Phil Collins on How He Came Up With the Drum Solo for 'In The Air Tonight' | The Big Interview
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- Phil Collins talks with Dan Rather about his first solo hit single, "In The Air Tonight," a track that's received revitalized attention in pop culture in recent years, largely due to its iconic drum solo.
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#philcollins #intheairtonight
This song never ceases to send chills up my spine. It is a masterpiece!
Even better live! His son Nick nailed it when I saw them in Paris in 2017 and the audience loved it.
Its got three chords, its not a masterpiece.
@@Novaheart1998 well not so many notes maybe but probably still a few more than nowadays dreadful songs from the likes of david guetta.
still that song is so more powerful and intelligent than a lot of nowadays trash music.
music is beyond number of notes. it’s about emotions, feelings, momentum.
and that song is all that at the same time. so yes masterpiece for me
@@farodopi5170 a dogs fart is a better song than todays music.
@@Novaheart1998 How about a masterpiece of acoustic emotion then.
To this day, I hear that song and just want to stop what I'm doing and listen to it. It's uniquely wonderful.
One of the best I love this music in the 80s love this music now this man has a lot of talent
Yes I "Air Drum" that part of the song every time I hear it played !! And the Gorilla was cool never saw that before. 🤟
Not enough love for the Tarzan soundtrack. That was perfect!
I like the little digs members of Genesis give to one another in interviews. That's sign of a long friendship.
There is a drum solo. Where? Can anybody send me a link?
He became the punching bag for anyone wanting to dismiss the music of the '80s. I hope one day that his work will be regarded with the respect that it deserves. Solo and with Genesis, this man created so many really great pop songs.
Didn't see that during Genesis concert... packed to the brim, not even storm and buckets of rain pouring on our heads discouraged anyone. But this was Poland in early 00s afair. He was always regarded as great performer, and one of my favorites since I was a kid.
could not agree more. his ...but seriously album is a true gem
just hit after hit after hit after hit..
He's definitely respected.
He's God damn amazing and the 80's is probably the best decade of pop music ever.
Reaction to title: it's not a drum _solo_ but a drum _fill_ . Or in his case: a drum _Phil_ .
💀
💯😩💅🏾🎶🤣
a drum solo can't be short? I think it can, and it's the most well known drum solo in history
Brilliant
Sir you won the internet today
in the air tonight was really a unique masterpiece.
*is really a unique masterpiece
It is a MIAMI VICE masterpiece!!!! Still visualize Crockett & Tubbs at their very best when I hear this song!!!!
His work in the 80’s was amazing. I still listen to “No Jacket Required” quite often. It’s perfect.
NJR: One of my favorite CD's ever. And I only have like 900, lol.
Collins is a mug. Anyone who listens to his music is a bigger mug. The music was totally outclassed by its contemporaries. Folks who know nothing about music think it’s great, but it has not stood the test of time. Very forgettable. He admits himself in this interview that he struck it lucky a couple of times; no clue where it came from and then quickly ran out of ideas.
Wow....just pulled the album got some serious flashback of my junior high school days. Thanks for this.
Yep, that and Serious hits live are fantastic!
NJR was a Pop masterpiece and I still listen to it, “But Seriously” & “Both Sides” from 1993 regularly. But he really hit his peak creatively from 1985-1989. So those 2 albums are the ones I enjoy the most.
One of the most recognizable pieces of music ever. Brilliant, that song never gets old.
I performed on the 1998 tour of the Phil Collins Big Band and whenever we performed that piece, the air drummers in the audience popped up en masse and it was hard not to smile at it. Most of the places we played were audiences of about 6K (amphitheaters and smaller festival stages) or so, but the Pori Jazz Festival in Pori, Finland was on an island park and there were 30,000 people out there. They went nuts on that one.
Well jel
any link to that video ?
One of the most iconic drum solos ever and brings back so much memories every time!
The Miami-Vice-scene was an absoluteley perfect match and iconic as well....
Miami Vice was THE iconic show of the 80's Kids these days could NEVER understand this show. Every actor wanted to be on that show and Phil Collins was on AND he was a bad guy -- Classic!
Not a solo.
@@alphanerd7221 I'm not a native english speaker, please forgive me! ;-)
The title says solo, in the video they used drum fill, a term I didn't know since I'm not a musician...
I never missed an episode of Miami Vice!!!
@@Tom_Err it’s a drum fill :)
And a great one.
Idk if most people realize how great of a drummer Phil was/is.
And how much of an honor it was for him to pick a drummer for his solo career!
I think like many laymen, you are vastly overrating him. There have been far better technical drummers than Collins in the world of rock music and I'm sure even he himself could muster enough humility to admit that fact.
