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| ==Music career== | ==Music career== | ||
| ===Solo career and collaborations=== | ===Solo career and collaborations=== | ||
| Collins was signed by ] following a release of demo tapes he had recorded in 2000.<ref name="bio" /><ref name="bio_2" /> It was at this time that Collins moved from Vancouver to ], ], where his debut album '']'' was released.<ref name="bio" /><ref name="timefortruth_busy" /> The album saw 100,000 copies sold in Germany and three singles were released off it: "Pride", "Money Maker" and "Shine Through".<ref> Discogs.com. Retrieved 5 June 2009.</ref> The album's sales have been attributed to the success of the single, "Pride."<ref name="brooksbulletin">''The Brooks Bulletin.'' Brown, Rob. . n.d. Retrieved 22 July 2013.</ref> The second single, "Shine Through", was co-written by Collins and ].<ref name="debutalbum" /> Collins turned down his father's offer to produce the album, saying, "That's too close. People would say he wrote the songs, did everything."<ref name="collinskids" /><ref name="debutalbum" /> | |||
| In 2003, Collins |
In 2003, Collins left Warner Music and returned to Vancouver to start his own record label, Lightyears Music.<ref name="bio" /><ref name="timefortruth_busy" /> Two years later, Collins and Lightyears released his second album, '']''.<ref name="bio" /> Collins played a variety of instruments on the album in addition to providing the majority of the vocals.<ref name="xtra" /> During his promotional efforts for the album in Canada, Collins declined being the opening act for his father's "Finally, The First Farewell Tour" in Frankfurt, Germany due to a busy schedule.<ref name="timefortruth_busy" /> In 2007, he recorded a cover of ]' '']'' track "]", with keyboardist and co-producer ]<nowiki/>as a tribute to Genesis.<ref name="brooksbulletin" /> During production of "Keep it Dark", Collins met Kevin Churko, who mixed and mastered the recording,<ref name="bio" /> leading Collins to collaborate with Churko on the production of his third album, '']''.<ref name="u-catastrophe"> Allmusic. Retrieved 29 April 2013.</ref> | ||
| ''U-Catastrophe'', was released in August 2008 on ], becoming his first North American record. The album's first single, "Unconditional", debuted on the ''Billboard'' ] chart at #30 on September 4, 2008,<ref name="unconditional_debut" /> and peaked at #12 on this chart in November 2008.<ref name="unconditional_chart"> AllMusic. Retrieved 21 July 2013.</ref> The single also reached the ] the same month. The album featured Kerzner, Kelly Nordstrom, ] on "Fast Forward the Future" and Phil Collins on "The Big Bang".<ref name="u-catastrophe" /> | ''U-Catastrophe'', was released in August 2008 on ], becoming his first North American record. The album's first single, "Unconditional", debuted on the ''Billboard'' ] chart at #30 on September 4, 2008,<ref name="unconditional_debut" /> and peaked at #12 on this chart in November 2008.<ref name="unconditional_chart"> AllMusic. Retrieved 21 July 2013.</ref> The single also reached the ] the same month. The album featured Kerzner, Kelly Nordstrom, ] on "Fast Forward the Future" and Phil Collins on "The Big Bang".<ref name="u-catastrophe" /> | ||
Revision as of 04:03, 2 May 2014
This article is about the British-born musician. For the English footballer, see Simon Collins (footballer).| Simon Collins | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1976-09-14) September 14, 1976 (age 48) London, England, UK |
| Origin | Wiltshire, The West, England, UK |
| Genres | Progressive rock, pop, electronic |
| Occupation(s) | Recording artist, producer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, drums, piano, guitar |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels | Inside Out, Lightyears |
| Website | www |
Simon Philip N. Collins (born September 14, 1976) is a British-Canadian musician, drummer and lead vocalist of the progressive rock band, Sound of Contact. Collins is the son of English drummer and singer Phil Collins and Collins' first wife, Andrea Bertorelli. He is also the half-brother of actresses Joely Collins and Lily Collins. Reviewers have compared his vocals to his father's.
Biography
Born in London, England, Collins moved to Vancouver, British Columbia when he was eight years old. He lived with his mother, Andrea, and half-sister, Joely, in nearby Richmond, B.C. for most of his early life. Collins is a graduate of Vancouver's Point Grey Secondary School.
He first became involved with music when he was six after his father purchased for him a Tama drum kit. Collins would practice drumming by playing to the music albums in his parents' record collection as well as when accompanying his father while on tour with Genesis. By being on tour with Genesis, Collins was able to be mentored on the drums by his father and the band's touring drummer, Chester Thompson. Though he had a percussion instructor when he was ten, Collins preferred drumming to artists such as Stewart Copeland, Gavin Harrison, and Keith Moon over his formal lessons in jazz drumming. Collins made his first onstage appearance alongside his father at the age of 12, playing drums on "Easy Lover." He later appeared onstage performing during the Seriously, Live! World Tour.
In his early teens, Collins learned to play the piano and began to develop his songwriting and singing skill. While he played drums in numerous hard rock bands beginning at age 14, Collins wanted to pursue singing, songwriting, and diversity in music styles, including pop, progressive rock, rock and roll, punk, grunge, and electronica. His early compositions were rejected by the heavier rock bands he played for because of their pop style. Before beginning his solo career, Collins was a member of the local punk band Jet Set.
