Drummer Phil Collins health update « Euro Weekly News
Phil Collins in Drumeo documentary. Credit: Drumeo, YouTube
Music mogul Phil Collins, 73, has opened up about his health struggles and celebrated career in the newly released documentary, Phil Collins: Drummer First.
Released on December 18, on the Drumeo YouTube channel, it offers an intimate look at his life as one of the most admired drummers of all time.
Phil Collins’ health struggles after decades of drumming
Following a 2007 spinal injury, Collins sadly developed crippling nerve damage that has severely limited his mobility. Speaking in the documentary, Collins admitted, “It’s still kind of sinking in. I’ve spent all my life playing drums. To suddenly not be able to do that is a shock.”
His son Nic Collins, who now plays drums for Genesis, revealed that his father underwent major neck surgery in 2015 due to years of bad posture and rigorous drumming. Nic explained, “Musicians in bands thought they were invincible, but it takes a toll in the long run.”
Collins also suffers from drop-foot, which causes numbness and difficulty walking, requiring him to use a cane or wheelchair. Reflecting on his condition, 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.”
Phil Collins’ musical career
Collins began drumming at the age of five, eventually joining the group Genesis in the 1970s before finding immense solo success with hits like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. His third solo album, No Jacket Required, won three Grammys including Album of the Year.
Collins is also known for his songwriting, drumming, and singing on numerous Disney soundtracks, most notably for The Lion King and Tarzan. His song You’ll Be in My Heart earned him an Academy Award and a Golden Globe in 2000. In the documentary, Collins reiterated his identity as a drummer first: “I’m not a singer who drums a bit; I’m a drummer who sings a bit.”
In the early 2000s, a Cadbury’s Dairy Milk advert featuring a gorilla dramatically playing drums to In the Air Tonight became a viral sensation.
Collins performed his final live concert with Genesis at London’s O2 Arena in March 2022. Seated throughout the performance, he delivered an emotional farewell to fans, joking, “Now I’ll have to get a real job.”
Genesis bandmate Steve Hackett reflected on Collins’s health challenges last year, saying, “He doesn’t deserve what happened to him”, cited by The Independent.
Phil Collins: Drummer First provides a heartfelt tribute to a career defined by groundbreaking achievements and resilience. The documentary is available to stream now.
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