Frail Phil Collins begins Genesis farewell tour in Birmingham, singing from chair onstage [UK]

https://pagesix.com ^ | September 20, 2021 | By Alex Heigl

[Red Badger]

“Against All Odds,” Phil Collins is soldiering on.

A frail-looking Collins finished his first show with Genesis on the group’s “The Last Domino?” tour in Birmingham Monday night, remaining seated throughout the concert.

Phil Collins sings with Genesis. Cover Images

Collins, 70, sang all of the evening’s tunes from a chair onstage, though he was not alone in that regard: The group’s guitarist Mike Rutherford also opted to play while perched on a stool at points.

Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford perform with Genesis. Cover Images

The Birmingham show was the first stop on the band’s farewell tour and their first live performance in 13 years since 2007’s Turn It On Again Tour.

In the latest issue of Mojo, Collins said recently that this will be the final chance to see Genesis in concert. “This English and American tour, that will be enough for me,” he said.

Cover Images Collins has struggled with his health in recent years and has been open about his physical issues heading into this tour.

Asked how he’s been prepping for months of three-hour shows, Collins told the Guardian that he hasn’t: “I don’t do anything at all,” he said. “I don’t practice singing at home, not at all. Rehearsing is the practice. These guys [his band mates] are always having a go at me for not, but I have to do it this way.”

[Hildy]

Mike and the Mechanics. I went to a rock concert this weekend. All the rock starts are getting older. But they still have it.

[Clutch Martin]

Neuro in nature, sciatica maybe, cervical disk wear. Wear and tear.

Old Folks Boogie (a song by Little Feet)

Off our rockers, actin’ crazy
With the right medication we won’t be lazy

Doin’ the old folks boogie
Down on the farm
Wheelchairs, they was locked arm in arm
Paired off pacemakers with matchin’ alarms
Gives us jus’ one more chance
To spin one more yarn

And you know that you’re over the hill
When your mind makes a promise that your body can’t fill

Doin’ the old folks boogie
And boogie we will

‘Cause to us the thought’s as good as a thrill.

Getting old is fun. Getting the kinks worked out after a good nights “nap” is wearing thin. I need a hot tub.

[V V Camp Enari 67-68]

Best show and performance I ever saw was by Neil Diamond. Non stop entertainment…hands down!

[dfwgator]

We Are The Old - Old Aid (From Married With Children)

We are the old
We’ve got arthritis
Our gums are weak

[Richie Havens]
So weak

[All]
From gingivitis

[John Sebastian]
We are the old
We’ve got arthritis

[All]
We are the one who wear bifocals
And have bursitis

[Spencer Davis]
There are people younger
But we heed another call

[Richie Havens]
We really need the money
Our accountants took it all

[Peter Noone]
We sing to you
Those who have money
Once we was cool

[”Axl” Bundy]
But now we just dress funny

[John Sebastian]
We need your help
So please, please dig deep

[Richie Havens]
Don’t call after ten
Cuz we’ll be asleep

[Robby Krieger]
We have medicare
And anti-gas pills

[Mark Lindsay]
But without your help
We can’t pay our alimony bills

[Richie Havens]
Take it Axl!

[”Axl” Bundy]
Plays instrumental solo with his sandwich

[All]
We are the old

[Peg, Kelly and Bud Bundy]
They are the old

[All]
We have arthritis

[Peg, Kelly and Bud Bundy]
They have arthritis

[All]
Once we were gods
Now golf excites us

[Bud Bundy]
Golf excites them

[All]
So write a check

[Richie Havens]
A really big one

[All]
For our December
There’s one more verse
But we can’t remember

[All]
La la la laaaa
La la la laaaa
La la la
la la la la la

[Peter Noone]
Sing the song, Jimmy!

[All]
La la la laaaa

[Peter Noone]
Nanana na na

[All]
La la la laaaa

[Peter Noone]
Nanana na na

[All]
La la la
la la la la la

[Mark Lindsey]
One more time!

[All]
La la la laaaa
La la la laaaa
La la la
la la la la la

[Steve_Seattle]

"Mike and the Mechanics. I went to a rock concert this weekend. All the rock starts are getting older. But they still have it."

"In The Living Years" is a song that has renewed meaning for me in this time of family estrangement over politics. A few months ago I tried to send a link to it to my liberal sister, but it bounced back as undeliverable. I think she had blocked me.

[Clutch Martin]

“Genesis... One of the most over rated bands of all time.”

They had their moments. Phil was touted as a significant drummer in the Rock genré. I don’t necessarily disagree, but for the 3 or 4 Genesis tunes that effervesced to the top they got some significant airplay...

I did think that Peter Gabriel who split off from Genesis early was more musically appealing.

[jstolzen]

More importantly (than their commercial, “pop” success - where they sold an absolute gazillion albums), Genesis is widely seen as one of the greatest Progressive Rock bands of all time.

It’s their Prog Rock stuff that’s truly special. Sure, they had some decent pop hits (Turn it On Again for example), but nothing will stand up to Ripples, Suppers Ready, Cage Medley, etc. THAT was some musical genius, most of which came from the great mind of Tony Banks. Phil was just the front guy and drummer, while Tony was widely seen as the “brains” behind Genesis..

[coon2000]

When Peter Gabriel was lead singer for Genesis, they were phenomenal. The instrumentals were amazing. After Phil Collins moved to lead vocals, their writing went pop. I only like the Peter Gabriel era Genesis.

[Tommy Revolts]

In his Prime (live):

I Wish It Would Rain Down

[AppyPappy]

I see it too much in families. I love my brother but he is obsessed with hating Republicans like me (and my sister). So I see him when I can but I don’t participate in the Hate. I take him out to eat but I take a friend so he gets ganged up on when it comes to politics and he won’t ask for money.

But the door is always open.

[ImpBill]

I have but to look in the mirror each morning to be reminded of my mortality!

[major_gaff]

I saw Hackett in Symphony Hall in Allentown a week or so before Covid shut everything
down in 2020. Played 'Selling England by the Pound' in it's entirety for one of the
sets...great show. His solo stuff is pretty good two.

[LouAvul]

She a ho!

[beef]

“She had the whole show and that’s a natural fact.”

I thought it was “She had her hole showing”. I guess you can tell where my mind was back then.

[drSteve78]

I could care less
How much less could you care?

Well, I COULD care less, but it’s too damned much trouble.

[deport]

Spouse(s)..
Andrea Bertorelli
​​(m. 1975; div. 1980)​
Jill Tavelman 
​(m. 1984; div. 1996)​
Orianne Cevey 
​​(m. 1999; div. 2006)​

Children 5, including 
Joely, Simon and Lily

[dfwgator]

Lily definitely bears a strong resemblance to Phil.

[Sirius Lee]

I hope to see Steve Hackett, he puts on a good show playing all of the 70s classic Genesis material.

He didn't partake, or wasn't invited. Has an active career, regardless.

[dfwgator]

LOL, it just sucked though when I was playing something like Trick of the Tail in the car with the kids, and all they said was, “Hey, it’s that guy from the Tarzan movie!” Uggggh!

[dfwgator]

That’s what I meant, I’d rather see his solo show, probably the ticket is a heck of a lot less, as well.