In his late teens, Collins worked part-time as a disc jockey in Vancouver's rave scene. His knowledge of the rave scene was the inspiration for a video project with his sister Joely, a documentary about raves titled Summer Love. Collins has a love of astronomy and interest in social issues, themes that are now present in his music.
Music career
Solo career and collaborations
Collins was signed by Warner Music following a release of demo tapes he had recorded in 2000. It was at this time that Collins moved from Vancouver to Frankfurt, Germany, where his debut album All of Who You Are was released. The album saw 100,000 copies sold in Germany and three singles were released off it: "Pride", "Money Maker" and "Shine Through". The album's sales have been attributed to the success of the single, "Pride." The second single, "Shine Through", was co-written by Collins and Howard Jones. Collins turned down his father's offer to produce the album, saying, "That's too close. People would say he wrote the songs, did everything."
In 2003, Collins left Warner Music and returned to Vancouver to start his own record label, Lightyears Music. Two years later, Collins and Lightyears released his second album, Time for Truth. Collins played a variety of instruments on the album in addition to providing the majority of the vocals. During his promotional efforts for the album in Canada, Collins declined being the opening act for his father's "Finally, The First Farewell Tour" in Frankfurt, Germany due to a busy schedule. In 2007, he recorded a cover of Genesis' Abacab track "Keep It Dark", with keyboardist and co-producer Dave Kerzner, as a tribute to Genesis. During production of "Keep it Dark", Collins met Kevin Churko, who mixed and mastered the recording, leading Collins to collaborate with Churko on the production of his third album, U-Catastrophe.
U-Catastrophe, was released in August 2008 on iTunes, becoming his first North American record. The album's first single, "Unconditional", debuted on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart at #30 on September 4, 2008, and peaked at #12 on this chart in November 2008. The single also reached the Canadian Hot 100 the same month. The album featured Kerzner, Kelly Nordstrom, Steve Hackett on "Fast Forward the Future" and Phil Collins on "The Big Bang".
Sound of Contact
In late 2009, Collins approached Kerzner with the idea of forming a new band. Subsequently, the pair contacted their colleagues and writing partners Matt Dorsey and Kelly Nordstrom, and the four began work on a new project at Greenhouse Studios in Vancouver. In December 2012, the band announced their band identity, Sound of Contact, with Collins on lead vocals and drums, Kerzner on keyboards, Dorsey on bass and Nordstrom on guitar. Prior to that, in early 2012, Collins participated with Kerzner in the recording of Steve Hackett's Genesis tribute album, Genesis Revisited II, contributing vocals and keyboard to a cover of "Supper's Ready." Sound of Contact's debut album, Dimensionaut, was released in May 2013, co-produced by Collins and Kerzner. The band received the "Limelight" award for Best New Group at the second-annual Progressive Music Awards held in September 2013.
Discography
Studio albums
- 1999: All of Who You Are
- 2005: Time for Truth
- 2008: U-Catastrophe
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | US AC | ||||
| 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 | |||||
Sound of Contact
- 2013: Dimensionaut
With other artists
- 2012: Genesis Revisited II (with Steve Hackett)
External links
References
- ^ Simon Collins' Grand Entrance: On his music, his famous dad and coming out. Xtra. Retrieved November 7, 2008
- ^ Gee, Dana (4 May 1999). "Playing to their own beats: Phil Collins' kids are making their own marks in life: ". The Province.
- Lily Collins - Biography - IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
- The Toledo Blade. Tharp, Bridget. "Sounds: Simon Collins forges his own musical identity". August 16, 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ Simon Collins Follows His Father Phil Into the Pop Charts. About.com. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ Gold, Kerry (10 June 2000). "Genesis of a music dynasty: Not Daddy's boy: Simon Collins is determined to make his own name in pop music, despite the baggage of being Phil's son.: ". The Vancouver Sun.
- ^ Bio | Simon Collins Official Website. SimonCollins.com. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
- ^ Quan, Douglas (2 June 2000). "Simon Collins struggles to be more than `son of Phil': Vancouver- raised musician releases debut CD of `Euro-space-pop': ". The Ottawa Citizen.
- ^ Sound of Contact Progressive Rock Band Interview | Audioholics. Audioholics. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
- Simon Collins. Modern Drummer. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
- ^ Ahearn, Victoria (19 Oct 2005). "Simon Collins has no time to 'Phil': Rocker too busy to play with dad on latest tour: ". Prince George Citizen.
- Cite error: The named reference
bio interviewwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Simon Collins Biography. MapleMusic. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
- Simon Collins discography Discogs.com. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
- ^ The Brooks Bulletin. Brown, Rob. "Canadian Simon Collins releases first US album". n.d. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ Simon Collins, U-Catastrophe credits. Allmusic. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- Simon Collins | Awards | AllMusic AllMusic. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
- Sound of Contact biography. Sound of Contact. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- Steve Hackett, 'Genesis Revisited II' - Album Premiere. Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
- Sound of Contact Signs With InsideOut. Prog Rock Magazine. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
- "Prog Awards 2013 - The Winners!". Prog Rock Magazine. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
- Ian Anderson, Steve Hackett, Marillion, Family Among Progressive Music Award Winners. VVN Music. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
| Phil Collins | |
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| Genesis | |
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| Singles |
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| Other songs | |
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| Related musicians | |
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