Mark is the son of two teacher, has three brothers and was raised in Whalley
Range, Manchester.
He was considered strange at school and amazingly he was never picked on.
Collins was an outsider and at a particular time of his life he was just 4 ft 6 inches tall while all the other boys at school
were taller.
At the age of 14, people started to notice his oddness and was visited by
social workers. He got a high IQ score and the teachers were asked not to hound him down but to encourage him.
It was music that really motivated Mark and was always interested in guitars
from an early age.
Collins took up the instrument seriously at the age of 16.
For eight years he was on the dole. For a short while he worked as a carpet
cleaner and then took up a job at a kebab shop.
Then finally, he joined the "Waltones" with the Inspiral Carpets' Clint Boon
giving them a helping hand occassionally.
Collins for some time became the Inspirals' driver and did some soundchecks.
Finally, Mark auditioned to join the Charlies in Birmingham.
He was put on trial and if he gave his very best, then he was in.
