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Phil Collins and I Have Something in Common -- Paul McCartney Dissed Us !!

Phil Collins has something in common with Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. They’re the only three musicians to have sold over 100 million albums as both a solo artist and prominent member of a band.

Collins has a more interesting connection to Paul McCartney. In the 1964 movie “A Hard Day’s Night”....Collins, as a young boy, can be seen as an extra.

He’s long been a huge Beatles fan and recently, it was revealed that he hasn’t spoken to Sir Paul in over 14 years. You know why? BECAUSE OF AN AUTOGRAPH REQUEST!!!!!

Yep. All of us autograph collectors have been there. I waited awhile for Tom Petty at San Diego State, and he showed up looking stoned out of his mind. Me and a few other fans were waiting, and when we asked for his autograph, he just smiled and walked by us. It was more disturbing when his guitarist Mike Campbell got out of the van. Nobody knew who it was. I said, “Hey Mike...can you sign my Torpedoes album?” (I was even wearing my Damn the Torpedoes shirt). He just walked right by, not even smiling.

So, it’s nice to know things like this happen to celebrities.

When I originally heard this story, I thought it happened at Lindsey Buckingham’s place. It was at a bit nicer venue. It was Buckingham Palace. Phil Collins asked McCartney to sign his 1st edition book “The Beatles” by Hunter Davies. He approached and said, “Hey Paul, do you mind signing this for me?”

Paul looked at wife Heather Mills and sarcastically said “Oh Heather, our little Phil’s a bit of a Beatles fan.”

In an interview with The Sunday Times, Collins said “And I thought, ‘You fu**, you fu**. Never forgot it.”

Collins said he still resents him for mocking his autograph request, and added “McCartney was one of my heroes. But he has this thing when he’s talking to you, where he makes you feel…’I know this must be hard for you because I’m a Beatle. I’m Paul McCartney and it must be very hard for you to actually be holding a conversation with me.”

[side note: I can’t figure out if Paul said that and refused to sign the book, or if Phil still got his signature]

Collins recently wrote his autobiography “Not Dead Yet” -- a title that’s a reference to how much booze he drank and how it almost killed him. He remarried his third wife (who is 20 years younger).

I was recently invited to a movie screening and dinner with his actress daughter Lily, and Warren Beatty -- who are in the new Howard Hughes movie “Rules Don’t Apply.” I ended up not going.

I’d love to someday get Collins to sign one of the album covers I got from the early Genesis days (Foxtrot and Nursery Cryme); because I was once dating a woman who was friends with artist Paul Whitehead, who painted the album covers (of course, at the first dinner party I met him at in L.A., I had him sign the covers).

Anyway, I’m anxiously waiting to hear what McCartney has to say on this topic. Most people that have met him say he’s a classy guy. I have Collins beat. When I first met McCartney at a benefit in Beverly Hills (that cost me $500 to get in), he was walking with Heather Mills. I handed him a Sgt. Pepper album to sign. He stuck his finger in my face and snapped, “No autographs tonight!!!”

Tags: Buckingham Palace, Genesis, Howard Hughes, Lily Collins, Paul McCartney, Paul Whitehead, Phil Collins, Warren Beatty

1 member likes this

Comment by Adam Halloran on October 18, 2016 at 10:12pm: How did that work out for him? A few 100 mill shorter...

Comment by Innuendo on October 19, 2016 at 1:59am: Backstage at Wembley during Live Aid, Phil approached Freddie Mercury and asked for an autograph which through Mercury for a loop. He asked Phil if it was for him and Phil replied "It's for my kids". Apparently Freddie gave him some good natured ribbing about it, but had no issue with signing. I spoke to Mercury's boyfriend who was there when it happened and he told me although Phil and Freddie knew each other, he had the feeling Phil was a bit uncomfortable or nervous asking for a signature. My guess would be that Phil is just a more sensitive guy or perhaps more reserved when it comes to approaching people in the industry he liked. No shock to me that he responded that way about Paul. Not sure Macca meant to insult him, though. He may just have that sense of humor.

Or he could've been a jerk lol. Who knows for sure.

Comment by James Stone on October 19, 2016 at 5:23am: Love collecting autographs, but the first words out of my mouth when I meet a celebrity is getting a picture with them. I can buy an autograph online. Can I buy a picture of me with them? No. It is 1000 times better to commemorate the meeting than some ink on paper. Autographs only substitute when there is no possible way to meet the person. I wonder if Mccartney would be more open to pictures? I imagine Mccartney is vewry arrogant, but how could you be a Beatle for 50+ years and not be? It's not really his fault.

Comment by Xwiesy on October 19, 2016 at 5:48am: Is that Phil Collins sketch Josh posted authentic? Just curious, I dont know Phil's sig that well.

Comment by J.Seah on October 19, 2016 at 6:38am: That Phil Colin sketch and autograph is authentic. I have seen another similar to these one.

Comment by Josh Board on October 19, 2016 at 8:30am: Innuendo -- that is a great story! Thanks for sharing it. So...it sounds like Phil is an autograph collector. The time that McCartney snapped at me, I saw Jay Leno at the event. He was hosting it. I showed him my Sgt. Pepper record, and asked if he'd take it backstage to get signed. I said, "I know you get autographs. I see you on the show asking musicians to sign their CD." He smiled, thought about it, then said "No, man...that's not my gig."

And...regarding photos with the stars, that's understandable, but....they hate doing that. They so prefer signing autographs than standing next to somebody for a selfie (with cameras that don't always work, people that could be sick, or people touching them, etc). It's the selfies that have made it harder for the autograph collector.

And lastly...Sir Paul HATES to take photos, so if you meet him, you're better off asking for the autograph.

Comment by James Stone on October 19, 2016 at 9:43am: Geez, based on these stories, if I met him, I wouldn't give him a second look, would rather let him pass by than to have what would obviously be a terrible experience.

Can you sign this Paul? No. Can I get a picture with you Paul? No chance in hell. Can I shake you hand? Nope. Your music is amazing! I've heard that a million times. I stopped caring at time 1500.

I don't see why anyone would want to meet him.

Comment by Ger Ryan on October 19, 2016 at 12:58pm: Josh, nice article but your first 2 paragraphs...

Surely by virtue of having recorded with Macca, Jackson has a more interesting connection to him than Phil :P

Comment by Josh Board on October 19, 2016 at 2:13pm: Not really, Ger. SOOOO many artists have recorded together (although I must say, I adored the "Say, Say, Say" video). But...Phil was in a friggin Beatles movie, as an extra! And also...it segued better into the story I wrote!

Comment by OK_Android on October 19, 2016 at 2:16pm: If that is true then that's a shame. He can sign for fake *** teenage girls on stage but not the toothsome tub-thumper Phil Collins? On the other hand, Phil is a pretty generous signer; I got him TTM a while back.