Next up on Dan Rather’s The Big Interview on AXS TV is Phil Collins. Though the longtime Genesis singer and drummer has been battling health issues, he is set to perform an intimate acoustic show at a charity event in Florida on March 11th for the foundation he co-founded with his ex-wife. He will be joined by longtime Genesis concert guitarist Daryl Stuermer and veteran bassist Leland Sklar for the performance. Tickets are available here.
Rather’s exclusive, in-depth interview with the classic rock legend airs Tuesday, March 1st at 8 p.m. ET. Collins will discuss everything from his decision to release remastered versions of his solo albums to the prospect of collaborating with superstar Adele (shelved for now).
Though he’s been pictured with a cane – and even in a wheelchair recently – Collins is now officially unretired, with plans to record a new solo record – but he balks at continued rumors of a Genesis reunion. “Let’s just start with this bit first,” he told Rolling Stone. “I love the guys. I would just prefer to do this first. For now, let’s just see how this goes.” He revealed that he rehearsed last year with many of the band members from his solo career, subbing in drummer Jason Bonham, son of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham.
Collins had more U.S. Top 40 singles than any other artist in the 1980s, with hits like “In The Air Tonight,” “Against All Odds,” “Sussudio” and “Another Day In Paradise.” He enjoyed seven #1 singles as a solo artist during that span.
Collins’ solo catalog is receiving a significant overhaul from Rhino this year with extended and remastered deluxe editions featuring live tracks, demos and B-sides, all curated by Collins. The “Take a Look At Me Now” retrospective reissue campaign kicked off January 29th with the release of the performer’s solo debut Face Value and 1993’s Both Sides, and the next stage arrives on February 26th with brand new versions of Hello, I Must Be Going! and Dance Into The Light. The series also features a new artwork concept in which Collins has recreated his poses from the original album covers with new photography, shot in the present day. Click here for Best Classic Bands‘ coverage.
“It’s basically like having something at home you’ve never polished, and you give it a polish and it looks like something else. It looks new,” Collins explains. He’s particularly eager for the albums to reach a whole new audience of listeners. “The idea, from my point of view, is to surprise people…[make them] say, ‘Where was I when that came out?’” the singer says. “A lot of artists – like Adele, Pharrell Williams, Beyonce – have listed me as an influence, and I think, maybe, some of these kids that are fans of theirs would say, ‘Well, who is Phil Collins?’ So they go out and discover me for the first time. It’s nice to sort of have the music still alive.”
Collins’ The Little Dreams Foundation’s mission is to fulfill the dreams of young talents without financial means to achieve their goals.
The fourth season of The Big Interview premiered mid-January on AXS TV. Past guests have included filmmakers, entertainers and music legends like John Fogerty, Willie Nelson, Quentin Tarantino, Aaron Sorkin, Gregg Allman, Patti LaBelle, Charley Pride and Bryan Adams. Catch the show on Tuesday nights on AXS TV at 8 p.m. EST. For more details as well as clips of previous shows, check out AXS TV’s website.
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