@@getreal1175 Rubbish.
@@FractalchemysticalName one example.
@@Fractalchemystical Technicality of playing is mainly lauded by pretentious jazz nerds, math rock weenies, and arrogant djent monkeyboys--although I may fall into one of those categorizations myself. Listen to Phil's drumming on "The Battle of Epping Forest" (Selling England by the Pound, 1973) and "Los Endos" (A Trick of the Tail, 1976) and try to enlighten us on how it isn't up to snuff, mate
There's a drum solo in "In the Air Tonight"?
I've never heard a drum solo in that song.
There's a cool drum fill. But no solo.
Non musicians are so funny.
And dweebs that get off on unimportant minutiae like that distinction... are also funny! : )
Phil is a true legend that brought us legendary beats ❤
I like I love that intro in Miami vice they used Phil Collins in the Air Tonight.. I want to give a shout out to Phil Collins Don Johnson...♥️❤️
This song has stood the test of time. It is one of the greats of all time.
All his albums in the 80s were brilliant especially hid first 2. In the air tonight imo is still his best solo song. Incredible tune. So iconic even 40+ years later.
I Don’t Care Anymore would be his second best from that time period
Gated reverb became THE drum sound of the 80s.
Hugh Padgham!
I remember hearing it as a little girl on Miami Vice, and feeling it deeply within me. To this day it is my favorite song.
One Of My Favorite Artist Of All Time My Hero Phil Collins🥹🫡🙌🏽👑💝💫
Song writers are not heroes.
One of the worlds great talents! Much respect for Phil and what he has done!
Alcohol is destroying him...
@@thedbcooperforum sadly. Alcoholism is insidious. Worse than any other substance to get hooked on, except maybe nicotine. Both are SO hard to kick
@@Glostahdude yep, society accepts alcohol more than any addiction..
Nonsense!
@@Fractalchemystical must be young
It's a drum fill. A drum solo is something completely different
exactly.
Completely? Both use drums for some time....
It's kind of surprising that Phil didn't mention Hugh Padgham's name when discussing this and give him a name drop or something. He did quite a bit of work to help Phil get that drum sound that started (as Phil said) with Intruder by Peter Gabriel. They discovered the sound by total accident, it's a great story.
I agree. He should have told the story about how they ‘accidently discovered the Gated Reverb sound.
Gated reverb
On another (not very good) video about the "In the Air Tonight" drum fill, someone commented that Genesis second drummer Chester Thompson plays a similar fill on Frank Zappa's "More Trouble Every Day" from the album Roxy and Elsewhere and Phil Collins wanted to use it. But other fans say Genesis played that fill on the live version of "Afterglow." There's nothing truly new under the sun.
The first time i heard "In the Air Tonight" was at the theater when i saw the movie Risky Business. I had just graduated from US Marine boot camp and was station at the NAS in Meridian Mississippi. I asked my friends who played that song and they said it sounded like Phill Collins of Genesis. I bought all the Genesis cassette tapes and none of them had it. Later i found out that Phil Collins had recorded a solo album so i bought it. That's when i found out the name of the song.
Why didn’t you just look up the soundtrack of the movie?
@@chezchezchezchez They didn't have the soundtrack at the exchange
Love Phil Collins and all of his music !
One of the greatest musicians of all time in my opinion .
One of the most talented and under appreciated musicians there's ever been. Especially with the "establishment" in the UK.
Who says he's under appreciated. Source and names please. Smh
He just like the others shall have renaissance..
@@gary8306 gawd. The words undervalued, under appreciated, and my personal favorite, underrated have completely lost their original meanings. People have no clue. In what world is Phil Collins under appreciated? Certainly not this one.
@@Labyrinth1010 You're definitely an Ist & Ism & Phobic 'you people' person. How DARE
you! I'm speechless...I have no words...110%. No debate. End of story. Period. And then
some. // John has a valid point. He mentioned UK "establishment." Some are anointed by 'the machine' & get awards for sneezing. Others have peers bending over. Breathe...
The buildup of the song is what makes it so great. A lot of groups have tried to duplicate it but failed.
Peter Gabriel knew what " he " wanted , Phil Collins knew what the " masses " wanted.
That song still gives me goosebumps to this day
Never knew he called it the "Facehugger sound"! That's awesome!
Mike can box. And shockingly, he can do comedy. But I think it's safe to say he won't be recording any records.
Lol how can anyone be so tone deaf?
