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==Music career==
==Music career==
===Solo career and collaborations===
===Solo career and collaborations===
Following the recording and release of demo tapes in 2000, Collins was contacted and signed by [[Warner Music Group|Warner Music]].<ref name="bio" /><ref name="bio_2" /> Shortly thereafter, Collins moved from Vancouver to [[Frankfurt]], [[Germany]], where his debut album ''[[All of Who You Are]]'' was released.<ref name="bio" /><ref name="timefortruth_busy" /> The album sold 100,000 copies in Germany with three singles released: "Pride", "Money Maker" and "Shine Through".<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Simon+Collins Simon Collins discography] Discogs.com. Retrieved 5 June 2009.</ref> His father wished to produce the album originally, but the younger Collins declined, claiming "that's too close. People would say he wrote the songs, did everything."<ref name="collinskids" /><ref name="debutalbum" /> Keeping his father's involvement to a minimum, according to him, was "a matter of survival."<ref name="debutalbum" /> The album's success has been attributed to the success of his debut single, "Pride."<ref name="brooksbulletin">''The Brooks Bulletin.'' Brown, Rob. [http://www.quirkcreative.ca/writing/SimonCollins.pdf "Canadian Simon Collins releases first US album"]. n.d. Retrieved 22 July 2013.</ref> Collins co-wrote the second single, "Shine Through", with [[Howard Jones (musician)|Howard Jones]].<ref name="debutalbum" /> The two met backstage when Collins was 11 years old, prior to his father's appearance on the show, ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)|This Is Your Life]]''.<ref name="debutalbum" />
Collins was signed by [[Warner Music Group|Warner Music]] 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 [[Frankfurt]], [[Germany]], where his debut album ''[[All of Who You Are]]'' was released.<ref name="bio" /> The album saw 100,000 copies sold in Germany and three singles were released off it: "Pride", "Money Maker" and "Shine Through".<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Simon+Collins Simon Collins discography] 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. [http://www.quirkcreative.ca/writing/SimonCollins.pdf "Canadian Simon Collins releases first US album"]. n.d. Retrieved 22 July 2013.</ref> A second single, "Shine Through", was co-written by Collins and [[Howard Jones (musician)|Howard Jones]].<ref>[http://www.howardjones.com/lyrics/shinethrough.html Howard Jones Official Website, "The complete lyrical index of Howard's music"]</ref><ref>[http://www.maplemusic.com/artists/sic/bio.asp Maple Music, Simon Collins Biography]</ref>


In 2003, Collins ended his relationship with Warner Music and returned to Vancouver to start his own record label, Lightyears Music.<ref name="bio" /><ref name="timefortruth_busy" /> That year, he threatened to sue the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] and [[Montreal]] filmmaker Alan Handel for their inaccurate depiction of him in the documentary, ''Singing in the Shadow: The Children of Rock Royalty''.<ref name="cbclawsuit">{{Cite news|title=Collins' son threatens to sue CBC filmmaker: [Final Edition]|work=Nanaimo Daily News|date=15 Sep 2003|quote="Simon Collins, the son of rock legend Phil Collins, has threatened legal action against the CBC and a Canadian documentary filmmaker, if they do not change the way he is portrayed in a new film about the children of celebrity singers, The Globe and Mail reported Saturday." "Simon Collins, 26, believes that Alan Handel, the Montreal-based filmmaker put him back "in the shadow of his father" instead of shining light on his own talent."}}</ref> Two years later, Collins and Lightyears released his second album, ''[[Time for Truth]]''.<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 [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]]' ''[[Abacab]]'' track "[[Keep It Dark]]", with keyboardist and co-producer [[Dave Kerzner|Dave Kerzner, ]]<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, ''[[U-Catastrophe]]''.<ref name="u-catastrophe">[http://www.allmusic.com/album/u-catastrophe--mw0000795587/credits Simon Collins, ''U-Catastrophe'' credits.] Allmusic. Retrieved 29 April 2013.</ref>
In 2003, Collins left Warner Music and returned to Vancouver to start his own record label, Lightyears Music.<ref name="bio" /> On the Lightyears label two years later, Collins released his second album, ''[[Time for Truth]]''.<ref name="bio" /> He played a variety of instruments on the album in addition to providing the majority of the vocals.<ref name="xtra" /> In 2007, he recorded a cover of [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]]' ''[[Abacab]]'' track "[[Keep It Dark]]," as a tribute to Genesis, with keyboardist and co-producer [[Dave Kerzner]]<nowiki/>.<ref name="brooksbulletin" /> During production of "Keep it Dark", Collins met Kevin Churko, who mixed and mastered the recording;<ref name="bio" /> Collins later had Churko work with him on the production of his third album, ''[[U-Catastrophe]]''.<ref name="u-catastrophe">[http://www.allmusic.com/album/u-catastrophe--mw0000795587/credits Simon Collins, ''U-Catastrophe'' credits.] Allmusic. Retrieved 29 April 2013.</ref>


