Major Controversies Surrounding Phil Collins: A Detailed Timeline

Public opinion and media debates around Phil Collins—discover key moments of controversy.

Phil Collins is a highly successful English musician, known as the drummer and later lead singer of the rock band Genesis and for his prolific solo career. During the 1980s, Collins achieved more US Top 40 singles than any other artist through his work with Genesis, collaborations, and solo releases. Notable hits include "In the Air Tonight," "Against All Odds," "One More Night," and "Another Day in Paradise," solidifying his status as a pop icon.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1985: Grammy Win and Academy Award Controversy

In 1985, Phil Collins won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male for "Against All Odds". Despite being nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song, he was not invited to perform it at the ceremony, leading to controversy.

October 1989: Release of "Another Day in Paradise"

In October 1989, Phil Collins released "Another Day in Paradise", a song addressing homelessness, which features David Crosby on backing vocals. The song reached No. 1 in the US and became the final number one single of the 1980s in the US.

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1990: Roger Waters criticised Collins's ubiquitous nature

In 1990, Roger Waters criticized Phil Collins's "ubiquitous nature", including his involvement in the Who's 1989 reunion tour, expressing his disapproval of Collins's widespread presence in the music industry.

1992: Mention in The Sun article

In 1992, Phil Collins was mentioned in The Sun article titled "If Kinnock wins today will the last person to leave Britain please turn out the lights", which stated he was planning to leave Britain in the event of a Labour victory.

1992: Affair with Lavinia Lang

In 1992, while married to Jill Tavelman, Phil Collins had an affair with Lavinia Lang, a former drama school classmate, during a Genesis tour.

1993: Fax Communication with Jill Tavelman

In 1993, some divorce-related correspondence between Phil Collins and his second wife, Jill Tavelman, was by fax, with a message regarding access to their daughter being reproduced on the front cover of The Sun.

1997: Reports of moving to Switzerland

In 1997, Phil Collins was reported in the British press to have left the UK and moved to Switzerland in protest at the Labour Party's victory in the general election.

1997: Incorrect reports of leaving the country

In 1997, there were incorrect reports that Phil Collins left the country when Labour won the general election.

1999: 'Sussudio' and Prince Comparison

In 1999, Phil Collins's song "Sussudio" was noted to sound similar to Prince's "1999", a comparison Collins did not deny, sparking discussion and commentary on the song's originality and influences.

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1999: The Collins Menace

In 1999, journalist Frank DiGiacomo wrote an article titled "The Collins Menace" for New York Observer, commenting on Collins's omnipresence and how difficult it was to escape his music and image.

2000: BBC Biography on Negative Criticism

According to a 2000 BBC biography of Phil Collins, "critics sneer at him" and "bad publicity also caused problems", which "damaged his public profile".

2000: South Park Episode "Timmy 2000"

In 2000, Phil Collins was portrayed in the South Park episode "Timmy 2000" holding his Oscar, referencing his 1999 win, and the show's creators admitted resenting losing to Collins.

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2001: Appearance on Brass Eye

In 2001, Phil Collins appeared in an episode of the controversial British comedy series Brass Eye, endorsing a hoax anti-paedophile campaign. The BBC reported that Collins consulted lawyers regarding the programme.

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2005: Collins nominates the Gallaghers to be sent into Room 101

In 2005, Phil Collins appeared on the BBC television series Room 101 and nominated the Gallaghers (from Oasis) to be sent into the eponymous room, describing them as "horrible" and criticizing their talent and behavior.

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2005: Incorrect reports of threatening to return

In 2005, there were incorrect reports that Phil Collins threatened to return if the Conservatives won the election.

2005: Noel Gallagher's comments on Collins's return

Shortly before the 2005 election, Labour supporter Noel Gallagher was quoted saying Phil Collins was threatening to return to live in Britain if the Tories got in.

2007: "I wish I'd never heard of Phil Collins" Article

In her 2007 article "I wish I'd never heard of Phil Collins", Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian referred to Phil Collins' cumulative negative publicity, finding it difficult to appreciate his work due to her distaste for the man himself.

2008: Criticism in Christian Aid report

In 2008, Phil Collins was one of several wealthy figures living in tax havens who were singled out for criticism in a report by the charity Christian Aid.

2009: Interview with Mark Lawson

In 2009, Phil Collins said that his father was Conservative but politics never loomed large in his family. He was interviewed by Mark Lawson for the BBC.

2009: Shift in Media Profile

In 2009, journalist Mark Lawson noted that Phil Collins's media profile had shifted from "pop's Mr. Nice guy" to someone accused of "blandness, [being a] tax exile and ending a marriage by sending a fax".

2010: Defense of Collins by Gary Mills

In 2010, Gary Mills of The Quietus passionately defended Phil Collins, arguing that the hatred towards him was unjustified and that his career should not be defined solely by perceived missteps like No Jacket Required.

2010: Love Don't Come Easy: Artists We Love to Hate

In 2010, Kevin Courtney of The Irish Times named Phil Collins as one of the ten most disliked pop stars in the world, criticizing his performance at Live Aid and the overall "Phil phatigue" that had set in by the early 1990s.

2011: Collins addresses criticism and retirement rumors

In 2011, Phil Collins addressed the criticism he had received, stating that people growing sick of him wasn't his fault and that his statements about retirement had been taken out of context, denying that he was retiring due to bad press.

2014: Reference in song by Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott

In 2014, the Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott song "When I Get Back to Blighty", from their album What Have We Become?, made reference to Phil Collins as "a prisoner to his tax returns".

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2016: Legal action from Andrea Bertorelli

In 2016, Andrea Bertorelli took legal action against Phil Collins pertaining to his account of their relationship in his autobiography, leading to further complications and disputes regarding their past.

2016: Interview in The Guardian

In a 2016 interview in The Guardian, Phil Collins stated that talking about politics to The Sun was one of his biggest regrets and admitted that he didn't vote in the past because he was too busy.

October 2020: Cease and desist order to Donald Trump

In October 2020, Phil Collins issued a cease and desist order to Donald Trump and his campaign for playing "In the Air Tonight" at a rally.

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2020: Eviction notice against Cevey

In October 2020, Phil Collins filed an eviction notice against Orianne Cevey after she secretly married another man in August, leading to further legal battles and disputes.