Phil Collins Struggles with Health Issues and Musical Passion

London, England — In a candid interview with MOJO magazine, Phil Collins revealed how his ongoing health struggles have not only limited his ability to perform but also diminished his desire to create new music. Collins, 74, expressed his feelings about his situation, stating, “I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens. But I’m not hungry for it anymore. The thing is, I’ve been sick, I mean very sick.”

Since suffering severe nerve damage and mobility issues stemming from a spinal injury in 2007, Collins has faced significant challenges as a musician. During Genesis’s farewell shows in 2022, he performed seated while his son, Nic Collins, took over drumming duties. This marked a significant shift for the iconic drummer who has been a pivotal figure in rock music since the 1960s.

In the same interview, Peter Gabriel, Collins’ former bandmate and Genesis co-founder, spoke to MOJO about attending the group’s final performance at London’s O2 Arena. Gabriel, who did not participate in the farewell concerts, reflected, “Phil wasn’t in as great a shape as he used to be, but they did a great job. Me going was a rite of passage, really. I’d been part of the creation of Genesis, so I wanted to be there at the end.”

The new issue of MOJO, which is available in UK shops and for online order, includes extensive interviews with Collins, Gabriel, and the remaining members of Genesis — Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford, along with guitarist Steve Hackett. This retrospective marks 50 years since Gabriel’s departure from the group.

Genesis’s evolution from humble beginnings traveling in a bread van to becoming one of the most influential bands in prog rock is a storied journey. Gabriel, who led the band through their formative and exploratory years, left in the mid-1970s to pursue a successful solo career. Collins took on the lead vocalist role nearly by accident, stepping in after the band struggled to find a replacement. He offered to fill the void and was surprised when the band accepted.

Reflecting on those initial days, Collins remarked, “I honestly thought we could just carry on and be an instrumental group.” Notably, he was initially unimpressed by Genesis’s early music, describing it as akin to “a blancmange,” lacking the distinctiveness that later defined their sound.

In his retrospective account, Collins recalled how he became involved with Genesis after responding to an ad in Melody Maker, leading to his audition at Gabriel’s parents’ home. “They [were] a bit bottled up,” Collins noted, remembering his own carefree entry into the band dynamic. Banks reminisced about their first meeting, stating, “We were a bit amateurish, and Phil made it sound good. But he was also funny. Every time we met him, he had another funny story.”

Despite the nostalgia and fond memories, Collins’s health continues to be a significant barrier. He has not released new solo music since his 2010 covers album, “Going Back,” with his last original effort dating back to 2003’s Disney soundtrack, “Brother Bear.” As he grapples with his health issues, there remains uncertainty about his return to music production. “If I can’t do what I did as well as I did it, I’d rather relax and not do anything,” Collins admitted in a separate commentary. “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.”