''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,<ref name="unconditional_debut" /> and peaked at #12 on this chart in November 2008.<ref name="unconditional_chart">[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/simon-collins-mn0000715968/awards Simon Collins | Awards | AllMusic] AllMusic. Retrieved 21 July 2013.</ref> 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".<ref name="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,<ref name="unconditional_debut" /> and peaked at #12 on this chart in November 2008.<ref name="unconditional_chart">[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/simon-collins-mn0000715968/awards Simon Collins | Awards | AllMusic] AllMusic. Retrieved 21 July 2013.</ref> 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".<ref name="u-catastrophe" />

Revision as of 00:16, 19 May 2014

This article is about the British-born musician. For the English footballer, see Simon Collins (footballer).
Simon Collins
Background information
BornLondon, England, UK
OriginWiltshire, The West, England, UK
GenresProgressive rock, pop, electronic
Occupation(s)Recording artist, producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, drums, piano, guitar
Years active1999–present
LabelsInside Out, Lightyears
Websitewww.simoncollins.com

Simon Collins 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.[1] He is the half-brother of actresses Joely Collins and Lily Collins.[2][3] Reviewers have compared his vocals to his father's.[4][5][6]

Biography

Born in London, England, Collins moved to Vancouver, British Columbia when he was eight years old.[6][7] He lived with his mother, Andrea, and half-sister, Joely, in nearby Richmond for most of his early life. In 1991, Simon's parents were involved in a court battle at the Supreme Court of British Columbia to gain possession of his father's million-dollar estate in Vancouver's Shaughnessy neighborhood.[8] Described as a means of a better education for Simon and Joely and other lifestyle considerations, their mother sought to acquire the house.[8] Their father had previously placed the estate in an irrevocable land trust in 1987, however, to be owned by both children jointly in adulthood. Their father succeeded in retaining control of the estate until Simon's nineteenth birthday, as the judge ruled in October 1991 he was not old enough to sign his half of the estate to his mother as she had intended.[8][9] Simon and Joely concluded their secondary education at Point Grey Secondary School in Vancouver.[10]

He first became involved with music when he was six after his father purchased for him a Tama drum kit.[2][11] 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.[11] Collins' experiences on tour allowed him to be mentored by his father and by the band's touring drummer, Chester Thompson.[11][12] 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.[11] Simon made his first onstage appearance alongside his father at the age of 12, performing drums on "Easy Lover."[13] He also appeared onstage for a performance during the Seriously, Live! World Tour.[13]

In his early teens, Collins learned to play the piano and began to develop his songwriting and singing skill.[14][15] 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.[6][7] 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.[6] He is a graduate of Vancouver's Point Grey Secondary School.[10]

Collins enjoys astronomy and has an interest in social issues, themes that are now present in his music.[13]

Music career

Solo career and collaborations

Collins was signed by Warner Music following a release of demo tapes he had recorded in 2000.[7][15] It was at this time that Collins moved from Vancouver to Frankfurt, Germany, where his debut album All of Who You Are was released.[7] The album saw 100,000 copies sold in Germany and three singles were released off it: "Pride", "Money Maker" and "Shine Through".[16] The album's sales have been attributed to the success of the single, "Pride."[17] A second single, "Shine Through", was co-written by Collins and Howard Jones.[18][19]

