Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Phil Collins Remembers the Alamo

San Antonio: Singer Phil Collins said his life now revolves around the Alamo.

Collins is in town, set to appear at local events commemorating the anniversary of the siege and battle of the Alamo. Though he's mulling the idea of recording a tribute cover album of 1960s songs, he said he's making the Alamo “my main thing” as a collector, history buff and possible author.

“Basically, now I've stopped being Phil Collins the singer. This has become what I do,” he said Monday, standing beside a 13-foot-by-15-foot model of the 1836 Alamo compound that will open to the public this week.

Collins, who is British, said he has “hundreds” of cannonballs, documents and other artifacts from the Alamo, possibly the largest private collection anywhere, in the basement of his home in Switzerland. He said he's collaborating with artist Gary Zaboly on a book about his collection.

His most prized item is a receipt signed by Alamo commander William Barret Travis for 32 head of cattle used to feed the Alamo defenders.

5 comments:

Ivan G Shreve Jr said...

Has he seen the basement yet?

Unknown said...

He'll have about as much luck finding it as Pee Wee did.

Cap'n Bob said...

Lest we forget, the Alamo fell on March 6, 1836. I had no idea Phil Collins was such an Alamo freak. So am I, but in a much smaller way.

Unknown said...

If you had Phil's dough, you could be as big a freak as he is.

Ray said...

I think there was a photo of him wearing a Fess Parker type Davy Crockett hat. Must have been years ago when it was taken.