Fans, however, have a chance to revisit the pop-rock of the British musician and singer. Nine local artists have decided to give voice to the Genesis frontman. The “Tribute to Phil Collins” group will perform in a 330-seat room at the Le Galaxy cinema in Châteaubernard on May 15 at 8:45 pm.
“This is the fourth date of this tour after Saintes and Royan. Cognac is currently the only concert announced in Charente. Comprising musicians – pianist, drummer, trumpeter, saxophonist, and guitarist – and two singers, including the voice of Walter Michel, a local artist from Cognac. “I discovered Phil Collins in 1993 when I was a teenager,” he confesses, “I listened a lot to the first album ‘Both Sides,’ I listened to it with my K7 walkman.”
Soon he realized a similarity in his voice with Phil Collins. “When I was young, I wanted to make the same voice, I sang over him.” Until he stood out and was validated by Ronnie Caryl, one of the guitarist of the pop star, based in Charente-Maritime and now retired.
On stage, Walter Michel and the other members of the group promise two hours of concert, with about twenty songs. “It wasn’t difficult to choose, we selected the hits, some catchy tunes, and plaintive ballads because people need to connect with them.”
It’s time to dust off the cassette tapes, revise the lyrics, and memories should quickly come back as the star’s songs are deeply ingrained in the collective memory. “It’s nostalgia, a leap into the past,” says Walter Michel, who has never met the star but managed to find the same tambourine and microphone for these concerts. “The songs all have something special, some you need to sing with all your heart, like ‘in the air tonight,’ I’m on the stairs of the room with a dark look, it’s the climax of the concert, I have anger in this song.”
“Tribute to Phil Collins on May 15 at 8:45 pm at the Le Galaxy cinema in Châteaubernard. Tickets: 26 euros. Reservations at ticket offices or at the cinema.”
