Watch Phil Collins Recreate ‘Easy Lover’ With ‘Hamilton’ Star
Phil Collins revisited two familiar '80s-era solo songs during the highest-profile performance yet in what has been a tentative return from retirement. He performed "In the Air Tonight" and "Easy Lover" during opening ceremonies for the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York on Aug. 29.
"Easy Lover," which you can watch above, finds Collins performing a duet with Leslie Odom Jr., star of Broadway's Hamilton (singing the parts made famous by Earth Wind and Fire's Philip Bailey). "In the Air Tonight," which is below, showcases a band that includes longtime Genesis touring guitarist Daryl Stuermer along with bassist Nathan East, keyboardist Brad Cole and Collins' teenage son Nicholas on drums.
Collins has given up the drums after suffering extensive nerve damage, a painful condition that led in part to his lengthy hiatus from performing. That left son Nicholas to take over one of the rock's most memorable fills on "In the Air Tonight."
Collins will release his autobiography, Not Dead Yet, in October, followed by a promotional book tour, but he's confirmed no concrete musical plans. He made his first onstage appearance in four years at Miami Country Day School’s middle school spring concert back in 2014, performing Genesis' "Land of Confusion" as well as "In the Air Tonight."
Earlier this year, Collins returned with a seven-song set that also included "Easy Lover" at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Florida. Stuermer, East, Cole and his son Nicholas joined Collins that night too.
Watch Phil Collins Perform 'In the Air Tonight'
Phil Collins Albums Ranked Worst to Best