Phil Collins Talks About His Regrets
Phil Collins has been candid about his biggest regret throughout his career. In a recent conversation on “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” the 75-year-old musician discussed how his professional journey impacted his relationships with his children and contributed to the breakdown of his three marriages.
“To some extent, I have to say I regret my marriages falling apart,” he shared. “Sometimes I jumped. Well, one time I jumped, two times I was pushed. But I wouldn’t have written it like that. But on the other hand, I’ve got five fantastic kids that I wouldn’t have if that hadn’t happened. So I have to balance it.” It’s an interesting perspective, really—this kind of duality in feelings.
Collins first tied the knot with Andrea Bertorelli, from 1975 to 1980. During their marriage, he adopted Joely, Bertorelli’s daughter, and they had a son named Simon together.
He later had a daughter named Lily with his second wife, Jill Tavelman, they were married from 1984 to 1996. Collins also has two sons, Nicholas and Mathew, with Orianne Cevey, his third wife, whom he was married to from 1999 to 2006.
Reflecting on his first marriage, he recognized it fell apart mainly because he was often away on extensive tours with Genesis. “Genesis did, in one year, I think, three American tours, two European tours, and a tour of Japan. When I got separated from my first wife, the guys in the band said, ‘Well, why didn’t you tell us? We’d have stopped it.’ But that’s easy to say in retrospect,” he recalled. “I was gone, and we grew apart.” It’s a bit sad, really. You can almost feel the weight of those memories.
Despite the challenges he faced in his marriages, Collins emphasized that he always aimed to support his kids. He remarked, somewhat resignedly, that getting married three times was not part of his life plan: “You don’t go into life thinking that.”
Lily, who stars in “Emily in Paris,” touched on their relationship in her 2017 memoir, “Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me.” She expressed her feelings about their father-daughter dynamic, stating, “I’m learning how to accept your actions and vocalize how they made me feel. I forgive you for not always being there when I needed it, for not being the dad I expected.” It’s a heartfelt sentiment—almost like she’s trying to reconcile the past while acknowledging the present.
Recently, they seem to have worked through their differences. For his 75th birthday, Lily shared some pictures, calling it a special day, writing “Love you to the moon and back again…” Such a warm and personal touch.
In her birthday wish to him, she reflected on their time together, expressing gratitude for the experience of celebrating such a momentous occasion. She noted feeling “lucky to have hugged you, laughed with you, and reminisced with you on such a monumental day.” It’s nice to see that sense of togetherness, especially after the complexities of their past.
Lily continued to honor him, sharing a Father’s Day tribute where she expressed her gratitude for Collins’ unwavering support, saying, “Now as a parent, I have a newly found understanding and deeper appreciation for everything you’ve done and continue to do.” It’s a lovely evolution of their relationship.
As a new chapter unfolds, Lily welcomed her first child, Tove, with her husband, Charlie McDowell, via surrogate in January 2025. The family dynamic seems to be shifting, perhaps providing an opportunity for new traditions and memories.
