One of the Greatest Drum Solos of All Time Belongs to 1981 Hit - And It Still Rocks

One of the greatest drum solos ever recorded belongs to a 1981 hit that was created in the "saddest" key possible.

Phil Collins recalled, "One day I was working on a piece in D-minor, the saddest [key] of all. I just wrote a sequence, and it sounded nice," he said of what would become his signature track: In the Air Tonight.

" I wrote the lyrics spontaneously. I’m not quite sure what the song is about, but there’s a lot of anger, a lot of despair and a lot of frustration," he added.

'In the Air Tonight' Named Among Greatest Drum Solos

Stefan Joubert of London Drum Institute named the song one of the most iconic drum solos of all time.

"You know the moment: the song builds up, the tension rises, and then – bam! – that iconic drum fill hits, and you can’t help but air-drum along. Phil Collins’ solo in In the Air Tonight is short but legendary," he said.

"It’s the kind of drum break that’s so simple yet so powerful that it’s become a cultural moment all on its own."

The 'Stone' Around Phil Collins' Neck

Collins admitted the song is a "stone around my back" but claims he still loves it.

"I wrote it after my wife left me. Genesis had done a tour that was far too long. She said to me, 'We won’t be together if you do the next tour.' I said, 'I’m a musician. I have to go away and play. Just hold your breath when I’m over there.' Then Genesis toured Japan. When I got back, she said she was leaving and taking the kids," he told Rolling Stone.

And yet, he knows how fortunate he is that the song became such a big hit, reaching No. 2 in the United Kingdom and No. 19 in the United States.

"Nobody knows what the song is about, and I kind of like the mystery. And now NFL players use it to work out. I saw a video recently of Steph Curry singing it in his car, and it was just in an ad for milk chocolate. Where will it end? But I’m not complaining. It paid for this house we’re in right now!" he admitted.

The song was ranked No. 291 in the greatest songs of all time from Rolling Stone.

Related: 1969 Hit Named 'Greatest Drum Solo of All Time'

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