Controversial. One thing most people agree on is that he is one of the greatest drummers to ever pick up sticks. And he didn't take over song writing from Gabriel, throughout their career the 3/4/5 of them have all shared the song writing - either alone or in various combinations. Not like Mike Rutherford didn't dally with pop music in Mike and the Mechanics - they all went that way
Ok, he didn't take over 100% but someone had to as Gabriel was no longer there and Collins took up the front man helm. I still see him as the main influence in them moving away from prog to pop but I agree that Rutherford did this also. He did it with his own band though, Collins steered Genesis that way. He wouldn't be in the top 50 drummers mate. Chester Thompson is better for a start, and that's just in Genesis.
The drumming is a matter of opinion I guess. As evidence I present this where he invented a new style of drumming (gated reverb) Tell me this isn't impressive - includes Chester Thompson who has to be great so he can play Collin's parts. Don't get me wrong Collins is a dick, but a great drummer.
True enough, looked through some 'top 100' lists as well and he makes top 50 in most so I'd accept that. In fairness, he is good, yeah. He's no Alan Wren though!
Totally agree, Steve Hackett had a big influence on early Genesis. Peter Gabriel left because he had so many ideas, wanted to front his own show and by the **** he did, one of my favourite's ever. Phil Collins wanted to move to the income sector of music (charts), he did this by his solo stuff and steering Genesis down the Invisible Touch route, Rutherford followed but Banks didn't. All quite ironic really seeing as it was 'Jonathon me me King' that discovered them back in 68..
