Related - Simon Phillips

Simon Phillips

"I was born in the land of the sun and the tall green grass,
And I don't understand how all this has come to pass"
(Toto 'I Will Remember')

Simon Philips appeared with playing drums and percussion on more than a hundred albums by various artists. He accompanied in the studio Jon Anderson, Michael Cretu, Asia, Camel, Jack Bruce, Jeff Beck, The Corrs, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, Art Garfunkel, Mick Jagger, Judast Priest, Gary Moore, Mr. Big, Richard Marx, Roxy Music, Chris Rainbow, Edwin Starr, Pete Townshend, Toyah, John Wetton, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Midge Ure and many others.
    He once has said that working together with Mike Oldield as co-producer and co-engineer on "Crises", "Discovery" and "Islands" was very instructive to him:
    "Mike basically taught me how to engineer. I think Mike wanted a break from engineering to be able to sit back and listen to the record from a different perspective - but he had a hard time with most engineers - he likes a musician's approach to balance and sounds. As I was technically minded anyway and was always interested in engineering it worked out well. I learnt an incredible amount from Mike and in fact he really showed me the way for starting a solo career. After we finished "Islands" in '87, I was inspired to start writing music for my first solo record where I played all the instruments - being keyboards (with the help of a sequencer) and drums. I think I introduced a more R&B feel to his music and a little jazz as well - but subtly!" (Simon Phillips, 1999)
    Finally joined by a cast of seasoned rock and jazz musicians including guitarists Ray Russell and Andy Timmons, saxophonist Wendell Brooks, bassist Anthony Jackson and percussionist Peter Michael Escovedo, Phillips began recording and touring as a bandleader.
    After Jeff Porcaro death in 1992 Simon Philips took the place behind the percussion in the very famous American group Toto.

Solo albums:

Protocol (1989, 1998);
Force Majeure (1992).

Jazz-rock albums recorded together with guitarist Ray Russel.

Symbiosis (1995). Tracks:
1. Symbiosis
2. You Restless Angel
3. Midair Decision
4. Biplane To Bermuda
5. Isis
6. Out Of Blue
7. Starfish Spaghetti
8. Indian Summer
9. Sea Of Sights
Another Lifetime (1997). Tracks:
1. Jungleeyes
2. POV
3. Freudian Slip
4. Eyes Blue For You
5. Kumi Na Moja
6. Mountain High
7. ESP
8. Euphrates
9. Another Lifetime
Out Of The Blue (1999) - live album.

Albums recorded with Toto:

Tambu (1995);
"XX (1977-1997)"(1998);
Mindfields (1999).

"I went driving last night on a dark canyon road,
Had the sky to myself but I wasn't alone,
Had the pain of my lifetime for my company.
How did it end up like this for you and me?"
(Toto 'I Will Remember')