Phil Collins opens up about health struggles in new documentary
Phil Collins has been retired for over two years due to health conditions that make it impossible for him to work. He completed his last tour in a wheelchair. In a documentary available for free on YouTube, the famous singer reveals what his current situation is.
On March 26, 2022, Genesis played its final concert. Phil Collins's health made it clear that if the British band returns to the stage, it would be without its leader. The farewell tour of the British artist was interrupted by the pandemic. Unfortunately, over several months, the leader's health significantly deteriorated. In addition to problems with his spine and leg, there were other issues that made Phil Collins visibly suffer physically while singing, as viewers noticed.
"The band plays in lower keys, and Phil still can't manage. It's nice to listen to him chat 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 many probably know, 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 long, fruitless searches 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" is available on the educational platform Drumeo's channel and can be watched for free. The film is very popular, having been watched by over 1.4 million viewers within one day.
