The father-son team of Phil Collins and Nic Collins left the Houston audience in awe with their minimalist yet powerful performance. Their close connection shone through as they delivered a breathtaking rendition of Phil’s lesser-known 1981 track, You Know What I Mean.
In a heartwarming video from the 2019 Not Dead Yet Tour, Nic, who had been holding down the drumbeat for his father’s shows, stepped up to the piano. Phil joined him, lending his iconic voice to the song. The duo shared a playful moment with the crowd, with Phil joking that this was the only tune from his vast collection of hits that Nic actually enjoyed. What followed was a memorable performance that captivated everyone in attendance.
Phil, the legendary Genesis frontman, has faced significant health challenges in recent years. In September 2009, news broke that a surgery to fix a dislocated vertebrae in his neck had left him unable to play drums, a skill he’d honed over five decades. He later opened up about the toll it took, saying his spine had been damaged from years of drumming. The pain was so intense that he once had to tape drumsticks to his hands just to get through a set. By 2010, he admitted to struggling with depression and a sense of worthlessness as he came to terms with the loss of his craft.
Despite this, Phil found a silver lining—he could still sing. After a second surgery in 2016, he felt strong enough to hit the road again, launching the Not Dead Yet Tour in 2017. That’s when Nic, then just 17, stepped into the spotlight as his dad’s drummer. Phil was quick to praise his son’s talent, insisting Nic earned his spot not because of family ties, but because of his undeniable skill. He recalled how Nic had been banging on drums since he was two, and how the band instantly clicked with him, impressed by his confidence and ability.
In March 2022, Phil bid farewell to performing with Genesis at London’s O2 Arena. In an emotional moment captured on video, he told fans he’d need to find a “real job” now that his touring days were over. Reflecting on his career in a later interview with Rolling Stone, he seemed at peace with stepping away from drumming, a decision he’d already made before his health forced the issue.
Meanwhile, Nic has been carving his own path. Beyond touring with his dad, he fronts his own band, Better Strangers, which dropped their debut EP, Luna’s Daydream, in 2021. Looking back on the 2019 tour, Nic shared his gratitude online, calling it a privilege to play the music he grew up with alongside incredible musicians—and especially his father. He credited Phil for making it all possible and cherished the memories they created together on stage. For both father and son, it’s been a journey of music, resilience, and an unbreakable bond.
