“…right now, we’ve no other option, nothing left to lose, and there are studio hours racking up.  So I say ‘How about I have a go?’  And the rest of the guys shrug: ‘Might as well...’”

Peter Gabriel left Genesis in 1975, and the band was struggling to find a replacement vocalist.  The following year, the release of ‘A Trick Of The Tail’ quickly reassured their fans about the future of the band.  Little did anyone know at the time that the drummer who had also become their singer would go on to become a global superstar, and that the next half-century would result in award-winning chart success with the band but also as a solo artist.  That man was Phil Collins. 

Fifty years on from that life-changing decision, No Jacket Required are marking the anniversary by performing a show which chronicles the chart success which followed.  Entitled ‘Both Sides Of The Hits’, the UK’s leading Phil Collins tribute will be performing a two-hour show made up entirely of hit singles from Phil’s solo career and his time as frontman of Genesis.  

No Jacket Required is the country’s longest-running Phil Collins tribute and has been performing since 2003 at venues around the country and overseas – and they are bringing their spectacular show back to The Brook in Southampton on Phil Collins’ 76th birthday - Saturday 30th January.  After sell-out shows around the country in 2026, the band have extended their show into 2027, and frontman Dave Whitehouse is very excited that they are continuing to take it on tour.  

“It’s always a pleasure to bring such great music to audiences around the country”, says Dave.  “In 2026, we marked 50 years of Phil’s career as a frontman and lead vocalist, and we performed nothing but his biggest hits and most popular songs.  The show runs to almost two and a half hours, and the general public would recognise every song that we play… there aren’t many artists for whom that would be the case.  From Follow You Follow Me [Genesis’ first big hit, in 1978] to You’ll Be In My Heart [Phil’s Oscar-winning Tarzan theme from 1999], and everything in between.  We are continuing the tour in 2027 and performing some different hits for those who caught the show last time.  There are so many Top 40 hits to choose from, we simply couldn’t fit them all in last year!”

Phil Collins has spent the equivalent of more than three years in the Top 20 of the UK singles chart, during a career which also gleaned a string of number 1 albums and multiple Grammy and Brit awards along the way.  The No Jacket Required show will include those fan favourites, such as Against All Odds, Invisible Touch, Easy Lover and of course the iconic In The Air Tonight.  “If you were around in the ‘70s and ‘80s, Phil’s music provided the soundtrack to our lives”, says Dave.  “If you weren’t but you love the music, then this might well be your first chance to hear it all live.  Either way, we are looking forward to a nostalgic show, full of fantastic hit singles, and we can’t wait to return to The Brook to start our tour.  It’s always a great night, and this year we are there on Phil’s 76th birthday – so come along and let’s celebrate this great music together!”