Simon Collins

Early life and relocation to Canada

Simon Philip Nando Collins was born in Hammersmith, London, England, on 14 September 1976. He is the eldest son of English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins and his first wife, British-Canadian citizen Andrea Bertorelli. Following his parents' divorce, he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1984 when he was eight years old. He lived with his mother, Andrea, and his sister, Joely, in nearby Richmond between the ages of eight and eleven. In September 1987, the family moved into an estate in Vancouver's Shaughnessy neighbourhood, purchased with assistance from his father to provide a better education and lifestyle. A 1991 court battle at the Supreme Court of British Columbia between his parents over possession of the estate concluded with a judge ruling that Simon, then a minor, was not old enough to sign his half of the property to his mother as she intended. His father retained control of the estate until Simon's twentieth birthday, as it had been placed in an irrevocable land trust in 1987 to be owned jointly by Simon and his sister in adulthood. Collins completed his secondary education at Vancouver's Point Grey Secondary School, solidifying his roots in the city.

Musical beginnings and early influences

Simon Collins first became involved with music at age five after his father purchased a Tama drum kit for him. He practised by playing along to albums in his parents' record collection and gained unique experience accompanying his father on tour with Genesis. These tours allowed him to be mentored by his father and by the band's touring drummer, Chester Thompson. He had a percussion instructor at age ten but preferred drumming to artists like Stewart Copeland, Gavin Harrison, and Keith Moon over formal jazz lessons. Collins made his first onstage appearance at age 12, performing drums on "Easy Lover" alongside his father during the Seriously, Live! World Tour. In his early teens, he learned piano and began developing songwriting and singing skills. While he played drums in numerous hard rock bands from age 14, his early pop-style compositions were often rejected by those groups. This led to his desire to pursue singing and songwriting across a wider range of styles including pop, progressive rock, punk, grunge, and electronica, as he did not wish to spend his life drumming to other people's music. During his late teens, Collins worked part-time as a disc jockey in Vancouver's rave scene, an experience that later inspired a collaborative documentary project with his sister Joely called Summer Love.

Simon Collins developed a passion for astronomy and social issues during his youth. He frequently revisits these themes in his music. In his early teens, he learned to play the piano and began to develop songwriting and singing skills. While he played drums in numerous hard rock bands beginning at age 14, he wanted to pursue singing, songwriting, and diversity in music styles. His early compositions were rejected by the heavier rock bands he played for because of their pop style. In his late teens, Collins worked part-time as a disc jockey in Vancouver's rave scene.

• Age 5: Received his first Tama drum kit from his father.
• Age 10: Took formal percussion lessons in jazz drumming.
• Age 12: First onstage performance, playing drums on "Easy Lover" with his father.
• Early Teens: Learned piano and began songwriting and singing.
• Age 14: Started playing drums in local hard rock bands.
• Late Teens: Worked as a DJ in Vancouver's rave scene.
• Key Drumming Influences: Stewart Copeland, Gavin Harrison, and Keith Moon.
• Mentors: Phil Collins and Genesis touring drummer Chester Thompson.

Solo career and label formation

Prior to his solo career, Collins was a member of the local Vancouver punk band Jet Set. His professional break came after he recorded demo tapes in 2000, which led to a signing with Warner Music Group. He relocated to Frankfurt, Germany, where his debut album, All of Who You Are, was released. The album sold 100,000 copies in Germany, a success largely attributed to its first single, "Pride." Two other singles, "Money Maker" and "Shine Through," were released from the album, with "Shine Through" being co-written by Collins and Howard Jones. In 2003, Collins left Warner Music and returned to Vancouver to start his own independent record label, Lightyears Music. Under this label, he released his second studio album, Time for Truth, in 2005, on which he played a variety of instruments and provided the majority of the vocals. Collins's move into North American markets was marked by his third album, U-Catastrophe, released on iTunes in 2008.

The album's production followed his 2007 recording of a cover of Genesis's "Keep It Dark," a tribute created with keyboardist and co-producer Dave Kerzner. During that session, he met producer Kevin Churko, who mixed and mastered the track and later worked on U-Catastrophe. The album's first single, "Unconditional," debuted at number 30 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart in September 2008, peaked at number 12 in November, and also charted on the Canadian Hot 100 that month. The album featured several guest musicians, including Dave Kerzner, Kelly Nordstrom, and Steve Hackett on "Fast Forward the Future," and his father, Phil Collins, on "The Big Bang." His solo career is defined by several key releases and achievements.

• 2000: Signed to Warner Music Group after recording demo tapes.
• 1999: Debut album All of Who You Are released in Germany.
• 2003: Founded his own record label, Lightyears Music, in Vancouver.
• 2005: Released second album Time for Truth on Lightyears Music.
• 2008: Released U-Catastrophe, his first North American project.
• 2008: Single "Unconditional" peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary chart.
• 2020: Released his fourth solo album, Becoming Human.
• Collaborators: Worked with Howard Jones, Dave Kerzner, Kevin Churko, and Steve Hackett.

