me, I'm such a fan all these years. (...) It was a tremendous opportunity, an experience to work with him," Phil Collins said in a TV interview in the 80s.
Like Collins, Clapton is also one of the best-selling artists of all time. He also sold an estimated amount of more than 100 million records worldwide during his solo career.The post Phil Collins’ opinion on Eric Clapton appeared first on Rock and Roll Garage.