Genesis’ Phil Collins gave rare insight into the health challenges he’s been experiencing over the last few years. He shared details about his current medical situation in a statement on BBC’s Eras Podcast.
The statement focused on Collins’ ongoing health struggles and his need for constant medical supervision.
“It’s an ongoing thing. I have a 24-hour live-in nurse to make sure I take my medication as I should do,” Collins said. “I’ve had challenges with my knee. I had everything that could go wrong with me, did go wrong with me.”
Collins detailed the severity of his recent health crisis. He explained how multiple issues converged simultaneously.
“I got COVID in hospital. My kidneys started to back up. Everything seemed to converge at the same time,” he continued. “I can walk, albeit with assistance, you know, crutches or whatever.”
The musician also reflected on his decision to step away from touring. He discussed the unexpected consequences that followed.
“I enjoyed coming off tour. Coming off the road, I thought, right, I’m gonna do all those things that I couldn’t do. I guess I had too much of it,” Collins said. “I was never drunk, although I fell over a couple of times. But it is just one of those things that happened and it all caught up with me, and I spent months in hospital.”
Despite the challenges, Collins expressed a cautiously optimistic outlook on his current situation.
“It’s just been a difficult, interesting, frustrating last few years. But it’s all right now,” he concluded.
Collins’ recent health revelations provide additional context to his ongoing medical journey. This journey has significantly impacted his career and personal life over recent years.
Consequence of Sound reported that Collins has undergone five operations on his knee. This now allows him to walk with the assistance of crutches or other mobility aids. The extensive surgical interventions highlight the severity of his physical challenges. They also show the long road to recovery he has faced.
The musician’s admission about his drinking habits after retirement from touring provides insight into the complex factors that contributed to his health decline. Consequence of Sound noted that Collins acknowledged he drank too much after stepping away from the road. This contributed to his kidney issues, though he emphasized he was never drunk despite experiencing falls.
Collins’ health struggles have been compounded by multiple medical complications occurring simultaneously. The combination of COVID-19 infection while hospitalized, kidney problems, and ongoing knee issues created a perfect storm of health challenges. This required months of hospital treatment and ongoing medical supervision.
Despite these significant health setbacks, Collins maintains hope for his future in music. Consequence of Sound revealed that he says he’s not done making music and hopes his health will improve soon. This suggests that fans may still see new work from the legendary musician in the future.