In 2003, Collins left Warner Music and returned to Vancouver to start his own record label, Lightyears Music.[7] On the Lightyears label two years later, Collins released his second album, Time for Truth.[7] He played a variety of instruments on the album in addition to providing the majority of the vocals.[1] In 2007, he recorded a cover of Genesis' Abacab track "Keep It Dark," as a tribute to Genesis, with keyboardist and co-producer Dave Kerzner.[17] During production of "Keep it Dark", Collins met Kevin Churko, who mixed and mastered the recording;[7] Collins later had Churko work with him on the production of his third album, U-Catastrophe.[20]

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,[5] and peaked at #12 on this chart in November 2008.[21] 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".[20]

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.[22] 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."[23] Sound of Contact's debut album, Dimensionaut, was released in May 2013, co-produced by Collins and Kerzner.[24] The band received the "Limelight" award for Best New Group at the second-annual Progressive Music Awards held in September 2013.[25][26]

Discography

Studio albums

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

With other artists

External links

References

  1. ^ a b Simon Collins' Grand Entrance: On his music, his famous dad and coming out. Xtra. Retrieved November 7, 2008
  2. ^ a b Gee, Dana (4 May 1999). "Playing to their own beats: Phil Collins' kids are making their own marks in life: [Final Edition]". The Province. While Simon has stepped smack-dab into dad's footsteps, his older sister Joely has chosen acting, a path her mother Andrea followed when she was younger." "When most kids were banging on pots and pans with wooden spoons, five-year-old Simon Collins was working out rhythms on a miniature drum kit, a gift from his pop star dad Phil Collins." "'He wanted to produce originally,' says Simon of his solo album on Warner. 'But that's too close. People would say he wrote the songs, did everything.'
  3. ^ Lily Collins - Biography - IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  4. ^ The Toledo Blade. Tharp, Bridget. "Sounds: Simon Collins forges his own musical identity". August 16, 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  5. ^ a b Simon Collins Follows His Father Phil Into the Pop Charts. About.com. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  6. ^ a b c d 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.: [Final Edition]". The Vancouver Sun. Collins is 23 and he bears a vague resemblance to his father. Vocally, however, the resemblance is more striking." "The airy vocals may be nearly identical, but Collins marries his soft, pop melodies with a light groove and plastic '80s synth beat to create an impressive display of electronica ultra-light." "Collins, who moved here from London, England with his mother when he was eight, has been far more influenced by the punk revival and the grunge explosion than by his father's solo music." "'I've always been influenced by punk and electronic stuff, so it was a natural progression.' Simon has been surrounded by electronic music influences, including the DJ music at the Summer Love raves his sister Joely has produced and his own DJ gigs." ""I'm writing with guitar now, so a lot of my rock 'n' roll, Oasis, punk influences are coming out," he considers." "Before he began his solo career, Collins played drums (like dad) for Vancouver punk band Jet Set. "I didn't want to spend my life drumming to other people's music," says Collins, who'd been playing with bands since he was 14 and had written a catalogue of pop songs. 'Mostly I was the drummer and that wasn't enough for me, and they were not supportive of letting me express [my writing]...'" "Although he acknowledges his father's helpful industry connections, he says keeping his involvement to a minimum was a matter of survival. '[My dad] wanted to produce the record, and he would have been great to work with, but if that was to happen, my career would be finished, because how boring is that?' says Collins." "And although Phil had produced Jones in the '80s, Collins recruited the former new waver on his own. He'd idolized Jones since meeting him when he was 11, backstage on the TV show This Is Your Life when his father was appearing.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Bio | Simon Collins Official Website. SimonCollins.com. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  8. ^ a b c Edge, Marc (23 Oct 1991). "Phil Collins wins fight over house: B.C. Supreme Court decides against ex-wife: [1* Edition]". The Province. Pop singer Phil Collins won a court fight yesterday to keep the high-priced Shaughnessy house he bought for his two children out of the hands of his ex-wife. The British rocker bought the $1.4-million Vancouver home for his son and daughter in 1987 after ex-wife Andrea complained about living in Richmond. 'Ms. Collins wished to move to Vancouver as she had concern as to the quality of schooling in Richmond and 'other lifestyle considerations,' ' noted B.C. Supreme Court Justice Ronald Holmes." "The singer placed the property in trust in 1987 for his son Simon, then 11, and daughter Joely, then 15, who were to own the home jointly when they reached adulthood. 'Ms. Collins was apparently under the impression during the course of the property acquisition that she would be sharing in the ownership,' said Holmes. But when it became clear she was left out of the deal, she convinced her kids to sign the property over to her." "The judge said Simon, now 15, will have to wait four more years if he wants to sign his half of the home over. 'The decision to give up as substantial an asset as his interest in this trust is one to be reserved until he reaches the age of majority,' said the judge.
