Phil Collins officially left Genesis in 1996, and singer Ray Wilson replaced him. Despite leaving his group, the musician continued having a career in music as he went solo; what was the real reason he departed from his beloved group?
According to Grunge, Collins left the band after he served as their lead vocalist for two decades. One of the main reasons he left his bandmates was his pursuit of a solo career.
"For the past 20 years, drummer Phil Collins has been temping as a singer, to great acclaim. Now, however he has decided to move on in order to concentrate on his solo projects," a statement reads at the time, as published by Genesis News.
Phil Collins Was Criticized During His Time Under Genesis
Phil Collins may be considered a legend in the industry, but there were times when he was criticized for the undertones or the meaning of his songs under the group.
There were also people who blamed him for changing the original sound of Genesis as they went with a simplistic pop route after Peter Gabriel left.
There were different stories about why he left the group; one of them suggested that his departure was due to the song "Burning Rope."
In a 1997 interview with Modern Drummer, he complained about the track, saying it was a "period piece."
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"I know there are people who like this music, but I just couldn't get up on stage and play or sing this kind of material anymore," he said.
He noted that those kinds of songs "made me leave Genesis," but he never blatantly named "Burning Rope" as a part of it.
Years later, he spoke with The Baltimore Sun and gave the real reason, saying his solo album "Both Sides" contributed to his departure.
"I felt that I'd arrived at a place, musically speaking, that really was the most fulfilling for me," he said.
How Did Phil Collins' Bandmates Feel After He Left?
Collins further noted that the split between him and his Genesis bandmates at the time was "amicable" as his good pal, Mike Rutherford, told him that if he wanted to leave, they understood it.
On the other hand, Tony Banks said it might be a "sad day," he also understood where Collins was coming from.
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