Phil Collins, the star drummer and vocalist of legendary band Genesis, revealed that he’s been ‘very sick’ – to the point that he no longer feels the urge to play music at all
Genesis star Phil Collins has opened up about being so ill that he’s completely lost interest in making music.
The 74-year-old drummer, singer, and songwriter – who retired in 2022 after he experienced worsening physical limitations as a result of a 2007 spinal injury – made the admission as he gave a poignant update on his health battles, after also being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2017.
He told Mojo magazine: “I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens. But I’m not hungry for it anymore.” Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Phil added: “The thing is, I’ve been sick, I mean very sick.”
The musician first opened up about about his spinal problems in 2009, saying: “My vertebrae have been crushing my spinal cord because of the position I drum in. It comes from years of playing.” Phil added: “I can’t even hold the sticks properly without it being painful. I even used to tape the sticks to my hands to get through. Don’t worry, I can still sing.”
Phil looked back at his life and music in his documentary, Phil Collins: Drummer First, which came out late last year after two years of filming. In the moving film, the star focused on his drumming career rather than his vocal fame. Some emotional scenes also show the multi-talented musician coming to terms with the fact that drumming was a skill lost to him, and that he’d never perform live again.
“It’s still kind of sinking in a little bit. You know, I’m 71. I’ve spent all my life playing drums. To suddenly not be able to do that is a shock,” Phil said as he sat at his drum kit and held his sticks. He also shared: “If I wake up one day and I can hold a pair of drumsticks, then I will have a crack at it. I just feel like I’ve used up my air miles,” and admitted: “To be suddenly not be able to do that is a shock. If I can’t do what I did as well as I did it, I’d rather relax and not do anything.”
Explaining just how mentally debilitating his physical deterioration was to him, he also added: “I’m not a singer who plays the drums. I’m more of a drummer who sings a bit.”
Unfortunately, the surgery that Phil underwent in 2009 in order to help his 2007 spinal injury didn’t go completely smoothly, leading to some of his current issues. Immediately after the operation the music legend shared that he’d lost feeling in his hands, and his struggle to play the drums and perform as he used to tragically impacted his mental health poorly – but Phil made it clear that he was trying to keep marching on for his children.
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .
