Nic Collins grew up surrounded by music because his dad, Phil Collins, is a famous drummer, and his mom, Orianne Cevey, loved rhythm too. Nic started playing drums when he was super little, holding drumsticks almost as soon as he could walk. His dad helped him love music, but Nic worked hard to become a great drummer all on his own.
Back in 2009, when Nic was only eight years old, something tough happened. His dad had surgery on his back, and it hurt his nerves, so Phil couldn’t play drums anymore. As time went on, Phil found it harder to move, and Nic stepped up to help. He started playing drums for his dad, and later, he even joined Phil’s old band, Genesis, and another group called Mike & the Mechanics.
Nic’s drumming is loud, clear, and really strong. People who watch him play, including big music stars like Leland Sklar, say he’s amazing. Leland worked with Nic on Phil’s Not Dead Yet tour and said Nic keeps getting better every time he plays. Even though his dad is super famous, Nic didn’t just get jobs because of his name—he earned them by being really good and practicing a lot. Phil is proud of that and says so himself.
Nic isn’t just playing his dad’s music, though. He started his own band called Better Strangers, where he makes songs that feel real and full of energy. They love playing in small clubs where the crowd is close and can feel every beat of the drums.
One of Nic’s biggest moments came when he played with Genesis for their The Last Domino? tour. It was the first time the band played together in 13 years, and Nic’s drumming made everyone cheer. Even when the COVID-19 sickness made things tricky, he kept shining, and fans and music experts loved it. Now, he’s also playing drums for Mike & the Mechanics on their Refuelled tour, taking over for another drummer named Gary Wallis. Nic shows he can do all kinds of music, and he’s making a name for himself, step by step!
