Phil Collins is wary of haters

Phil Collins, the former Genesis drummer whose earnest ballads made him a star in the 1980s, is penning songs again. Although he dreads the idea of extended touring because it would take him away from his five children, Collins says he has missed the creativity of music since he retired in 2010.

“i’ve decided i kind of missed that writing creative stuff, so i’m trying to get back into writing, and that’s getting into a certain headspace and personal drive,” Collins said.

There’s no magic for getting into the groove, “just banging away at it,” he said. Sometimes the lyrics come first, sometimes the music.

“i’ve got some lyrical ideas on paper that are good. i’ve started to thrash around at the piano. A lot of it is hit and miss,” he said. “All you need is something to hang an idea on and you’re off.”

Collins got his start as the drummer for Genesis in the 1970s before becoming a solo star with hits such as In The Air Tonight and Against All Odds.

Collins said putting on live shows is fun, but he doesn’t like missing his children’s birthdays.

“i’ve been like that pretty much most of my life, and i don’t want to do that anymore,” he said.

Collins has three adult children from his first two marriages and two young sons with Orianne. They divorced in 2008.

Pressed when he might hit the road again, he said it wouldn’t be before the end of next year. he didn’t say whether it would be a solo show or a Genesis reunion.

Collins said he gets a kick out of watching his concerts with his young sons Nicholas and Matthew.

he said they ask him tough questions, like why he makes a crazy laugh on the single Mama from Genesis’ 1983 self-titled album. The answer: it was tribute to the granddaddy of hip hop Grandmaster Flash.

“But they don’t know who Grandmaster Flash is,” he said. Collins credits his boys’ interest in his concerts for encouraging him to even consider getting back on the stage.

Critics also give him pause about returning.

“i can’t believe that amount of hate that is out there,” he said, referring to the online reaction to his declaration earlier this year that he might consider touring.

Even after all these years, the Grammyand Oscar-winning artiste still takes critics to heart. Over the years, they’ve often panned his pop tunes for being safe, bland and overproduced.

“Knowing that i’m just thinking of it, and someone saying, ‘ No, God, please don’t do that!’ it kind of undermines your confidence,” he said. “We’re all sensitive chaps, you know.”

Collins said he was pleasantly surprised at how certain songs have held up over time, such as Easy Lover and In The Air Tonight, which was featured in the 1980s hit TV show Miami Vice.

“That’s going to be on my headstone. he came. he wrote In The Air Tonight. he ... died.” – AP