Celebrating Phil Collins

With "Not Dead Yet," took his critics head on. Phil Collins will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday — and for the second time.

Collins joined Genesis in the rock hall in 2010. This year, he’s being inducted as a solo singer with a gazillion hit pop singles. I would like to suggest he’s being added as a drummer, too. 

Sadly, we’re unlikely to see Collins perform at his induction. As this New York Times profile confirms, Collins is suffering from a variety of health issues that have kept him from drumming in recent years, and now, even standing for any extended periods. And that’s a shame, because I’d love the world to see what few realize: Collins was a terrific drummer. 

I love the five-album stretch after Peter Gabriel left Genesis in 1975, when Collins added lead-singer duties to his drumming. Those albums — ”Trick of the Tail,” “Wind & Wuthering,” “... And Then There Were Three …,” “Duke” and “Abacab” — showcase a band slowly transitioning from deep prog to pop. But even as they softened the musical and lyrical noodling so evident on their first few albums, the band refused to completely hide its chops. 

Case in point: “Down and Out” from “... And Then There Were Three …” This album opener perfectly showcases Collins’ talents.

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One of the best things I've ever experienced

OK, this post is no exaggeration: Peddle rocks. 

Our 2009 Toyota Highlander hybrid recently bit the dust. The hybrid battery failed after 210,000 miles. The Highlander was the best car we've ever had, and we've had some great ones, including a Ford Explorer, Acura Integra and Lexus ES300. But we knew it's time was coming as more creaks and groans led to the battery failure. Replacing the battery was an option, but would either be expensive or inconvenient. And while it's possible to continue driving a hybrid once the battery starts to fail, at some point the electrical system and related batteries stop functioning. 

The dealer where we bought our replacement for the Highlander — a new Honda Ridgeline Trailstport — had no interest in taking the Toyota as a trade-in. And we didn't want to saddle it with another private party in our small town. So, junk yard, here we come. 

Upon searching online for local junkyards, I stumbled across a site called Peddle, which offers to buy vehicles sight unseen. They pay on the spot and come to your house to haul the vehicle away. The idea was so simple, my spidey-sense went off. This has to be scammy somehow. 

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Innovations in Media: ‘Old News Newsstand’

I’ve written previously here about “slow news.” But I don’t think I’ve ever written specifically about “old news,” and never as it relates to media innovation. 

(Photo courtesy of Old News Newsstand)But I love the idea of a new business in New York City called Old News Newsstand. It’s a kiosk that specializes in “sentimental bric-a-brac”: ceramics, maps and guidebooks, quickie and kosher snacks and candy, exotic coffee and sodas, porn, original hand-drawn cartoons, fanzines, and … yes, old news. 

The New Yorker magazine recently published a fun article on the business and its owner Aaron Reiss, who proudly touts his catchphrase: “Old News: Still  bad, but cheaper and more predictable.” 

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