What made him such a great artist was the fact that he was so versatile with his music. He had so many hits; Separate Lives, Sussudio, etc. Awesome musician! Still love his music ❤
Don't know whether you're aware, but he did a whole lot of other stuff outside of his solo work - Genesis (early and late - two different bands 😉), Brand X, big band etc etc. If you want to truly see his versatility give it all a listen. I don't think you'll be disappointed
And there was this little side project called Genesis, lol. Love both PC and Genesis. Brilliant musician and entertainer.
@peter g Neil Peart has said some of the best drumming he's ever heard was on the early Genesis albums. If Peart highly respected PC, not sure where that "unremarkable" comes from. Also, I have ears, lol.
@peter g 'phil's drumming in genesis was unremarkable' - it seemed to keep Tony Banks happy and he's not renowned for putting up with 'unremarkable'.
@peter g Uhhh, The point is Peart is far more qualified than you. Jesus.
As iconic as In the Air Tonight is, I Don’t Care Anymore puts it in the ground for the way that Phil builds the tension through both his drumming and his vocals. The way he explodes out of the bridge bringing intensity and edge. Masterful. For my money, it’s hands down his best track.
For tension, don’t overlook “Mama.”
@@yestfmf The one time I saw Genesis - Invisible Touch Tour - they opened with Mama. They performed it in the dark, except for a yellow up light on Phil when he did the “laugh”. During the bridge, as the tension built, a few more lights were added, and at “Don’t take it away, can’t you feel my heart!” the band erupts out of the bridge, and as Phil’s drums filled the arena we were hit with dramatic lighting and multiple lasers to full effect. Man do I miss the 80’s!
Why does the title call it a solo when it is correctly referred to as a fill in the video multiple times?
Thank You, AXS TV and
Dan Rather, God Bless &
God Speed To You All, Including Your Audience, Especially
Dan Rather &
Phil Collins - Respect & Appreciation From,
" The City By The Bay " ,
San Francisco !
So glad to hear him call it a face hug. So appropriate! Love 💕 Phil!!
He's the best in my opinion ... Thanks for the memories of the 80s .
It's not a solo, it's a fill.
It's a drum fill from Phil
Grew up with Phil's music. Legend.
"Tell us about the unique drum, phil."
"It wasn't a unique drum, it was a unique drum fill."
"I'm Dan, you're Phil. Now tell us about the drum, Phil."
"It was a drum fill! Not a drum!"
"You're Phil, I'm Dan Dammit! It can't not be a drum and be a drum Phil at the same time dammit!
"This interview is over."
Probably one of the most if not THE most iconic drum piece in music!
Neil Peart’s solo in Tom Sawyer, maybe, but I can’t think of anything else that massive.
@@5roundsrapid263 try Dyermaker
Phil Collins is a phenomenal legend!
The impact that song had, the quality level, how it marked an era, and simply put, the eternity of it all.. is crazy! I mean, just to paint a picture... Miami Vice’s most iconic scene is to the sound of that song (in the show’s 1st episode); in the - very underrated - movie Risky Business, you also have a classic scene with that song; many years later in 2009, you hear it in the movie the Hangover; series Cobra Kai uses a remix version in a season ending; also heard in Tulsa King’s final episode of season 1; also used many times in commercials (like the Cadbury’s Gorilla); the basketball team Miami Heat uses the song numerous times, and you had Floyd Mayweather make one of his entrances with it too; ofc, Vice City had the song and even Phil in GTA Vice Stories, and another game like NBA 2k14 also used it, for example; rappers like 2Pac, DMX, or Nas, used samples of it; the song(and album) even influenced one of the most influential albums of the past few decades 😅 Kanye’s 808s & Heartbreak, influenced by those sounds, especially the albums leading single, Love Lockdown……
More than 40 years later you still hear the song in many “places”! In the Air Tonight will remain one of the very best songs ever created!
In the air tonight and that specific drum line are already a timeless masterpiece.
People will still love this track in 500 years.
What's the difference between this drum fill and the drum fill at the beginning of the Eastenders theme music? Nothing much. Yet we don't hail the Eastenders theme music as a work of musical genius. This small bit of drumming by Collins is only overstated as amazing by the layman who does not have a big enough pool of reference to draw from in terms of what constitutes ground-breaking percussive work.
@@Fractalchemystical I understand what you want to say. I have seen many amazing drummers perform, with pieces much more complex and difficult than that line from Phil Collins. From the drumming standpoint, it is nothing special. But what makes it so iconic is the entire song, the build up. Watch a live performance, that one in Paris for example. It is a longer version, the build up of the entire performance is special and almost hypnotic itself. Then, when that drum kit emerges from the ground, and Phil sits down at the perfect moment and begins to play, that is what makes this song *and* the drum part so special and iconic. Plus: It has been played thousands of times, over decades. It is part of music history if you ask me.