Formation and work with Sound of Contact

In late 2009, Simon Collins approached Dave Kerzner with the idea of forming a new band. After bringing the concept to musicians Matt Dorsey and Kelly Nordstrom, the four began working together at Greenhouse Studios in Vancouver. By December 2012, the group was known as Sound of Contact, with Collins on lead vocals and drums, Kerzner on keyboards, and Dorsey and Nordstrom sharing guitar and bass duties. The band's debut album, Dimensionaut, was released in May 2013, establishing their presence in the progressive rock genre. Soon after the album's release, Nordstrom left the band, and Kerzner departed in January 2014. Both musicians rejoined the group in April 2015, at which point Sound of Contact began working on their second album. Collins ultimately left the band in 2018, concluding his role as its frontman and primary vocalist.

Later projects and collaborative works

Following his departure from Sound of Contact, Collins continued his musical output with new solo and collaborative projects. In 2020, he released his fourth solo studio album, Becoming Human. His collaborative work includes appearing on former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett's 2012 album Genesis Revisited II. In 2023, Collins teamed with former Sound of Contact bandmate Kelly Nordstrom to form the project eMolecule, which released the album The Architect. This period of his career demonstrates a continued engagement with progressive rock and a sustained partnership with musicians from his previous band endeavours. His post-Sound of Contact activities include several specific projects and releases.

• 2012: Contributed to Steve Hackett's album Genesis Revisited II.
• 2020: Released the solo album Becoming Human.
• 2023: Formed the project eMolecule with Kelly Nordstrom.
• 2023: eMolecule released the album The Architect.
• Key Collaborators: Steve Hackett, Kelly Nordstrom.

Discography and chart performance

Simon Collins's recorded output includes four solo studio albums. These are All of Who You Are from 1999, Time for Truth from 2005, U-Catastrophe from 2008, and Becoming Human from 2020. He also released a band album, Dimensionaut, in 2013 with Sound of Contact. His work has achieved notable chart positions, particularly in North America with his 2008 single from U-Catastrophe.

In addition to his solo and band albums, Simon Collins contributed to Steve Hackett's Genesis Revisited II in 2012. His single "Unconditional" from the album U-Catastrophe debuted on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart at number 30 in September 2008. It later peaked at number 12 on Billboard in November 2008. The song also charted on the Canadian Hot 100 in the same month.

Personal life and public identity

Simon Collins has been publicly open about his bisexuality. He maintains a strong connection to Canada, having lived in Vancouver since childhood and building much of his career from there. His family includes his sister, actress Joely Collins, and his paternal half-siblings, actress Lily Collins and drummer Nic Collins. While his famous lineage is often noted, Collins has consistently forged his own artistic identity within the music industry, addressing personal and thematic interests through his work. His personal history and family connections are a matter of public record.

Questions about Simon Collins

Where did Simon Collins grow up?

Simon Collins was born in Hammersmith, London, England. He moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1984, when he was 8 years old, after his parents' divorce. He lived with his mother, Andrea, and his sister, Joely, in nearby Richmond between the ages of 8 and 11. They later moved into an estate in Vancouver's Shaughnessy neighbourhood. Collins completed his secondary education at Vancouver's Point Grey Secondary School.

How many solo albums has Simon Collins released?

Simon Collins has released four solo studio albums. His debut, All of Who You Are, came out in 1999. This was followed by Time for Truth in 2005, U-Catastrophe in 2008, and his most recent solo effort, Becoming Human, in 2020. Each album features his work as a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.

Is Simon Collins related to Phil Collins?

Yes, Simon Collins is the son of English drummer and singer Phil Collins. He was born to Phil Collins and his first wife, Andrea Bertorelli. Simon is the eldest son and is the brother of actress Joely Collins. He is also the paternal half brother of actress Lily Collins and drummer Nic Collins. Music reviewers have often compared his vocal style to that of his famous father.

What is Simon Collins's biggest hit song?

Simon Collins's biggest hit song is "Unconditional" from his 2008 album U Catastrophe. This single was his most commercially successful, debuting on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart at number 30 in September 2008. The song later peaked at number 12 on that Billboard chart in November of the same year. It also charted on the Canadian Hot 100 during that period, marking a significant achievement for his first North American recording project.

What band was Simon Collins the lead singer for?

Simon Collins was the former lead vocalist and drummer for the progressive rock band Sound of Contact. He formed the band in late 2009 with keyboardist Dave Kerzner, later bringing in musicians Matt Dorsey and Kelly Nordstrom. The band's debut album, Dimensionaut, was released in May 2013. Collins remained with the group until his departure in 2018, after which he pursued other musical projects.

What is Simon Collins's connection to Steve Hackett?

Simon Collins has a musical connection to Steve Hackett through collaboration. He worked with the former Genesis guitarist on the 2012 album Genesis Revisited II. Steve Hackett was featured as a guest musician on the track "Fast Forward the Future" from Collins's 2008 solo album U Catastrophe. This collaboration connected Collins to the legacy of Genesis, the band his father famously fronted.

Sources and further reading

• Simon Collins (Wikipedia)
• Simon Collins Music: Home (simoncollinsmusic.com)
• Three Sides Of Simon Collins | Shades Of Noir (shadesofnoirsite.wordpress.com)
• Exclusive interview with Simon Collins, Dusk (dusk.it)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-02.