In 1975, Genesis experienced one of rock’s most notable lead singer transitions when Peter Gabriel departed the band and was succeeded by Phil Collins.

Collins, who had been the group’s drummer since 1970, ultimately guided Genesis to tremendous commercial success. However, guitarist Steve Hackett recently disclosed that Collins was initially quite hesitant about stepping into the role of the band’s frontman.

“Phil, at that time, very much wanted to be a drummer,” Hackett explained during a recent appearance on the Word in Your Ear podcast. “Now this might sound strange, because he’d been on stage playing the part of the Artful Dodger in Oliver. And so, Phil arrived with, he was a star. He arrived with all these girlfriends and a fur coat and everything. But then he said, ‘I don’t want to be a singer.’ He said, ‘I want to be a drummer because that’s a more respectable gig.’ Of course, history would tell a different story.”

Although Collins contributed harmonies on Genesis’ tracks, Hackett mentioned that he rarely drew attention to his vocal talents. Nevertheless, when the drummer did sing, his talent was unmistakable.

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“He happened to be singing one day in the van, when we were pulling out for petrol,” Hackett recalled. “I said, ‘You’ve got a really good voice. You sound a bit like Steve Winwood.’ And he said, ‘Oh, do you think so?’ And I think gradually, it came – the confidence.”

Did Genesis Consider Other Singers Before Choosing Phil Collins?

Collins wasn’t the initial choice to replace Gabriel. In fact, Genesis explored numerous options before selecting their future frontman.

“We auditioned a number of people,” Hackett noted. “And I think Phil got frustrated one night and we were actually in Trident [Studios] recording backing tracks for an album that had no lead singer. And he said, ‘Let me have a go.’”

At that moment, one of Genesis’ record label executives happened to be within earshot.

“Tony Stratton Smith, who was Charisma’s label boss, stuck his head around the corner and heard a few bars that [Collins had] sung,” Hackett recalled. “He said, ‘Sounds like you’ve found your lead singer, chaps. So I’ll be off.’ And so the deal was done very, very quickly.”

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Interestingly, another progressive rock icon had separately advocated for Collins to assume the role of Genesis’ singer.

“I met Jon Anderson for the first time, of Yes, at Phil’s first wedding,” Hackett recalled. “And he said, ‘Why don’t you make Phil the lead singer and get in another lead instrumentalist and get another drummer?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I would. I’m not sure if the other guys will go for that.’ But then luckily, I think we all made the right choice collectively after that. And Phil was brilliant, of course.”