European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 26, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse Is Michael Abruns despite til his commercial Success a retrospective Phil Collins does think he gets any respect. Collins wants to be taken seriously the Baltimore Sun Hil Collins says he was watching actor Michael j. Fox on a morning talk show recently and Felt a bit sorry for him. He had the to show family ties and now the Guy s trying to act Collins continues but nobody will really take him seriously until he gets that role that will change even body s minds. I feel like that in a Given Collins track record it s hard to imagine him worrying about being taken seriously. After All he s one of the most accomplished and versatile musicians in Rock. He toured with Robert Plant did live Aid with led Zeppelin Sang re with Philip Bailey recorded Art Rock with Brian Eno played fusion jazz with Brand x and produced tracks for Eric Clapton Stephen Bishop and Howard Jones among others. That would be career enough for most people but it s just a sideline for Collins. His real work is split Between genesis the Mega popular Trio he s fronted since 1976, arid his Solo career which has so far produced seven albums including the recent both sides of the Story and five Chart Topping. Singles. His european Spring tour has already drawn a lot of interest from fans who Are snatching up ticket fast. So Why does he feel no one will take him seriously frankly it s because he s perceived As being just a Little too Nice to be a serious Rock Star. He s always seemed or. Hail fellow Well met the kind of pop Star who not Only gives autographs but seems to enjoy it. There s nothing wrong with being Nice he says shifting in his chair. If s just that it All adds up. Nice equals mediocrity and being All right but nothing special. Which is maybe what i am i Don t know. Ultimately what does it matter i be got millions of people out there that want to buy the records and that like what i do. But in a Way i m More interested in the millions that Don t buy the records and Why they Don t. I make music that i like that i believe in and that a lot of other people relate to and like but a bit of reassessment certainly would t go amiss As far As i m particularly now. Because both sides of the Story is perhaps the most intensely personal album Collins has Ever made. Some of that has to do with the fact that Collins recorded the album by himself he does All the singing plays All the instruments at his Home in England with Only a few parts overdubbed in the studio. I did t want to go into the studio and go behind the plate Glass with the headphones on he says. Much As i respect the Engineer and assistant Engineer s opinion i did t want it to be something where i d sing and say is that All right i wanted to get All that out of the Way and just do it. And i believe i got better performances vocally As a there s another reason Collins preferred privacy though and that has to do with the nature of the songs he s written. Unlike his last albums which often tended toward Light and cheerful pop the songs on both sides of the Story ate full of restless emotions and anxious regret. It s not self pity exactly but a relentless self examination one which seems to find him looking hard at where life has taken him and not always rejoicing at what he s found. As such Collins is a bit hesitant about explaining what precisely prompted these songs. Every thing you hear on that record happened he says. It s not me putting myself in another situation. But i m not going to Lay out the various reasons behind them. I m just going to say the lyrics Are there make up your own Bonnie Tyler concert stings see pages 20 & 21 the Welsh Singer has an extensive tour of Germany planned for january and february to promote her album Silhouette in red. Short subject one hit can t take the Bong out of pop by Amy Linden the new York times although Iggy pop has never been a big Star his influence can be seen and heard in every grunge and Post Punk band that graces mtg. His Gritty a embellished approach epitomizes the Power and passion that Rock and Roll is capable of delivering. At 46, he is a survivor who has stuck to his stylistic guns Over the course of an often tumultuous pop s credit while his Peers Are unplugging and wrapping themselves in nostalgia he is me. Charged than Ever and. His latest album american Caesar is his strongest in years. He May finally be receiving the recognition he is due and by doing it on his own terms getting the last laugh. American Caesars pop s 15th album since his 1969 debut with the now legendary stooges and his 11th As a Solo artist. It is also the title of his current european tour. After cleaning up a generally Messy lifestyle he scored his biggest Success with the 1991 album Brick by Brick produced by Don was a fellow de Troiter. 77�e album gave pop s musings on love life and the state of the world a hint of Sheen. It also produced the single Candy his initial foray into the top 40. Refreshingly pop flouts the first Rule of the record Industry declining to follow up a Success with More of the same. Nothing on american Caesar comes close to sounding like potential hit single not even pop s raucous deconstruction of the classic Louis louts. The album dispels any fear of his being co opted by a taste of mainstream acceptance. The album is filled with the sort of determined rage that has been at the Core of his Best anger at fraudulence both personal and political is part of his Appeal. More than two decades ago pop made career out of wilful theatrical self destruction. He would fling himself into crowds grind broken Glass into his Torso and forever link the words Peanut butter and Rock and Roll. He cloaked chaos in artistry and gave it an identifiable face. Understandably his intelligence and skills As a keen darkly humorous observer were overlooked. In an age when the anarchy pop embraced is just a hip marketing tool he is still making smart Tough records that thumb their nose at convention. The Man whom Many consider the spiritual father of Punk Rock is now old enough to be the father of today s rebels with multimillion Dollar record deals. Pop s Wisdom and perspective give his Musica sense of self deprecating humor absent from most alternative Rock. In his updated version of Louie Louie replays biting social commentary off the song s frat Rock chorus. He maintains a balance Between the profound and the absurd. I anyone should know it s Only Rock and Roll it s Iggy pop. Iggy pop Friday november 3. 1993 Thi Stais and stapes 19
