Simon Collins
Encyclopedia
Simon Philip N. Collins (born September 14, 1976) is a British
-Canadian
musician. He is the son of English pop singer Phil Collins
.
, London
, England
, but grew up in Vancouver
, Canada
. As early as the age of 5 he taught himself how to play drums and by 14 Simon was drumming in various bands in and around Vancouver. He found the time to teach himself how to play the piano and later also the guitar. He has been writing and composing his own music since he was a teenager.
, Canada
to Germany
, where his debut album All of Who You Are was released. The album sold 100,000 copies there, and three singles were released: "Pride", "Money Maker" and "Shine Through". The song "Pride" charted all over eastern and western Europe. Collins co-wrote the second single, "Shine Through", with Howard Jones
.
In 2007, he recorded a cover of the Genesis
, Abacab
track "Keep It Dark
" as a tribute to his father's band with keyboardist and co-producer Dave Kerzner (Kevin Gilbert
's Thud
, Giraffe). During production, he met Kevin Churko, who mixed and mastered the recording. This led Collins to collaborate with Churko on the production of Simon's next album, U-Catastrophe
.
, was released in August 2008 on iTunes
and became available in stores the following month. Collins has followed in his father's footsteps with the first single, "Unconditional", reaching the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
chart. The song peaked at #12 on this chart in November 2008. It also reached the Canadian Hot 100
the same month. The album features Dave Kerzner, Kelly Nordstrom, Steve Hackett on "Fast Forward the Future" and Simon's father Phil Collins on the song "The Big Bang".
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
musician. He is the son of English pop singer Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
.
Early years
Collins was born in HammersmithHammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, but grew up in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. As early as the age of 5 he taught himself how to play drums and by 14 Simon was drumming in various bands in and around Vancouver. He found the time to teach himself how to play the piano and later also the guitar. He has been writing and composing his own music since he was a teenager.
1999-2001: All of Who You Are
In 2000, he moved from his home in VancouverVancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where his debut album All of Who You Are was released. The album sold 100,000 copies there, and three singles were released: "Pride", "Money Maker" and "Shine Through". The song "Pride" charted all over eastern and western Europe. Collins co-wrote the second single, "Shine Through", with Howard Jones
Howard Jones (musician)
Howard Jones is a musician, singer and songwriter. According to the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums, "Jones is an accomplished singer-songwriter who was a regular chart visitor in the mid 1980s with his brand of synthpop. Jones, who was equally popular in the U.S., appeared at Live...
.
2005-2007: Time for Truth and Genesis cover
In 2005 Collins released his second album, Time for Truth. For this album, the singer played a variety of instruments, including drums and keyboards, in addition to providing the majority of the vocals. The album shows an awareness for the environment and personal development; Collins was quoted describing the record as one that "definitely reflects the state of the world at this point for me ecologically, politically, and spiritually as well."In 2007, he recorded a cover of the Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
, Abacab
Abacab
Abacab, released in 1981, is the 11th studio album by British band Genesis. It reached No.1 in the UK, where it remained in the charts for 27 weeks.-Background and recording:...
track "Keep It Dark
Keep It Dark
"Keep It Dark" is a song by British band, Genesis, released on October 23, 1981 as a single in Europe only. The track wasn't released as a single in the U.S.-Song information:...
" as a tribute to his father's band with keyboardist and co-producer Dave Kerzner (Kevin Gilbert
Kevin Gilbert
Kevin Matthew Gilbert was an American songwriter, musician, composer, producer and collaborator born in Sacramento, California, later living in San Mateo, California where he attended Junipero Serra High School...
's Thud
Thud (album)
-Track listing:#"When You Give Your Love to Me" - 3:20#"Goodness Gracious" - 4:08#"Joytown" - 4:53#"Waiting" - 5:05#"Tea for One" - 5:49#"Shadow Self" - 6:66#"The Tears of Audrey" - 4:47#"Shrug " - 3:54#"All Fall Down" - 5:35...
, Giraffe). During production, he met Kevin Churko, who mixed and mastered the recording. This led Collins to collaborate with Churko on the production of Simon's next album, U-Catastrophe
U-Catastrophe
U-Catastrophe is the third album by Simon Collins. It was first digitally available in August 2008 on iTunes.-Production:In 2007, Collins recorded a cover of the 1981 Genesis song Keep It Dark. While working on the cover, he met Kevin Churko. This resulted in the decision by Collins & Churko to...
.
2008-2009: U-Catastrophe
His U.S. debut album (and third album to date), titled U-CatastropheU-Catastrophe
U-Catastrophe is the third album by Simon Collins. It was first digitally available in August 2008 on iTunes.-Production:In 2007, Collins recorded a cover of the 1981 Genesis song Keep It Dark. While working on the cover, he met Kevin Churko. This resulted in the decision by Collins & Churko to...
, was released in August 2008 on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and became available in stores the following month. Collins has followed in his father's footsteps with the first single, "Unconditional", reaching the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
chart. The song peaked at #12 on this chart in November 2008. It also reached the Canadian Hot 100
Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...
the same month. The album features Dave Kerzner, Kelly Nordstrom, Steve Hackett on "Fast Forward the Future" and Simon's father Phil Collins on the song "The Big Bang".
Studio albums
- 1999: All Of Who You AreAll Of Who You Are-Track listing:Original Release 1999# "All Of Who You Are" – 4:58# "Pride" – 5:36# "Money Maker" – 5:16# "Anymore" – 4:31# "Coast" – 5:49# "Ocean Deep Inside" – 5:36# "Sphere" - 5:45# "In My Life" - 5:45# "Jaded" - 4:44# "These Dreams" - 4:45...
- 2005: Time For TruthTime for TruthTine For Truth is the second album by Simon Collins.-Track listing:# "Time For Truth" - 6:39# "Use Your Imagination" - 3:47# "Reason" - 4:38# "Hold On" - 4:15# "Man On TV" - 4:59# "Out On The Playa" - 3:07# "Sunburn" - 5:16# "Home" - 4:47...
- 2008: U-CatastropheU-CatastropheU-Catastrophe is the third album by Simon Collins. It was first digitally available in August 2008 on iTunes.-Production:In 2007, Collins recorded a cover of the 1981 Genesis song Keep It Dark. While working on the cover, he met Kevin Churko. This resulted in the decision by Collins & Churko to...
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... |
US AC Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
||||
| 1999 | "Pride" | 41 | — | All of Who You Are | |
| 2000 | "Money Maker" | — | — | ||
| "Shine Through" | — | — | |||
| 2005 | "Man on TV" | — | — | Time For Truth | |
| "Hold On" | — | — | |||
| 2008 | "Unconditional" | 99 | 12 | U-Catastrophe | |
| "Powerless" | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||