Phil Collins: The musician is so ill he can barely hold a stick with his hand

Phil Collins is a British musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer known for his successful career in the rock band Genesis from 1970 to 1996 and his solo career.

Over his career, the artist has won several awards, including seven Grammy Awards, and has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling music artists. Some of his most famous songs include In the Air Tonight, Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now), One More Night, Sussudio, and Another Day in Paradise. In addition to his music career, he has also acted in films, including The Wiz.

With his service to the music industry, Collins was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1999.

What is Phil Collins' health issue?

From an energetic drummer who used to headbangs in all his songs, Collins recently looked frail and fragile when performing his tour.

According to the Evening Standard, Collins has struggled with health issues over the last 10 years. In 2009, he dislocated some vertebrae in his upper neck, which resulted in crippling nerve damage in his hands. At the time, he explained to the BBC:

Somehow, during the last Genesis tour, I dislocated some vertebrae in my upper neck, and that affected my hands. After a successful operation on my neck, my hands still can't function normally. Maybe in a year or so it will change, but for now it is impossible for me to play drums or piano.

Despite undergoing surgery to repair the vertebrae, Collins was left unable to play the drums or piano because he already lost feeling in his fingers and could only grip drumsticks with his hands taped together. He has also suffered from acute pancreatitis and type 2 diabetes.

Collins' health battle did not stop there. According to Marca, his past alcohol addiction after his retirement and divorce from his third wife, Orianne Cevey, and his troublesome relationship with his daughter, made things worse.

Concerns about Collins' health issues

His physical condition has affected his performances, and fans have expressed concern about his health.

In 2017, Collins was forced to delay two shows after falling asleep and accidentally hitting his head on a chair. However, according to the Sun, it was not an accident at all as the drummer was suffering from the 'foot drop' condition, which describes a difficulty in lifting the front part of the foot.

The nerve damage from his neck injury has left him unable to hold a drumstick, and he now uses a stick to assist with walking and often uses a wheelchair.

Updates on Phil Collins' health

Genesis’ guitarist Mike Rutherford sat down for an interview with BBC Breakfast, during which he was asked about famed bandmate Phil Collins, who has faced health struggles in recent years.

Rutherford was asked about Collins’ condition and whether he could still play, and said that the legendary drummer is 'much more immobile':

As you know, Phil is a bit… He’s much more immobile than he used to be, which is a shame, but at the tour, he was in good spirits. He’s fine now at home, enjoying life. He’s worked so hard over the years. I think he’s enjoying his time at home.

Throughout the band's farewell tour last March, the drummer would sing the lead vocals but had to use a stick to move around the stage. With his string of injuries, Collins could no longer control his signature drumsticks and was replaced by his son Nic, who's also a musician.

Will Phil Collins return to music?

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Collins senior explained:

I’d love to, but you know, I mean, I can barely hold a stick with this hand. So there are certain physical things that get in the way. I’m kind of physically challenged a bit which is very frustrating because I’d love to be playing up there with my son.

While no new tour dates have been announced, Collins has said that he doesn't feel like touring anymore:

We’re all men of our age, and I think to some extent, I think it probably is putting it to bed. I think just generally for me, I don’t know if I want to go out on the road anymore.

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Sources:

Rolling Stone: Phil Collins’ Last Stand: Why the Troubled Pop Star Wants to Call It Quits

Evening Standard: Phil Collins ‘much more immobile than he used to be’ says Genesis star in health update