Phil Collins looks for the basement at the Alamo

By April MacIntyre Mar 3, 2009, 13:42 GMT

British musician Phil Collins. Collins has managed to amass “hundreds” of cannonballs, documents and other artifacts from the Alamo, and is reportedly one of the largest private collectors anywhere in the world, stashing his Texas treasures in the basement of his home in Switzerland. EPA/SEBASTIAN WIDMANN

Blame Pee Wee Herman, or perhaps a past history class, but singer Phil Collins' life now revolves around the Alamo in Texas.

Collins is reportedly in San Antonio Texas at local events commemorating the anniversary of the siege and battle of the Alamo.

Mysanantonio.com reports that the rocker is "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 told Texas reporters.

Collins has managed to amass “hundreds” of cannonballs, documents and other artifacts from the Alamo, and is reportedly one of the largest private collectors anywhere in the world, stashing his Texas treasures in the basement of his home in Switzerland.

He told mysanantonio.com 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."

It was actor Fess Parker who played Davy Crockett that lit the Lone Star fire for Collins, 58.  Collins passed on his love of the Alamo lore to his five children.

“My youngest two, they can identify Travis, Crockett and Santa Anna when they see their pictures,” he said.

mysanantonio.com reports that Collins "was given a private tour of the San Jacinto battleground, where the Texans defeated Mexico and won independence April 21."

Collins also plans to attend Friday's commemorations of the Alamo battle and is set to speak to the Alamo Defenders Descendants Association on Saturday.