@@Fractalchemystical masterpiece =/= ground breaking. The reason this drum fill is so iconic is exactly BECAUSE of it's simplicity, it's elegance; it's perfectly placed, it's classy, and feeds the feel of the song perfectly.
You can have a complex drum line that's completely inappropriate for the song, or feel of the song (basically anything Lars Ulrich has ever done), and you can have a beat so simple a 5 year old could play it, but the placement is so perfect, so appropriate, that it transcends the technical simplicity and becomes iconic. Hence, becoming a masterpiece. This particular drum fill has achieve the latter. And while musical taste is entirely subjective, I still feel quite confident in saying that this song, the feel of it, is one of, if not THE, best from the era. To put that in some context, because again music is subjective, I'm a metalhead, particularly modern metal. I don't generally like the 70s/80s era of music.
But yeah, the class, elegance, eloquence, and just the overall APPROPRIATENESS of the placement and use of this simple fill, is what elevates it to such a high status. And it absolutely does take a significant 'pool of reference' as you put it - more accurately, musical knowledge - to understand that.
It doesn't have to be technically complex; it just has to fit. And damn, does it ever fit!
@@Fractalchemystical it doesn't have to be technically difficult to be great
Embarrassing story. When I was about 12 I was obsessed with Phil Collins. To the point that I tried to dress like him. Weird.
Lol not weird at all.
Yeah, as long as you were really just 12😂
Ha! You were not alone! I was a bit older than you when I tried imitating his style. A mix of all-business (full suit with suspenders) with a clash of athletic (Converse high tops, sweat bands). Guess I was weird too…but absolutely loved it!!
I'm a huge Phil Collins fan, but I don't know how a drum fill becomes a solo. The song doesn't have a drum solo.
Absolutely BRILLIANT! Phil Collins deserves SO much respect for his work! He really is an excellent musician and singer. Love him. I only wish I had managed to see him play live before I became ill❤️👑🇬🇧
This song is and always has been my favorite! The drum solo was so amazing and I stop and play my air drums every time I hear it. An amazing song.
Same here. It's something that I have to do.
One of the best drum fills EVER!! 🥁
Nah
@Free Speech that's why I specifically said, "ONE" of the best, not "THE BEST" drum filler!! But I know that your youtube name is FREE SPEECH, which you are entitled!!
Genesis, as a whole, was an incredibly talented band with Steve Hackett being so underrated as an amazing guitarist. Tony Banks piano playing was completely off the charts. I believe they were the most talented rock band ever.
Pink Floyd.
Don't let your own personal biases cloud your judgement!
And that's why the majority of bands recording today have ABSOLUTELY no distinct sound when recording.
Thank you Sir. PHIL 😁👍🏻
True, they all sound the same
You'd have to live to 100 to be able to hear the majority of bands today. Stop exaggerating just because you can't express love for Phil without having to take a pot shot at something else.
"One more night" is another master piece
There is no "drum solo" in "In the Air Tonight": It's called a "(drum) fill". Maybe get your wording right before you post a video.
C'mon, whoever uploaded this. Phil calls it a drum FILL, Dan Rather calls it a drum FILL, this is NOT a drum SOLO! Learn the difference!
Phil is a drummer legend....fortunately Genesis very popular when I was in high school.....thanks....
That was a unique fill that gave the right emotion at the right time of that song. I always loved the heavy "touch" of Phil Collins as a drummer ....as a singer he was simply superb ...
Thanks Phil for all.
FACT = That is NOT a DRUM SOLO but an INTRO. Do not make wrong Titles to confuse non-musicians or even the guliable! In fact do change your TITLE or get reported for MISINFOMATION. Thanks.
" Oh dear what do I do now?" Mr. Collins you can bask in the glory of knowing you wrote one of the greatest songs of all time.
Phil Collins is very humble here. He composed so many wonderful songs before and after In The Air Tonight. He’s a creative genius in my view. 👏😀
He should be humble, because he knows it's just a standard drum fill which is way overstated in its perceived greatness by laymen with a small pool of reference in terms of quality percussive work in the world of rock drumming.
@@Fractalchemystical A simple standard drum fill that's gets perceived as greatness by the vast majority ... a genius move!
PHIL is the greatest! The entire composition is genius. The way it builds to the “face hug”. I think that DYNAMICS are sooooo important and often forgot in modern music.
Pffffft!
I love the plastic sheen on Dan's face! He looks damp the entire time.
I could listen to Phil Collins talk all day long!
He is a legend and I love him so!
Dan Rather's interviews are the best!!
