Phil Collins Shares Health Struggles

Phil Collins has revealed that his health issues have escalated to the point where he requires 24-hour medical assistance. The musician cited a series of serious health problems, including five knee surgeries, kidney issues, and extended hospital stays.

“It’s an ongoing thing,” Collins mentioned in an interview with BBC Two’s Zoe Ball. He explained that he has a nurse available around the clock to ensure he correctly takes his medications. He described a troubling series of health events, including a COVID diagnosis that exacerbated his kidney issues, saying it all seemed to happen at once.

Health Challenges and Music Career

These comments were part of the series “The Phil Collins Era: In Conversation,” which provides insights into why the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer stopped touring after Genesis’ farewell tour in 2022. Collins elaborated that his knee problems necessitated multiple surgeries before he could regain some mobility.

“I’ve had five surgeries on my knee,” he said. “Now my knee works normally and I can walk, although I still need crutches and other support.” His health has been fraught with challenges; a spinal injury in 2007 left him with serious nerve damage, further compounded by complications from hip surgery that affected his mobility and ultimately his ability to play the drums.

Struggles with Addiction

Collins also reflected on how alcohol abuse played a role in his declining health, admitting that it led to severe kidney complications and lengthy hospital stays. Thankfully, he recently celebrated two years of sobriety.

“I probably drank too much, and my kidneys were really suffering,” he shared, reminiscing about the post-tour lifestyle he led. He noted that while he didn’t consider himself to be a heavy drinker, the cumulative effects of his habits caught up with him, resulting in months of hospitalization.

Additionally, he is battling type 2 diabetes alongside his other health conditions. “The last few years have been difficult, but I’m okay now,” he concluded.

Public Scrutiny and Future

Last summer, speculation about Collins’ health circulated widely, with rumors suggesting he was in hospice care. His team quickly refuted these claims, clarifying that he was hospitalized for knee surgery and not terminally ill.

The iconic musician’s last original album was released in 2002, with a Motown covers album following in 2010. Collins joined Genesis in 1970, eventually taking over as frontman after Peter Gabriel’s departure in 1975.