· Rob was born in Sedgley in the West Midlands on the 23rd of February,1963.
· He particularly loved fishing and playing the piano, the latter being taken up as a small child and continuing through
various school bands and groups.
· His favourite keyboard heroes were Brian Auger, John Lord, Keith Emerson and Billy Preston and his favourite artists
were the Beatles, the Who and Raggae artist Bob Marley.
· Both Rob Collins and Jon Brookes were in the same band together at one point in time and that can be considered as
an advantage as later Rob would be asked to join The Charlatans.
· On the 3rd of December in 1992 Rob Collins was arrested for his part in an attempted-armed robbery of the
T&S supermarket and off licence in the village of Great Wyrley near Cannock, Staffordshire. On hearing the news the band
mates were said to be very angry and concerned.
· At this time the band had to get on with plans whilst waiting for the hearing. On the 20th of September
the judge announced his decisions. Luckily Collins got just 8 months in prison and later just served 4 months.
· Sadly, the Charlatans had to face yet another problem suffering with grief and mourning. On the 22nd of July in 1996, Rob passed away in a car accident. He lost control of his BMW and
crashed.
·
The band. their management and associates are naturally devastated with
the loss of not only an influential member of a brilliant rocknroll band, but more so of a great and loyal friend. The decision
has been made to carry on because we have to continue in his memory- its what he would have wanted. He lived it like he loved
it and he ran out of tome. There will be no change. We are fuckin rock. Weve lost our mate.
