Nick Collins takes over from dad Phil on drums during the Not Dead Yet tour

Working with your dad can be a bit of a drag — but not for Phil Collins’ son Nick, who’s relishing the chance to play drums to massive audiences around the world on the Not Dead Yet tour.

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Going to work with your dad probably isn’t at the top of the list for many 17-year-olds, but for Nick Collins it’s a different story.

The son of legendary musician Phil Collins, Nick has been on the road on his dad’s world tour since 2017 — and is relishing every moment.

The dimple-cheeked youth is drummer for the band, taking his dad’s role and making it his own.

Phil and Nick Collins in Miami two years ago. Picture: Getty Images

Phil — one of the world’s best-selling solo artists and former lead singer with Genesis, with Grammys, an Oscar and Golden Globes under his belt, as well as 150 million albums sold — has been on the Not Dead Yet Tour for nearly 18 months.

For Nick it has been a special time, although he had to take schoolwork on the road.

“It’s fun. Dad kind of retired so he could spend more time with me and my brother,” he said.

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“But I always wanted him to go back on the road, so touring with him and sharing these memories with him has been great.

“We have a really good relationship and, like any son and dad, you have your arguments here and there — and the same thing with my mum — but there has never been anything (bad) between us, we have always got on really well.”

The son of Phil’s third marriage to Orianne Cevey, which ended in 2008, Nick grew up in Switzerland, moving to Miami, Florida, when he was 11.

Nick Collins at Qudos Bank Arena ahead of one of three Sydney concerts on this tour. Picture: Christian Gilles

Phil and Orianne reconciled six years later, with Phil saying of the reunion: “We decided that we shouldn’t have got divorced. She got remarried but we maintained a great relationship and
she missed me, I missed her, the kids are really happy.”

Nick said he expected no special treatment on tour.

“I’m just the drummer and I do what I’m supposed to do and that’s my thing. I’m not going
to say ‘I’m the boss’s son’,” he said.

“He’ll tell me if he’s not feeling something. He’ll say ‘this was too slow or too fast’ — I’m lucky that hasn’t happened too often so I’m doing a decent job.

“It’s really cool to share it with him and see the love that he gets every night from the people that turn up to the show.

“I realise we have a lot more in common than I thought we did.”