  9. ^ "Phil Collins's manic mansion: [ONT Edition]]". Toronto Star. 24 Oct 1991. He put the title in an irrevocable trust, which the children will share when his 15-year- old son Simon is 20.
  10. ^ a b Quan, Douglas (2 June 200). "Simon Collins struggles to be more than `son of Phil': Vancouver- raised musician releases debut CD of `Euro-space-pop': [Final Edition]". The Ottawa Citizen. Born in London, he moved to Vancouver at the age of eight, where he grew up with Phil Collins' first wife, Andrea. He attended Point Grey Secondary School in Vancouver with his older sister, Joely. In his mid-teens, Mr. Collins began drumming with bands in Vancouver. His sister, meanwhile, landed an acting role in the critically acclaimed, high school drama, Madison. In recent years, Mr. Collins made a name for himself in Vancouver's rave scene, working part-time as a DJ. Last year, he collaborated with his sister on a documentary about raves called Summer Love." "Even Mr. Collins won't deny the influences his father's band, Genesis, has had on his music. 'My influences from very early on would be Genesis -- quelle surprise. I grew up on tour, so it's pounded into my subconsciousness.' Cite error: The named reference "simonstruggles" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b c d Sound of Contact Progressive Rock Band Interview | Audioholics. Audioholics. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  12. ^ Simon Collins. Modern Drummer. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  13. ^ a b c Ahearn, Victoria (19 Oct 2005). "Simon Collins has no time to 'Phil': Rocker too busy to play with dad on latest tour: [Final Edition]". Prince George Citizen. 'I've played drums for him onstage many times; the first time when I was 12 and I did Easy Lover, and on the But Seriously tour (in 1990), that was really cool. We also did some demos together.'" "He was born in London but moved to Vancouver when he was eight with his sister, Gemini-winning actress Joely, and mother Andrea, his father's first wife. It was there that Collins developed a passion for astronomy and social issues -- themes that dominate his website, lyrics and liner notes for Time For Truth." "Like his father, he learned his drumming skills at the age of five and could pound out songs with his dad and the Genesis crew quite early in life." "Collins, 29, recently moved from Germany to Vancouver, where he grew up, to promote his second album, Time For Truth. The 'psychedelic trance'-loving artist sings and performs all the synth-heavy instrumentals on the record and released it on his own label, Light Years Music in Vancouver. With the current media blitz and upcoming tour, he said he can't follow through on a plan to be the opening act for his father's First Final Farewell Tour in Frankfurt, Germany in November." "Electronic rock artist Simon Collins has found himself in a rather comical situation. His relatively junior musical career is picking up so much steam, he has no time to jam with a rock-pop legend -- his father Phil Collins. 'We'll do something, but at this point it's just a conflict of schedule,' said the younger Collins during a recent stop in Toronto... 'Which is funny because it's a big thing -- it's the first time (I've) actually had to say, 'OK, well this isn't going to work out because I'm too busy.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference bio interview was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ a b Simon Collins Biography. MapleMusic. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  16. ^ Simon Collins discography Discogs.com. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  17. ^ a b The Brooks Bulletin. Brown, Rob. "Canadian Simon Collins releases first US album". n.d. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  18. ^ Howard Jones Official Website, "The complete lyrical index of Howard's music"
  19. ^ Maple Music, Simon Collins Biography
  20. ^ a b Simon Collins, U-Catastrophe credits. Allmusic. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  21. ^ Simon Collins | Awards | AllMusic AllMusic. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  22. ^ Sound of Contact biography. Sound of Contact. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  23. ^ Steve Hackett, 'Genesis Revisited II' - Album Premiere. Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  24. ^ Sound of Contact Signs With InsideOut. Prog Rock Magazine. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  25. ^ "Prog Awards 2013 - The Winners!". Prog Rock Magazine. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  26. ^ Ian Anderson, Steve Hackett, Marillion, Family Among Progressive Music Award Winners. VVN Music. Retrieved 19 April 2014.

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