Phil Collins Rules Out Return to Recording or Touring Due to Health Issues
Phil Collins has definitively stated his intention not to return to either recording or performing live due to physical limitations that have diminished his desire to create music.
In an interview with Mojo magazine, Collins shared his reservations about returning to the studio. "I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens. But I’m not hungry for it anymore," he said before adding, "The thing is, I’ve been sick, I mean, very sick…" Collins' voice reportedly faltered before he could elaborate further on his condition.
Collins' physical challenges stem from a severe spinal injury in 2007, subsequent nerve damage, and a head injury in 2017. These have resulted in a condition known as "drop foot," which hinders walking.
Peter Gabriel, Collins' predecessor as Genesis frontman, witnessed the band's farewell performance in 2022. "Phil wasn’t in as great a shape as he used to be, but they did a great job," Gabriel said.
Collins' current project is a retrospective on Genesis' 50th-anniversary boxed set, featuring interviews with classic lineup members. He had previously announced in 2021 that he would not be drumming on the farewell tour, acknowledging his inability to hold a drum stick.
Collins' last album of original material, "Testify," was released in 2002. His last album was a covers collection titled "Going Back" in 2010.
Despite the absence of physical displays of affection among Genesis members over the years, an exception occurred at their final show. "Tony Banks hugged me, and I don’t think he’d ever done that before," Collins said. "I remember thinking how sweet that was."
Banks acknowledges his emotional restraint but expressed appreciation for Collins' remembrance of that moment.