# Phil Collins was in "A Hard Days Night" as an extra. Anyone know when he appeared? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 21, 2018, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-collins-was-in-a-hard-days-night-as-an-extra-anyone-know-when-he-appeared/816507 "2018-06-21T13:53:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-collins-was-in-a-hard-days-night-as-an-extra-anyone-know-when-he-appeared/816507/1 "2018-06-21T13:53:48Z")
Fascinating article on the Ringer about Phil and his legacy here: > **[Should Phil Collins Be Celebrated or Vilified?](https://www.theringer.com/platform/amp/music/2018/6/20/17482360/phil-collins-career-life-tour-in-the-air-tonight)** > > After an extended hiatus that found him becoming more beloved, the crown prince of middle-of-the-road ’80s Top 40 has embarked on a farewell tour. What will be his legacy? … which contained the tidbit in the title. Anyone know where he can be seen? Also, feel free to talk about Phil Collins… overrated? Underrated? I think it would be silly to keep him out of the R&R HOF, but it looks like it’s happening. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-collins-was-in-a-hard-days-night-as-an-extra-anyone-know-when-he-appeared/816507/2 "2018-06-21T13:57:23Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiKj007MA0g) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-collins-was-in-a-hard-days-night-as-an-extra-anyone-know-when-he-appeared/816507/3 "2018-06-21T14:02:57Z")
Thanks! Yeah, I could Google it, but where is the fun and discussion in that? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-collins-was-in-a-hard-days-night-as-an-extra-anyone-know-when-he-appeared/816507/4 "2018-06-21T14:34:30Z")
Phil Collins - I wouldn’t say overrated as much as overexposed. Seems that through most of the 80s his voice was everywhere on the radio, either as part of Genesis or solo. (And as he gained more influence in the band, it was often hard to tell one from the other.) He was a fantastic drummer though, and did an admirable job of stepping up as a front man for Genesis after Gabriel split. But yeah, by the end of the 80s I was sick of him. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-collins-was-in-a-hard-days-night-as-an-extra-anyone-know-when-he-appeared/816507/5 "2018-06-21T15:17:24Z")
But now? My “Phil journey” was much the same as yours… got sick of the overexposure by 1990 (at least), but 30ish years later I appreciate more of his songs and just think it would be idiotic to keep him out of the HOF ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-collins-was-in-a-hard-days-night-as-an-extra-anyone-know-when-he-appeared/816507/6 "2018-06-21T16:56:42Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > He was a fantastic drummer though, and did an admirable job of stepping up as a front man for Genesis after Gabriel split. But yeah, by the end of the 80s I was sick of him. He is in my top 5 all-time drummers. Spectacular talent. As a solo artist, I wanted to slap him silly. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-collins-was-in-a-hard-days-night-as-an-extra-anyone-know-when-he-appeared/816507/7 "2018-06-21T16:58:59Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Phil Collins - I wouldn’t say overrated as much as overexposed. Seems that through most of the 80s his voice was everywhere on the radio, either as part of Genesis or solo. (And as he gained more influence in the band, it was often hard to tell one from the other.) I felt the same way (about the difficulty of telling his solo work from his work with Genesis). The article **JohnT** linked to even mentions that: “Sometimes Phil was alone in his videos, sometimes he was with that tall guy with the beard, and that other tall guy who looked like Phil’s accountant.” Poor Tony Banks. 🙂 I always kind of liked Phil Collins, myself. Yeah, for most of the 80s, he was everywhere. And then suddenly he wasn’t. But he sure could write catchy tunes. And for all his light pop reputation, there’s an edge of darkness that sometimes creeps into songs like “In the Air Tonight” and “Against All Odds.” It’s only been relatively recently that I’ve gotten to appreciate him as a drummer, which I did by listening to the earlier Genesis stuff behind Peter Gabriel’s lead vocals. Back in those days when they were a more experimental band, Phil’s drumming was quite complex and adventurous, and absolutely essential to their sound. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-collins-was-in-a-hard-days-night-as-an-extra-anyone-know-when-he-appeared/816507/8 "2018-06-21T17:29:08Z")
MrAtoz, do you think he should be in the R&R HOF? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-collins-was-in-a-hard-days-night-as-an-extra-anyone-know-when-he-appeared/816507/9 "2018-06-21T17:34:04Z")
I assume you mean as a solo artist. He and the rest of Genesis were inducted in 2010. Sure, I think he deserves to be inducted a second time. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-collins-was-in-a-hard-days-night-as-an-extra-anyone-know-when-he-appeared/816507/10 "2018-06-21T17:42:28Z")
I"m a huge fan, but even I’ll admit radio and MTV went overboard playing his music in the late 1980s. I’ll be seeing him in concert later this year, knowing that this is likely the last time. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-collins-was-in-a-hard-days-night-as-an-extra-anyone-know-when-he-appeared/816507/11 "2018-06-21T17:57:19Z")
He was great in Brand X. Subsequently, he became Phil Collins. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-collins-was-in-a-hard-days-night-as-an-extra-anyone-know-when-he-appeared/816507/12 "2018-06-21T18:10:06Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > MrAtoz, do you think he should be in the R&R HOF? As **cochrane** said, he’s already in as a member of Genesis. As a solo artist, sure, why not? I do have some issues with the HOF, but I think that he was popular enough, talented enough, and had enough depth to some of his material that he’s deserving. Heck, if they’ve got room for Hall & Oates and The Cars, they’ve got room for Phil. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-collins-was-in-a-hard-days-night-as-an-extra-anyone-know-when-he-appeared/816507/13 "2018-06-21T19:25:02Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > I felt the same way (about the difficulty of telling his solo work from his work with Genesis). The article **JohnT** linked to even mentions that: “Sometimes Phil was alone in his videos, sometimes he was with that tall guy with the beard, and that other tall guy who looked like Phil’s accountant.” Poor Tony Banks. 🙂 Also, there was a song or two on his early solo albums featuring the Earth Wind & Fire horns, then they show up again in a song on “Abacab”. Genesis don’t have a horn section! As for Phil getting into the HOF, sure why not? Worse acts have gotten in, and at least he’s earned it. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-collins-was-in-a-hard-days-night-as-an-extra-anyone-know-when-he-appeared/816507/14 "2018-06-21T20:53:25Z")
Incidentally, Phil was almost a [Bugaloo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlqIB1T0-dA). Apparently, his mother worked for the casting agency Sid & Marty Krofft used to cast the series and she was trying to get him on the show. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phil-collins-was-in-a-hard-days-night-as-an-extra-anyone-know-when-he-appeared/816507/15 "2018-06-21T21:12:53Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > As **cochrane** said, he’s already in as a member of Genesis. As a solo artist, sure, why not? I do have some issues with the HOF, but I think that he was popular enough, talented enough, and had enough depth to some of his material that he’s deserving. > > Heck, if they’ve got room for Hall & Oates and The Cars, they’ve got room for Phil. 🙂 I’ll ignore the dig at H&O ( 😉 ) and agree… if the CARS are in the HOF, then Phil needs to be in as well.