Not Dead Yet: The Autobiography
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4.4 • 113 Ratings
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- £3.99
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- £3.99
Publisher Description
In his own words is the candid, witty, and unvarnished story of the songs and shows, the hits and pans, the marriages and divorces, the ascents to the top of the charts and into the tabloid headlines.
As one of only three musicians to sell over 100 million records both in a group and as a solo artist, Collins breathes rare air, but he has never lost his talent for crafting songs that touch listeners around the globe.
This is the story of his epic career, from child actor to one of the most successful songwriters of the pop music era. A drummer since almost before he could walk, Collins received on-the-job training in the seedy, thrilling bars and clubs of 1960s swinging London before finally landing the drum seat in Genesis. Later he would step into the spotlight on vocals after the departure of Peter Gabriel, and compose the songs that would rocket him to international solo fame with the release of Face Value and 'In the Air Tonight'.
Whether he's recalling jamming with Eric Clapton and Robert Plant, pulling together a big band fronted by Tony Bennett, playing twice at Live Aid, or writing the Oscar-winning music for Disney's smash-hit animated film Tarzan, Collins keeps it intimate and his storytelling gift never wavers.
Customer Reviews
Honest, funny and well-written
One of the best music autobiographies i’ve ever read. Collins discusses his life in a witty and open manner, revisiting many highs but also admitting to his part in some lows.
Yet while it’s a tell-all memoir, it never came across as a get-even book. He is just as critical of himself personally, and isn’t afraid to pan some of his own work.
A great read, and the sign of a good autobiography; you don’t need to be a fan.
Not dead yet
Loved it well written and truthful thought I would find it boring but kept me up for three nights
Prose as stiff as Phil's snare drum
"Reading Phil Collins' autobiography was akin to listening to the resounding echo of his snare drum—steady, precise, but somewhat rigid. The prose is as tight and unyielding as a perfectly tuned drum skin, mirroring the cadence of Collins' iconic percussive beats, but at times, this rhythm comes off as rigid and unyielding. Just like Collins' clear-cut drumming style, the book lacks the improvisational riffs that might have given the narrative a refreshing spontaneity.
The book, like a drumbeat that doesn't vary its rhythm, maintains a consistency that borders on monotony, making it challenging to fully engage with Collins' story. The narrative's stark rigidity parallels the steady, reliable thump of a bass drum—essential but potentially distancing when not paired with more melodic elements.
Despite the potential to deeply explore the man behind the drum kit, the story seemed imprisoned by the constraints of its own rigidity. For the reader hoping to find the vibrant resonance akin to the colorful melodies of Genesis, they might instead discover a narrative that resonates more with the rigid precision of a drum solo, played on a snare drum that's perhaps wound a bit too tight."