Phil Collins has shared a somber update on his health, revealing the extent of his struggles that have forced him into retirement.

Phil Collins has spoken out about his health. Credit: David Wolff-Patrick/Redferns

The eight-time Grammy winner – known for hits like ‘In the Air Tonight’, ‘Sussudio’, ‘Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)’, ‘Easy Lover’, and ‘You’ll Be in My Heart’ – has been battling health issues for years.

The 74-year-old Genesis icon delivered his final performance in March 2022 at London’s O2 Arena alongside bandmates Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks.

His son, Nic Collins, who played drums in his father’s place during the final Genesis tour.

Collins retired in 2022, performing his final shows from a chair. Credit: Gina Wetzler/Redferns

Collins’ health troubles date back to 2007 when he dislocated a vertebrae in his neck, resulting in severe nerve damage to his hands. Then in 2017, he was diagnosed with drop-foot, a condition that left him without sensation in one of his feet. At the time, he explained that the condition was “a result of a back operation which makes it difficult to walk.”

Now, Collins has opened up about his condition in an interview with MOJO magazine.

“I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens. But I’m not hungry for it anymore,” Collins admitted. “The thing is, I’ve been sick. I mean very sick.”

Collins is one of the most respected and influential names in music. Credit: Larry Busacca/Getty Images

In the 2024 documentary Phil Collins: Drummer First, he addressed the painful reality of being unable to play the instrument that defined his career.

“It’s still kind of sinking in a bit,” he shared. “I’ve spent all my life playing drums. To suddenly not be able to do that is a shock.”

Collins, who first picked up drumsticks at age five, said the repetitive motion had taken a significant toll on his body.

“If I can’t do what I did as well as I did it, I’d rather relax and not do anything,” he said. “If I wake up one day and I can hold a pair of drumsticks, then I’ll have a crack at it. But I just feel like I’ve used up my air miles.”

GettyImages-947798894.jpg

Phil Collins in 1995. Credit: Tim Roney/Getty Images

“Musicians, people in bands in general had this thought that they were invincible,” son Nic said in Phil Collins: Drummer First. “I think that’s really what it is with my dad — just this kind of sense of, you’re a drummer, you’re invincible, you do what you do. But you don’t know it’s gonna take a toll in the long run.”

Collins, who has used a cane since undergoing major neck surgery in 2015, addressed his limitations in a 2021 interview with BBC Breakfast.

“I’d love to [play] but… there are certain physical things that get in the way,” he admitted.

Though his performing days are behind him, Collins’ impact on music remains undeniable.

His body may have slowed him down, but his legacy will continue to echo through generations of fans and musicians alike – and we wish the legend all the best at this time.