Phil Collins takes aim at Oasis: “At the Hall of Fame they'll pretend nothing happened”

The 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, scheduled for November 8th at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, could set the stage for a rather awkward encounter: that between Phil Collins and the Gallagher brothers, protagonists of a long-running rivalry made up of jabs, insults and provocations. The former Genesis frontman will be inducted into the prestigious institution for the second time, this time as a solo artist, after being inducted with the band back in 2010. Also among this year's inductees are Oasis, Billy Idol, Joy Division, Iron Maiden and Wu-Tang Clan.

Collins, however, doesn't seem particularly keen on reopening hostilities. "There's going to be a dinner beforehand with everyone, I know because I've already been to one. I'll get the chance to sit right next to them," he said. "But I'm sure they'll act as if nothing ever happened."
Relations between the musician and Noel Gallagher have been anything but cordial since the 1990s. In 1994, as Oasis were taking over the British scene, the guitarist went so far as to call Collins "the antichrist of music," alongside Sting. In 1997, during the UK general election campaign, Gallagher urged voters not to back the Conservatives, joking about the risk that a Tory victory might convince Collins to leave Switzerland and move back home: "Let's be honest: nobody wants that to happen." Among his most famous jabs was also one aimed at the former Genesis man's commercial success: "Selling millions of records doesn't mean you're any good, just look at Phil Collins." Collins didn't take it lying down, and in 2005 he called Oasis "vulgar, horrible, and not as talented as they think they are."

Over the years, though, Collins seems to have learned to take the rivalry with a degree of irony. "It's become something of a running joke by now, and deep down I recognise I'm everything they hate: I'm a calm, mild-mannered person, and musically there's nothing provocative or rebellious about me," he explained, insisting he holds no grudge against the Gallaghers. Asked a music-related question about the Manchester band, he simply replied: "Do I like Oasis? Not particularly, no. I'd rather listen to the Beatles. I say that, obviously, because Oasis remind me of the Beatles."
Nearly thirty years after the first skirmishes, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame could therefore bring together the protagonists of one of British rock's most curious and long-running rivalries.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: a British Invasion

In 2026 the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is seeing an unprecedented British presence: six of the eight new inductees come from the United Kingdom, the highest number ever recorded in a single class.

Among this year's new inductees are Oasis, Iron Maiden, Sade, Phil Collins, Billy Idol, and the joint Joy Division/New Order entry. Rounding out the list are American acts Wu-Tang Clan and Luther Vandross.
The result surpasses the previous record of five British artists set in 2019, while in 2021 there were no UK inductees at all. Among the most anticipated names are Oasis — the Manchester outfit fronted by Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher — and the double induction of Joy Division and New Order, two crucial touchstones of the English post-punk scene.
For Iron Maiden, induction comes after years of nominations and more than two decades since they first became eligible, despite the reservations the band has repeatedly voiced about the institution. Sade, meanwhile, reaches a symbolic milestone: she is the first Black British woman to enter the Hall of Fame. Phil Collins, already inducted in 2010 with Genesis, is now also being recognised for his solo career.

The official induction ceremony is set for November 14 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. As per the rules, eligibility kicks in 25 years after the release of an artist's first commercial record.

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