Nic Collins - Great Drummer And More Importantly - Awesome Son

Genesis fans are raving about the performance of Nic Collins during their opening night in Birmingham. After watching clips of the first two shows, I can see why. Nic, like his father, studied for the part to be the drummer. He did not take it for granted. Nor did he think it was a right of passage. He earned his part in the band. If you closed your eyes last night, you heard the classic songs played as if Phil and Chester were behind their kits. In fact, dare I say some of the songs sounded like they had new life. His performance was so good, this author hopes he considers future collaborations to keep the music of Genesis alive for future generations to enjoy after the founding members retire.

There is something special about this young man. It goes beyond the music. There is another side of Nic that we should appreciate. He is an apprentice, appreciative of the learning experience working with men that are 3x his age. It speaks to the willingness to learn. Lastly, it teaches young men his age that it is pretty cool to be with men and women that are older and wiser. 

I have been following Nic since his father's tour. If you get a chance, watch his interviews leading up to the concert on podcasts or YouTube. One of my favorite podcasts was when he was discussing what it meant to be with Mike and Tony. He described so eloquently how things were different compared to his father's tour. Always well-spoken, he knew Genesis was something special from early on. He also knew that this experience was to be taken seriously. He learned how this band rehearses to perfection. This will be an experience that will help his career for many years to follow.

I can't help but wonder if this tour helps Nic gain perspective on his father's life. For example, the return of Duchess to the song set is well-timed. The song, after all, is about the rise and fall of a successful singer. The parallels between this song and his father's life are haunting.

This brings me to the last thing I admire about Nic. He, like his father, had to overcome adversity to get to the opening night in Birmingham. First, came the Pandemic back in early 2020. Then during the pandemic, as we all know was a very complicated and messy situation between his mom and dad. I can't imagine how torn he must have dealt. The things being said by his mom about Phil were horrific. Yet, he stood by his dad which speaks volumes about his love for him. 

Sometimes we think frailty and vulnerability are physical conditions. However, the heart and mind work together sometimes. I would like to think Nic pushed his father to be around his friends for over 50 years to help him heal from the wounds of 2020. In some ways, I would like to believe their bond is part of what makes this tour special. The Genesis reunion in the midst of it all helped Phil extend his life and give it meaning.