The Ultimate

Tribute 2001

The Ultimate Phil Collins Tribute team have come together from around the country to make the event a success - here they are in all their glory:

Phildas Bhakta Drums Band X and Invisible Touch

Phil has been drumming for about eleven years, having been influenced by Genesis and in particular, Phil Collins' drumming, having seen them in concert during their 1987 "Invisible Touch" tour. As well as playing in many bands over the years, in a multitude of musical styles - pop, rock, jazz fusion, world music - Phil was co-founder of Genesis tribute band And Then There Were Five, which soon turned into Invisible Touch. Phil commited herself to the Children In Need fundraising event and drumathon several years ago - it is only now, after several years of planning and organisation, that the dream is finally coming true. To read more about Phil's ideas for the project and about her background, read these pages about The Genesis of TUPCT 2001 and The Performer.

Richard Mills Keyboards and Vocals Band X and Invisible Touch

Richard was born in Archway, London on December 28, 1965, and then again three weeks later in a car boot sale in Deptford. He has two wives, one of which is his keyboards. He counts appearing onstage with Invisible Touch as one of his musical experiences. His ambition is to travel to the end of the street and meet people. After The Ultimate Phil Collins Tribute he hopes to go home and rest. From the comfort and safety of his own living room Richard hopes to be able to create CDs of the rehearsals. On a serious note, Richard has plans to write with Alan and Keith from Band X in the new year, and is very much looking forward to this. Richard says of the event "Everyone involved in TUPCT wishes Phil all the best in her attempt to set a new world record for drumming, and the paths which may open for her should she succeed".

Keith Buckman Bass and Guitar Band X

Largely self-taught during his early teens, bassist Keith Buckman's earliest rock influences were Focus, Yes and, of course, Genesis. Inspired to de-fret his bass after hearing Brand X's Percy Jones, Keith initially struck a healthy balance between prog and punk in the late seventies playing with West London rock bands Grey Matter and Street Preacher, before "turning Canterbury" with the Gong-influenced The You Band. Since beginning a career in higher education, Keith has continued to develop a keen interest in contemporary jazz and composition, often collaborating on original material in various line-ups as a bass player or guitarist with long-standing friends Alan Hitt, Nigel Milton and Colin O'Neil, and a succession of different brass and sax players. Of Band X, Keith remarks "I was very keen to be involved in this project. I've admired Phil Collins' work for decades and it's great to be playing these songs with a live band."

John Wilkinson Vocals Band X

John is the vocalist with the Phil Collins tribute band Face Value. A fan of Genesis since 1977 when he first heard "A Trick Of The Tail", John's first entry into playing music was as a guitarist in a band performing their own material. Later, he played in several cover bands until 1991 when he answered an advert in a local paper seeking "A singer who is into Genesis to play some of their songs". John had been doing demos of his own songs at home, but ultimately wanted to try his hand at singing in a band. He applied for the job and promptly joined a band who had in their repetoire "Turn It On Again". He enjoyed singing so much that when this short lived band broke up he got together with Will Smith, and formed a covers duo playing Phil Collins solo hits with other material. "People have asked me if I have practised hard to sound like Phil. The answer is no. That's just the way that my natural voice is. (luckily for me) It's been my dream to be in a band like this. To play Genesis and Phil Collins songs every week, have a good time and be liked by people, well you can imagine what that's like for a fan. I'm very fortunate to be in a band with two superb musicians like Tony and Will. They constantly amaze me with the way the just learn songs and play them right off the bat. It's also been great to meet like minded Genesis and Phil Collins fans and share some great times with them." As a Phil Collins & Genesis fan, the chance to help Children in Need by singing in the event is one I grabbed with both hands. So if you are coming to the show, great... see you there. If not, well put your hands in your pockets and sponsor Phil as she attempts the world record for drumming.

Alan Hitt Guitar Band X

Alan has played just about every instrument there is, in every possible musical setting. Alan says "I had always loved listening to music from as far back as I can remember, of course I liked the pop tunes of the sixties and seventies, but I also loved classical and military pieces as well as Caribbean steel drums. One of my first gigs was with the school orchestra, where I met long-time collaborator Colin O'Niell. Colin and I became good friends, and Colin had a drum kit set up in his home so I would regularly be there practising. We both started to look at guitars about this time as well, little realising that one day we would both be playing guitar on the same recording (Music inspired by Tolkien's 'The Lord Of The Rings')." Alan and Colin have been in many bands over the years, including stints with ex-Mungo Jerry star, Paul King, a Jazz fusion project called The Justin Case Big Band, and Mangara, where Alan first made the switch to guitar. "I very quickly honed my own distinctive sound and developed my soloing technique, and quite amazingly found that in the space of 18 months I had become a better guitarist than I was a drummer!" says Alan. For more information about Alan and his "Lord Of The Rings" project, have a look at The Classic Rock Orchestra web site.

Dave Whitehouse Vocals Invisible Touch

Dave was born in Wolverhampton in 1970, and now lives in Kent. He joined Invisible Touch as vocalist and percussionist extraordinaire in November 1997 and they haven't been able to get rid of him ever since. It's probably something to do with his receding hairline... "I was already pencilled in as the vocalist with Strictly Banks, and when I got the chance to audition for Invisible Touch and sing some Genesis songs, I jumped at the chance. I wish that I'd been around to see Genesis perform the songs which we now play in Invisible Touch - helping to bring those songs to audiences (both old and new) is the next best thing." Dave was vocalist in the Strictly Banks project of 1998 - and still shudders at the memory - and has now done almost 50 gigs with Invisible Touch. He is looking forward to performing as part of the drumathon in November. "It will be great to perform some of the Phil Collins songs live and to help bring the drumathon to a close with 2 hours of Genesis classics. Phil's dedication to the drumathon has been astonishing - we all wish her the very best with it. Let's hope we can help her to become the new world record holder and make hundreds of pounds for the BBC's Children In Need appeal in the process!"

