- published: 22 May 2012
- views: 231193
Anthony Edwin "Ant" Phillips (born 23 December 1951, Chiswick, west London) is an English multi-instrumentalist, primarily known as a guitarist, and first coming to prominence as a founding member of the band Genesis. He played guitar and sang backing vocals until leaving in 1970, following the recording of their second album, Trespass. He left due to suffering from stage fright, after being told by his doctor that the best thing would be to leave the band. He is known for his twelve string guitar work, and his influence can be heard throughout Genesis's early output.
Genesis's first album after Phillips's departure, Nursery Cryme, featured two songs which were holdovers from the days when Phillips was in the band: "The Musical Box" (originally called F#) and "The Fountain of Salmacis".
After leaving Genesis, Phillips studied classical music (especially classical guitar) and made recordings in collaboration with Harry Williamson, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins, among others. He played the keyboards on the demos for Peter Gabriel in 1976. His first solo album, The Geese and the Ghost, was issued in 1977.
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO (born 30 January 1951), is an English singer, songwriter, musician, producer, actor and author. He is best known as the drummer and lead singer in the rock band Genesis and as a solo artist. Between 1983 and 1990, Collins scored three UK and seven US number-one singles in his solo career. When his work with Genesis, his work with other artists, as well as his solo career is totalled, Collins had more US top 40 singles than any other artist during the 1980s.
Born and raised in London, Collins played drums from the age of five and completed drama school training, which secured him various roles as a child actor. He then pursued a music career, joining Genesis in 1970 as their drummer and becoming lead singer in 1975 following the departure of Peter Gabriel. Collins began a solo career in the 1980s, initially inspired by his marital breakdown and love of soul music, releasing a series of successful albums, including Face Value (1981), No Jacket Required (1985) and ...But Seriously (1989). His most successful singles include "In the Air Tonight", "Against All Odds", "Sussudio" and "Another Day in Paradise", becoming "one of the most successful pop and adult contemporary singers of the '80s and beyond". He also became known for a distinctive gated reverb drum sound on many of his recordings. After leaving Genesis in 1996, Collins pursued various solo projects before a return in 2006 for the Turn It On Again Tour. In 2011, he retired to focus on his family life, but continued to write songs. He announced his return to the music industry in 2015.
They saw the flags, it didn't look so bad
they heard the news and how we could not lose
And they sang with the marching band
The sailors' wives with anxious eyes
But it impressed them too
They even cheered up as the ships pulled clear
And though it was no-one's fault
That men went off to war
I saw a thousand faces all along the shore...
The women were watching
So no-one thought of turning back
He didn't fight for his country's pride
His life was sold cos it was better than the dole
He even waved as they sent him away
But something's changed - no this is not a game
She held his hand and it was cold and damp
She couldn't hide from the feelings inside
Cos in the storm the night before
She heard him calling... goodbye goodbye goodbye
Won't you give me a smile
I could be gone for a long long while
And though it was no-one's fault
That he had to go to war
Among a thousand faces all along the shore
A woman was watching
He never thought of turning back