Phil Collins, the former Genesis drummer whose earnest ballads made him a star in the 1980s, is penning songs again. Although he dreads the idea of extended touring because it would take him away from his five children, Collins says he has missed the creativity of music since he retired in 2010. Collins spoke in Miami Beach on Wednesday. He was in town to promote the expansion of his nonprofit Little Dreams Foundation, which he co-founded with his then-wife Orianne Collins to help youth realize their artistic, musical and athletic dreams. “I’ve decided I kind of missed that writing creative stuff, so I’m trying to get back into writing, and that’s getting into a certain headspace and personal drive,” he said.
There’s no magic for getting into the groove, “just banging away at it,” he said.Sometimes the lyrics come first, sometimes the music. “I’ve got some lyrical ideas on paper that are good. I’ve started to thrash around at the piano. A lot of it is hit and miss,” he said. “All you need is something to hang an idea on and you’re off.” Collins got his start as the drummer for Genesis in the 1970s before becoming a solo star with hits such as “In The Air Tonight” and “Against All Odds.” Collins said putting on live shows is fun, but he doesn’t like missing his children’s birthdays. “I’ve been like that pretty much most of my life, and I don’t want to do that anymore,” he said. Collins has three adult children from his first two marriages and two young sons with Orianne. They divorced in 2008. Pressed when he might it the road again, he said it wouldn’t be before the end of next year. He didn’t say whether it would be a solo show or a Genesis reunion.