I'd never heard of him before, Rick - wrong side of the Atlantic, I guess. What I do immediately like though, is that he gives the interviewee plenty of space to talk. Sounds so obvious doesn't it, but a lot of these interviewers are so obsessed with the sound of their own voice that they talk more than listen.
He's listening to the reply and thinking his next question, not talking over the interviewer or directing them. Used to watch him when I had satellite service in the UK.
It worked for me!... I always head for the volume with a grin on my face. 😃
I think that the drum intro is a complete contrast to the "vocal in a crypt" that follows... each one increases the impact of the other.
Love it!
A true living legend!
I think how caught the vibe of In the Air Tonight with the Genesis song Mama.
I also want to get us a big big big shout-out to Dan Rather he's one of my favorite news anchors besides and along with Peter Jennings I will always miss Peterson and sea was my favorite of all times...😥♥️❤️💞🌹🌍
Zappa's Roxy and Elsewhere album, More Trouble Every Day! 100% rip off !
it's not a solo, its a 'fill".... a very standard one at that.. anyone who pisses thier pants over Collins solo drum work, clearly never heard of a little banc called 70's Genesis. the records foxtrot and sellingengland by the pound have 1000, more times impresive work by Collins than a little drum fill in a song about him wining over his wife leaving him due to his infidelity. small brains this world has.
Great musician, singer/song writer. He is one of the best of all time. Tragic that his health no longer gives him the ability to perform anymore. ❤
He was destroyed by those greedy wives of him
It's really strange that he relates his song to Very bad trip, a miami vice episode or a commercial with a monkey. Phil, your song is legendary and way above that, an absolute piece of art like a Kubrick movie or a Pollock painting, and a musical milestone for many of us. The man is way too humble.
He's not, he's just telling you the truth, but you're overstating the quality and uniqueness of a pretty standard (albeit heavily produced) drum fill which stands out to people because of the prominence it is given in relation to the overall composition of the song. As a piece of percussion, it is nothing revolutionary and Collins well knows that.
I remember "In the Air Tonight" very well when it was new! Breath taking!
I will never get tired of this song.
And I think it may be the most played song during NFL pre-game warmups ever
Face Value, one of the all time classic albums
Lol, was that a bit of a jab at Peter Gabriel?
It truly was spine tingling stuff. However, I would like Phil to use it again in a subsequent piece, mainly, like chocolate, you just can't get enough of it. Fabulous piece of drumming.🦍🍫🥁🥁🥁
Great song.. but you know it's not a 'drum solo'. right?
He used pretty much the same fill in “Thru These Walls” on the “Hello, I Must Be Going” album.
Good spot! Actually it is identical.
Replace “solo” with “fill” and you’re good
Gated reverb. Such an 80’s defining sound.
One of the greatest musicians ever.
Pfffffft!!!! Slap some sense into yourself, ffs.
My favorite song of all time. Just love it. The 88th Extended Remix is spectacular. It runs about 7 or so minutes. I listen to this song at least 1time every week.
That’s not a SOLO! It’s a BAR of drum notes!!!!!!
First and beautiful ❤️ I feel it in my heart ❤️ and soul..
Always a big Phil Collins fan not only for his music...but the way he preformed...unique and funny like he actually loved his music.
I love it when someone who interviews an artist has probably never heard of either the artist or the track.
I was a young teen when that Miami Vice episode first aired. It was the coolest thing on TV and solidified where I would be on Friday nights.
One of the greatest drum fills ever in music. I bob my head in time with it anytime I hear the song. A true talent, is Phil Collins. Love it.
"I bob my head in time with it anytime I hear the song"
wow, amazing. you must be the only one
"One of the greatest drum fills ever in music", no it isn't. You are obviously just not a big music lover for you to make such a myopic and lazy statement as that, you simply cannot have a comprehensive knowledge of music, let alone percussive work to make such an uninformed claim.
Also, I never trust a man who cannot even spell his own name correctly, assuming your name is actually Charles and not "Chalres".
If that's a drumsolo than your easy impressed.
That’s what makes greatness such an amazing quality. It isn’t always evident at the time, but is eventually defined by the passing of it.
This was an awesome clip to watch. Super entertaining! Phil’s a musical genius.
Genius is really all that needs be said!
What do you call someone who likes to hang out with musicians? A drummer...😅😂
.
Yep, who doesn't remember air drumming or dashboard drumming in there car to this! Classic! Tom Petty's album damn the torpedo's had a unique drum sound to it as well.
This song and Miami Vice were made for each other.
It is not a drum solo! A riff maybe?
I knew it was Miami Vice!!😂🥴🤪🥲