Phil Collins's poignant farewell: Artistry meets adversity
Phil Collins has been retired for over two years due to health issues that make it impossible for him to work. He completed his last tour confined to a wheelchair. In a documentary available for free on YouTube, the renowned singer revealed what is currently happening to him.
On 26th March 2022, Genesis played their last concert in history. Phil Collins's deteriorating health meant that if the British band were to return to the stage, it would be without their iconic leader. The pandemic interrupted the British artist's farewell tour, and during the following months, his health declined further. Apart from spine and leg problems, other issues emerged, causing Phil Collins to visibly suffer while singing, as noted by viewers.
"The band plays in lower keys, and Phil still can't manage. It's pleasant to hear him chatting with the audience, but he no longer has that energy when singing. You could see him grimacing in pain," wrote viewers on social media.
In 2007, Phil Collins suffered a spinal 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 suffered from foot weakness, moving with a cane, and most recently, in a wheelchair.
As many people know, at the beginning of his career, Collins was "only" a drummer in Genesis, led by Peter Gabriel. He stepped up as frontman only after Gabriel's departure and lengthy, 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" appeared on the educational platform Drumeo's channel and is available to watch for free. The film is hugely popular. Within one day, it was viewed by over 1.4 million people.
