Phil Collins’ hospital dash has sparked a flurry of rumours about the musician’s health, with fans left fearing the worst, but what do we really know about his health?
Speculation that Phil Collins was in hospice care has been dispelled following a hospital visit for the renowned drummer who has not been the only music legend of his generation to be struck down by illness.
A spokesperson for the Genesis legend clarified that Collins is actually in hospital undergoing knee surgery, and is not on his deathbed.
The rampant rumour that Collins was in hospice care sent shockwaves through his fanbase just days ago, causing distress among admirers already mourning the loss of other cherished stars like Ozzy Osbourne earlier this week.
Earlier in the year, Collins did acknowledge his declining health. In a conversation with MOJO, he expressed a waning interest in making new music due to his “very sick.”
condition.
He remarked, “I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens. But I’m not hungry for it anymore. The thing is, I’ve been sick. I mean very sick.”, reports the Mirror US.
“It’s still kind of sinking in a bit,” admitted the Grammy-winning artist. “I’ve spent all my life playing drums. To suddenly not be able to do that is a shock.”
Collins, who began drumming at the tender age of 5, noted that his lifelong dedication has “taken its toll on my hands, legs.
“If I can’t do what I did as well as I did it, I’d rather relax and not do anything,” he stated.
“If I wake up one day and I can hold a pair of drumsticks, then I’ll have a crack at it. But I just feel like I’ve used up my air miles.”
The singer performed his last concert with Genesis in 2022 as his mobility issues worsened progressively after a spinal injury in 2007 resulted in severe nerve damage.
He took to the stage with Genesis bandmates Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks at London’s 02 Arena, with his son, Nic, on the drums.
The Against All Odds singer managed to complete the show while seated comfortably in a chair, joking that he might have to ‘find a real job’ due to his ongoing health struggles.
Although he didn’t elaborate on his current health status during the farewell performance, Collins has faced several health challenges over the years.
In the 2024 documentary Phil Collins: Drummer First, he spoke about his deteriorating physical health. The star is renowned for his exceptional drumming skills and powerful vocals as part of the British rock band.
He also holds a special place in the hearts of younger fans for his work on the “Tarzan” film, particularly his Oscar-winning song You’ll Be In My Heart.
In 2017, Collins was diagnosed with drop-foot, a condition that resulted in a loss of sensation in one of his feet.
At the time, he revealed that the condition was a “result of a back operation which makes it difficult to walk.”
In his documentary, Nic disclosed that his father had major neck surgery in 2015, and has been using a cane to assist with walking ever since.