Dave Woodward Guitar Invisible Touch

Dave grew up in a house full of music, and was taught to play the piano from age 5 and the flute from age 8. After much begging of his parents, Dave was given an electric guitar for his tenth birthday. The first he song learnt to play was "Rock Around The Clock" and his first guitar solo was from "No More Lonely Nights" by Paul McCartney (solo originally by David Gilmour). Dave's strongest influences have been Mark Knopfler and Brian May, but after an epiphany, aged 16, his guitar heroes became David Gilmour, Steve Rothery and Steve Hackett in that order. After a few miserable failures of bands, it became clear that writing music was the source of all arguments and misery, so he answered an advert to join Genesis tribute band Invisible Touch. They turned him down. A few months later they changed their mind and he turned them down. Then they changed his mind and in May 1999, he joined. Being in Invisible Touch has given Dave the chance to fulfil the promise that he showed aged 9, strumming a tennis racket in front of the mirror, only with fewer strings.

Tony Burton Bass, Guitar, Bass Pedals Invisible Touch

Inspired by the likes of Tony Levin, Geddy Lee, John Paul Jones, John Entwistle, and Chris Squire, Tony bought his first bass for £70 in 1990. After a couple of years he could play one song all the way through ("Enter Sandman" by Metallica). It was not until 1993, during a nine-month period of unemployment ("one of the most musically productive times of my life", he claims) that he really started making progress - mostly due to learning the basslines to a sizeable portion of the Rush back catalogue. Tony has been in a number of bands over the years: including pub rock, indie, punk, and a Rush tribute band that never quite got off the ground (no one in West Sussex could sing like Geddy Lee). Duncan Philips "discovered" Tony in early 1997, and tried to recruit him for what ended up being the Strictly Banks project. However it was when Duncan's friends Phil and Richard needed a bassist for their Genesis tribute band that Tony found his true calling as the bassist and now third longest serving member of Invisible Touch. Tony said recently "If you told me 5 years ago that I'd be performing some of my favourite Genesis songs such as 'Supper's Ready', 'One For The Vine', 'The Fountain Of Salmacis' and 'In The Cage' in front of thousands of screaming girls, I'd have laughed and called you a dreamer. Some of this is still a dream"

Michelle Bond Logistics, Organisation and Promotion

Michelle has been a fan of Phil Collins since 1985, ever since she saw the highly amusing video for "Easy Lover". She worked her way back through Phil's solo albums, and then in 1986 when the Genesis album "Invisible Touch" came out, it was added it to the collection. Michelle says "One day, I happened to mention to one of my teachers that I liked Genesis, so he lent me some of the earlier albums: 'Second's Out', 'Trick of The Tail' and 'Wind and Wuthering' (what a selection!) That was it - I well and truly hooked!" Regarding The Ultimate Phil Collins Tribute, Michelle adds "As soon as I heard about this project, I just knew I had to be involved somehow - an ambitious and unique challenge for a very good cause (involving 40 hours of Phil Collins & Genesis music!). Now I had nothing I could offer the project musically (unless you counted my grade 1 violin exam I passed when I was 11 years old!), but I figured there would probably be plenty of other "behind the scenes" jobs that needed doing... and I was right. What with organising TV/radio broadcasts, medical provision, witnesses, stewards, and programme printers (to name but a few jobs), it's been a very busy few months indeed!". When asked if she'd rather play the bassline to "Robbery, Assault and Battery", Michelle commented "No - that's far too easy, thanks, I'll stick with the difficult stuff!"

Ken Hilton Management Invisible Touch

It was way back in 1976 that a spotty 14 year old Ken was lent an album called "The Lamb Lies Down an Broadway" by a friend from school. He admits "I have to confess, it didn't do much for me at the time". It wasn't until a couple of years later, having borrowed a cassette of "...And Then There Were Three", that he became completely hooked! "I played that tape over and over again - in fact I don't think I ever gave it back!" Ken subsequently bought the whole Genesis back catalogue and has remained a fan ever since, saturating firstly his parents, then his new wife and finally his daughter with the music. "The one frustrating thing", he recalls, "was that I never really found others to share my love of Genesis music with". This all changed when Ken bought his computer and gained access to the Internet. "I suddenly started hearing about all these fans world-wide, and that there was even a tribute band called ReGenesis!" Naturally he went to see them, and, like many others was blown away. It was at one of the pre-ReGenesis gig meet-ups that Ken met Duncan Philips, then the manager of another tribute band called Invisible Touch. They became good friends and, having been to see Invisible Touch live in Walthamstow, Ken "invited" himself along to all of the band's rehearsals (whether they liked it or not!) Shortly thereafter, due to his commitments with Strictly Banks and other matters, Duncan decided to vacate the manager's position. "How do you feel about giving it a go?" Ken was asked. Having taken a full three and a half seconds to decide, and following the band's response of "well, if that's the best we can come up with", Ken took over the role at the end of 1998 and has enjoyed every minute of it! Of TUPCT he says, "I know how much this drumathon means to Phil, and wish her every success in achieving the world record".

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