Phil Collins Opens Up About Health Struggles and Future Music Plans
As he prepares to celebrate his 75th birthday on January 30th, music icon Phil Collins has broken his silence about his ongoing health battles while revealing ambitious plans for a potential return to the recording studio and even touring. In an exclusive interview with Zoe Ball set to air on Radio 2 in early February, the legendary musician speaks candidly about the physical challenges that forced him to retire from touring in 2022.
A Difficult Journey to Sobriety
Collins describes the past two years as "a difficult, interesting, frustrating" period, particularly highlighting his struggle with alcohol that led to severe pancreatitis. The musician recalls a moment when his assistant brought him an inflatable balloon shaped like the number 2, which initially confused him until she explained it marked two years since his last drink.
"I wasn't one of those guys that stayed up all night drinking, I'd drink during the day," Collins admits. "But I guess I had too much of it and it all caught up with me."
The drinking problem escalated during his time living alone in Switzerland in 2008, following his divorce from third wife Orianne Cevey. Collins attributes this period to having "too much time on my hands" that contributed to his alcohol dependency.
Multiple Health Challenges
The Genesis frontman details a complex cocktail of health issues that have significantly impacted his mobility and musical abilities. It all began with a spinal injury during the 2007 Genesis tour, which triggered nerve damage affecting both his hands and legs. This injury ultimately forced him to stop drumming professionally.
Additional health concerns include five knee operations, type 2 diabetes, and hearing loss from a viral infection contracted in 2000. Despite these challenges, Collins maintains a remarkably positive outlook, stating plainly: "I'm not dead yet."
He currently employs a 24-hour live-in nurse to ensure he takes his medication properly and reports that while he still uses crutches for mobility, his recent knee operations have been successful enough that he can walk again.
Comeback on the Horizon
Looking toward the future, Collins reveals concrete plans that could see him returning to music creation and performance. "The things that are ahead for me would be, apart from just being back to being totally mobile and healthy, sort of maybe go in there [into the recording studio] and have a fiddle about and see if there's more music," he explains.
The musician confirms he has unfinished musical projects and completed works that have never been released, suggesting there might be "life in the old dog yet." When asked about the possibility of touring again, Collins responds thoughtfully: "Sometimes I feel like, wouldn't it be nice if we did it again. I just don't know if I wanna go as far as to launch that boat, you know? Because once you launch it, it's difficult to unlaunch it."
Family Pride and Musical Legacy
Collins expresses immense pride in his five children, who have all pursued successful careers in entertainment and sports. His daughter Lily has become a celebrated actress with roles in Emily in Paris and Snow White, while his son Nicholas has followed in his father's footsteps as a drummer, occasionally filling in for Phil in Genesis and Mike and the Mechanics performances.
"I had a very happy family life," Collins reflects. "My kids are amazingly well adjusted considering some of the things that they've been through. I'm very proud of all of them."
Reflecting on his accidental transition from drummer to frontman when Peter Gabriel left Genesis in 1975, Collins confesses he was initially reluctant. "The drums were like a security blanket - you've got something between you and the audience," he recalls of his early days as lead vocalist.
Looking Back Without Regret
Despite the health struggles and personal challenges, Collins maintains a remarkably positive perspective on his extraordinary career. With three UK number one singles, two Golden Globes, six Brit Awards, and eight Grammy Awards to his name, the musician has few regrets about his journey.
"I'd love to do it again," he says of his career. "I wouldn't have missed it for the world."
The complete interview will be available as part of the new BBC Sounds series, Eras: Phil Collins with Zoe Ball, launching on January 26th before its Radio 2 broadcast in February 2026.
