Phil Collins opens up about health struggles in new film
Phil Collins has been retired for over two years due to health issues that prevent him from working. He completed his last tour in a wheelchair. In a documentary available for free on YouTube, the famous singer revealed his current situation.
On March 26, 2022, Genesis played its last concert ever. Phil Collins's health made it clear that if the British band ever returns to the stage, it will be without its leader. The farewell tour of the British artist was interrupted by the pandemic, and unfortunately, in a few months, his health significantly deteriorated. Along with problems with his spine and leg, there were additional issues that made Phil Collins visibly suffer physically while singing, as observed by viewers.
"The band plays in lower keys, and Phil still can't manage. It's nice to listen to him when he chats with the audience, but he no longer has that energy while singing. You could see him grimacing in pain," wrote viewers on social media.
In 2007, Phil Collins suffered a spine injury (dislocated cervical vertebrae, which damaged the nerves in his hands) and withdrew from performing on stage for several years. In 2015, he underwent surgery, but during recovery, he stumbled and broke his foot. Since then, he has been suffering from foot weakness, moving with a cane, and recently, in a wheelchair.
As everyone probably knows, at the beginning of his career, Collins was "only" a drummer in the band Genesis, led by Peter Gabriel. He became the frontman only after Gabriel's departure and during a long, fruitless search for a new vocalist. Collins has been playing drums since he was five years old. "I've spent all my life playing drums. To be suddenly not be able to do that is a shock," says the artist in the documentary.
"But I think he had a big surgery on his neck that stemmed from all those years playing drums and just bad posture and stuff, which caused him to have drop foot," states Nic Collins, Phil Collins's son. "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," admits Phil Collins.
The documentary titled "Phil Collins: Drummer First" appeared on the educational platform Drumeo's channel. It can be watched for free. The film is hugely popular. Within one day, it was watched by over 1.4 million viewers.
