Flaming Youth (band)

Flaming Youth was an obscure British rock group who recorded a single album in 1969 before breaking up. Today, the band is more known as the original group of pop singer Phil Collins, then 18 years of age, who was the group’s drummer.

The band consisted of keyboardist Brian Chatton, guitarist Ronnie Caryl (on bass), Gordon Smith on guitar and bass, and Collins on drums. Toward the group’s end, Rod Mayall briefly joined on organ, and the group became more free-form.Ref|Coleman

The group released an album, "Ark 2", in 1969. The LP was released on the Fontana label to some critical but no commercial success. There was also a follow-up single recorded, “Man, Woman, and Child”. After a brief tour, the group dissolved.

Collins and Ronnie Caryl both auditioned for Genesis the following year, although Caryl was not successful.Ref|Caryl Caryl later played with Collins as his guitarist on his solo tours. Collins also kept in touch with Chatton, playing on at least one song by the band Boys Don't Cry on their second album.

References

* Coleman, Ray. “Phil Collins: The Definitive Biography”. Simon & Schuster, 1997. London. Pgs. 54-58.

* Negrin, Dave. “One Step At A Time: An Interview With Ronnie Caryl”. The World of Genesis. 5/29/05. [http://www.worldofgenesis.com/RonnieCarylInterview05-29-05.htm]