When I was a child, Phil Collins lived on repeat in my family’s minivan of fun. So, I can (horribly) sing every single one of this man’s songs. I can also tell you that his life took an unexpected turn in 2007, which he is still addressing in his day-to-day life. His health journey is nuanced, as Phil himself recently acknowledged.
From a dislocated vertebra that ultimately decreased his mobility, to his coping mechanisms, which he now admits played a negative role in his healing journey, this “Sussudio” singer has indeed been through the wringer. Sadly, it’s not always “another day in paradise” for Phil, as another one of his songs suggests. Instead, Phil is taking the good with the bad, which he’s done ever since 2007, when his health took the first of many major hits. Here’s what’s up with Phil.
Phil Collins’ health has always been a topic of conversation
For over a decade, Phil’s health has created numerous headlines. But sadly, things have taken a turn for this iconic singer-songwriter. These days, Phil requires 24-hour live-in nursing care. Regarding why, there was one qualifying event that triggered many other health issues for Phil.
In 2007, Phil went on a reunion tour with his band, Genesis. Originally, Phil served as the drummer in this group, so he reprised this role while on tour. However, all the rolls, rim shots, and fills eventually took a toll on his health. Because, while on tour, Phil experienced a dislocated vertebra in his neck.
Phil recalled this injury in a 2015 interview with Rolling Stone. As he explained, his dislocated vertebra caused severe nerve damage in his hands. And due to these wonky nerves, Phil was ultimately unable to play his drums any longer. Even still, Phil tried to soldier on.
At one point, Phil even tried taping his drumsticks to his hands, but it seemed hopeless. So, in 2015, Phil underwent back surgery. “The doctor had to go in there, work on the sciatic nerve, and take my back apart and unscramble the mess,” Phil said. But “After this surgery, though, the doctor said to me that my vital signs were all there,” so “He said to me, ‘If you want to play drums again, all you have to do is practice.’”
And practice Phil did. But as they say with back surgery, which Phil can now attest, once you make that first cut, other problems are likely to present.
What does Phil Collins have?
After Phil’s back surgery, complications arose. During a 2016 interview with Jools Holland at Royal Albert Hall in London, Phil revealed that his surgery “left me with what they call dropped foot, which (means) my right foot doesn’t have any up and down (and) doesn’t have any feeling. That, I’m hoping, in time will get better as nerves regenerate,” he said.
Nicholas Collins, one of his sons, further addressed Phil’s condition via his dad’s 2024 documentary, aptly titled Phil Collins: Drummer First. As Nicholas explained, “He had a big surgery on his neck that stemmed from all those years playing drums and just bad posture and stuff. (This) caused him to have drop foot, which basically means that in one of his feet, he has no sensation, which is why he can’t really play drums and why he has to walk with a cane because he doesn’t have that control that he used to anymore, which sucks.”
In total, Phil has also undergone five surgeries on his knee. “I can walk, albeit with assistance, you know, crutches or whatever.” But, as Phil recently mentioned on the BBC Eras podcast, he now requires “a 24-hour live-in nurse to make sure I take my medication.”
Phil Collins recently celebrated two years of sobriety
As Phil also noted on the BCC podcast, he’s even suffered kidney damage, but this stemmed from his past alcohol addiction. You see, during his health struggles, alongside his tumultuous relationship with his now ex, Orianne Cevey, Phil turned to the bottle. However, “I’d probably been drinking too much, so my kidneys were messed up,” Phil explained.
He added, “I wasn’t one of those guys who stayed up all night drinking. I’d drink during the day, but I guess I had too much of it. I was never drunk, although I fell over a couple of times. It is just one of those things that happened,” Phil stressed, but then, “It all caught up with me, and I spent months in the hospital.”
“It left me with a lot of time on my hands to think about what happened,” Phil recalled. And during this period, “I went through a few bits of darkness, drinking too much. I killed my hours watching TV and drinking, and it almost killed me.” But then, Phil dropped a wonderful update, letting his fans know that he hasn’t “had a drink in two years.”
TELL US – ARE YOU A FAN OF PHIL COLLINS? HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING HIS HEALTH AND SOBRIETY JOURNEY?
