Phil Collins Explains Why He Can’t Play Drums Due To Health Issues

Phil Collins he will always love playing the drums, but years of rocking and rolling have taken the reins in his hands.

“I spent my whole life playing drums. Not being able to do that all of a sudden is shocking,” Collins, 73, admitted Phil Collins: Drummer First documentary, released by Drumeo on Wednesday, December 18.

The singer explained that after playing drums in concert with Genesis for five decades and touring solo since the ’80s, it took a toll on his hands and legs. A strain on his body led Collins to retire from drumming in March 2022 after his last performance with his band Genesis.

“If I can’t do as well as I did, I’d rather be free and do nothing,” he said. “If I wake up one day and can hold the drumsticks, then I will beat it.”

“I feel like I’ve used up my air miles,” Collins continued, noting that not being able to play “was still kind of sinking in.”

The Oscar winner got his first plastic drum at the age of 3, which started it all. Two years later, Collins was playing music for his family. He remembers: “It was something I could live with, and I got on the television.

Looking back at his career, Phil’s son Nic Collins he said his father was like many musicians of his time and he didn’t think what drumming could do for him.

“The musicians, the people in the groups as a whole had the idea that they are invincible,” explained Nic, 23. “I think that’s really the case with my father, that he is a drummer, you don’t lose anything, you do what you do. But you never know it will cause damage in the long run.”

In 2015, Phil had neck surgery “from all those years of drumming and bad posture,” according to Nic. Phil also suffers from drop-foot, which is when one of your feet has no feeling. That disease led the singer to use a cane.

Before the Genesis reunion, Phil announced that Nic would take over from him on the drums for the sake of his health. He continued as a leading singer.

“I would like to, but you know, I mean, I can’t hold a stick with this hand. So there are some physical things that interfere,” Phil said BBC Breakfast in September 2021. “I have some physical problem that worries me a lot because I would like to play there with my son.”

Phil revealed at the time that the tour would be his last. “We’re all men of our own age, and I think to some extent, I think it probably lulls us to sleep,” he teased. “I think, yes, I’m just thinking in general about myself, I don’t know if I still want to go out on the street.”

Phil joined Genesis in 1970 as a drummer. The band is made up of bassists Mike Rutherfordthe keyboardist Tony Banksthe guitar Steve Hackett and the singer Peter Gabriel. The group disbanded in 2000 but reunited in 2006 Open Again Tour.

Philile came out The Last Domino? Visiting and Genesis in September 2021. His last show with the band took place in March 2022 with Nic on stage with his daughter. Lily Collins in the crowd.

“This night marks the end of an era. Seeing this last show was a memory of a lifetime and an event I will keep in my heart forever,” wrote Lily, 35, on Instagram after the show in London.

He continued: “Unending gratitude does not begin to do justice. A lot of love was left on that O2 stage and an even bigger amount was shared by the audience who didn’t want it to end. Thank you @genesis_band for the memories, thank you dad for being an inspiration and thank you @nic_collins for making me a proud sister. 50 years of songs later and many generations will be celebrating long after this journey is over…”

Phil shares son Simon, 48, and stepdaughter Joely, 52, with first wife, Andrea BertorelliHe divorced her in 1980 after five years of marriage. He shares Lily with him Jill TavelmanHe was married to her from 1984 to 1996. The musicians are also joined by Nic and his son Matthew, 20, and his ex-wife. Orianne Cevey. The women were married from 1999 to 2008.