Posted on 01/24/2026 9:21:32 AM PST by simpson96
The wheels of justice grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine. In this case, it's been forty years since British establishment-pop workhorse Phil Collins incurred a young Athena's wrath with his band Genesis's mockery of the greatest president (up until then, anyway) of modern times.
f you're Gen X like me, your adolescence was happily enhanced by the heyday of old-school MTV. The concept was brand-new then: music videos by the hottest pop stars, 24/7, hosted by the original veejays — Alan Hunter, Nina Blackwood, Martha Quinn, Mark Goodman, and of course, "Triple J" J.J. Jackson. It was innovation, novelty, hormonal giddiness, and rock-n-roll!
I was not really keyed into politics at that age — I still loved America in a general way, including every president, but back then, we all still had basic values in common. Nevertheless, I could still tell that Ronald Reagan was an exceptional president, head and shoulders above the others I had known in my short life.
So when a British loudmouth, who was obviously a bit too high on his own supply, thought he somehow had standing to come on the brilliant American invention, MTV, and mock one of the greatest Americans I'd ever seen, it didn't sit too well with me. Who the hell is this guy who thinks he's so great that he can belittle the Gipper? I fumed.
In case you're not sure what I'm referring to, it was the music video for the single "Land of Confusion" by Collins's band Genesis that triggered me:
As you can see, the video is wildly disrespectful of the most effectual, momentous president I'd ever seen (at least, back then). It portrays him as a senile buffoon, overreacting to world events that he is utterly impotent at handling. It also mocked his beloved wife
(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...
I’ve heard this argument before but I have a problem with it. Are you stating that Phil Collins or Genesis never gave their approval to put their name on the video?
Spitting Image attacked everybody, right and left.
A close friend from childhood is a musician. Very good on his instrument, can't improvise, but very solid, with great technical skill and fantastic chops (that is, endurance).
He got to where he was at the top of the heap locally (that was almost 50 years ago). One night we went driving together, and I told him he had to leave. Had to go to either NYC or LA, it was the only way forward. I'm sure he'd been thinking of it himself; anyway he left for Los Angeles about a month later.
He spent about 30 years out there, had a successful career. First as a musician, and then as a manager. Met a lot of well-known people, was always working.
He came back here about 15 years ago. We used to get together a lot, just like old times. And then he found out I was a conservative.
That was the end for us. He made it clear he couldn't even be in my presence. He literally can't go two minutes without taking off on Trump, the Nazi, the sex abuser, the convicted criminal. Before Trump it was Bush. A stupid idiot, a criminal, etc.
When we were young, the subject of politics never came up between us. It was always music, and music-related technology. Recording studio stuff.
Now, Trump and politics seems to be all he thinks about. It's obvious he got that way in Hollywood. I miss the old friend, but he's gone forever.
I love Phil, I just thought it was funny that she waited until he was a wreck to “dunk” on him.
I think you’re right about Collins not being a lefty and in fact it sounds like he might even be one of those rare conservatives in the business. I do remember reading about him donating his collection to the Alamo which is pretty cool.
To the extend that there’s a culprit here, it’s not Phil Collins but the record label and the MTV people and maybe Spitting Image. Basically whoever decided to make it a politicized video that took shots at Reagan using the standard leftist barbs.
Maybe the Spitting Image guys were equal opportunity satirists, but their one big hit in the US market was this video. So it functions as yet another instance of the relentless, decades-long pattern of the art & entertainment world bombarding our culture with stuff from a leftwing POV.
Yes, we should talk about his true legacy and not the hagiographies.
“John Cougar (you’re stuck with that!) Mellencamp.”
As teens my sister and I would mock him by calling him, ‘John Mellenhead Cougarcamp.’
The only downside to IU winning their title, was finding out he’s a big-time follower of their program, and their practice facility is named after him.
Well, I’ve got nothing against Phil Collins other than noting he does all the same stuff most of these rock musicians do.
So it’s good you point out the lyrics were written by Mike Rutherford and Phil was bashed for being a Tory/conservative? Maybe? That he’s not that political.
Honestly, he’s on his last days and maybe suffering and I guess he’s no threat and I am sorry he’s going through that but...
...I went out with a rock musician for years. Lead guitar. Could play anything. Much admired by his peers. Played in bands all over the country. Did get some good gigs.
I was very young, 20s and not political at all, had no concept or idea of the whole ‘left wing-right wing thing’ stuff.
All of his brothers and friends were major liberal liberal uber leftists. He and his brothers were from California, L.A. It was ‘Ronald Ray-gun’ this and ‘Ronald Ray-gun’ that coupled with multiple left wing ideology. Beers a-poppin all the time, drugs, getting high, left wing magazines, hated the then conservative Arizona Republic calling it Arizona Repugnant, blah blah blah. Meanwhile I came shortly before from NY and thinking, ‘hey, no crime out here, Az nice’. Leftist but great radio station, KDKB. I actually do miss it, Bill Compton, Dwight Tindle, Nina Joy, Toad Hall, it was more than a radio station, it was a magical place and the rock music back then was soooo good...
I grew to hate that crowd, so I swore off rock music going instead to listening to jazz (HA! I soon found out about the jazz musician thing)...
I’m so glad I’m done with rock musicians. Oh, btw, his brother, considered the ‘smart one’ became a judge and then the D.A. of Flagstaff. Did NOT believe marijuana should be legalized. I don’t know if that was due to some sudden clarity of what that lifestyle was really all about or that he felt the cartels would come in...? but I found it kind of comical. He inhaled.
Scuze my rant (kinda)
Mick Jagger was one of the few rockers who had good things to say about Thatcher after she passed.
I loved Genesis - still do to this day. Collins was an OK swap for Peter Gabriel, though Gabriel just had a little something ‘more’ IMHO.
So many of the Genesis band members were greatly talented. Love all of their individual albums, too. :)
This was probably the ultimate Anti-Reagan video of them all, by this Commie band The Minutemen. Although I found it quite humorous in a way.
This Ain’t No Picnic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDr25zjd4yM
Poor guy.
“Phil Collins had nothing to do with it...”
Doesn’t matter - that is what everyone saw and with no internet then that is what they were going to deduce or think.
It wasn't really a swap. Collins was Genesis' drummer and then they realized he could sing. That's what I remember.
Right, it was a send up of world / religious leaders and pop culture maggots.
Phil was a shadow Torie back in the day, he once threatened to leave England if Blair won. And promptly moved to Switzerland after Tony moved to 10 Downing Street.
Yes, I know Collins was their drummer. ‘Swap’ as in new lead singer. :)
It wasn’t really a swap. Collins was Genesis’ drummer and then they realized he could sing. That’s what I remember.
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Close enough... I loved Genesis with Gabriel and it was a huge letdown when he left. However, Trick of the Tail was released shortly thereafter and turned out to be a very good album... a few months later, I had front row seats when Genesis went on tour and it became quite clear that Collins could really sing... he didn’t have the inexplicable artsy stage presence quality that Gabriel had but it was just different, not necessarily better or worse. But then Gabriel started releasing his solo albums and I ended up liking them more than anything Genesis did and it dawned on me that as good as Genesis was with Gabriel, both Genesis and Gabriel came out ahead when they went their separate ways.
For many. Bill O’Reilly, Jordan Peterson, Ann Wilson of Heart. I’m getting up there.
Sad to see many rockers so (naturally and understandably) out of shape, sitting in chairs when they perform.
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