Phil Collins reveals he would ‘contemplate’ touring again despite years of health woes
The Genesis veteran has revealed he is still considering returning to songwriting despite serious health struggles that forced him to retire from touring and live drumming.
Phil Collins has revealed he would “contemplate” going back on the road despite years of serious health problems that forced him to retire from going on the road and drumming.
The Genesis frontman, 75, spoke candidly about his future plans during an interview on BBC Breakfast, admitting he still thinks about returning to his home studio even after officially stepping away from live performances following Genesis’ farewell tour in 2022.
Phil said: “I’m constantly saying to myself, ‘I’ve got to go back down into my studio at home’.”
He added: “There are things that I can get my teeth into to start working on.”
Phil clarified he could not currently imagine returning to touring, although he acknowledged his health had improved compared with previous years.
He said he “can’t really see” himself back on tour.
However, he added: “I’m healthier now than I have been for quite a while. Whether or not I would go out again… I would contemplate.”
Phil, whose career spans more than five decades with hits including In the Air Tonight, Against All Odds and Another Day in Paradise, has faced mounting health struggles in recent years following spinal injuries, nerve damage and multiple surgeries.
The musician, who recently made a rare public appearance at Buckingham Palace alongside former wife Jill Tavelman also said he still had “lyrical ideas” he hoped to develop despite doubts about performing again.
The comments come as Phil prepares to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this year.
During his new BBC interview, the Grammy-winning musician confirmed he had declined an invitation to perform during the ceremony because he did not feel physically prepared.
He said: “They asked me if I would perform and I said no.
“You’ve gotta be match fit to do something like that.”
Phil continued: “You can’t just go onstage.
“You’re gonna have to rehearse, and then by that point, if you’ve not been singing, your voice is gonna be shot, and then that’s not gonna be good.”
The singer said he ultimately decided: “I’d rather not do it.”
Phil’s health struggles have become increasingly public in recent years.
Earlier this year, he explained during BBC’s Eras podcast a spinal injury suffered in 2007 caused severe nerve damage that left him unable to play drums properly.
He later developed “drop foot” after back surgery, making it difficult to lift the front of his foot.
The condition effectively ended the drumming career that helped make Phil one of the most successful musicians of his generation, both as Genesis’ drummer and later as frontman following Peter Gabriel’s departure from the band.
Genesis enjoyed enormous success with albums including Invisible Touch and We Can’t Dance, while Phil also built one of the biggest solo careers of the 1980s and 1990s.
Speaking previously in the documentary Phil Collins: Drummer First, Phil reflected on the emotional impact of no longer being able to play.
He said: “I’ve spent all my life playing drums.
“To suddenly not be able to do that is a shock.”
Phil added: “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.”
The musician also revealed earlier this year he now requires a 24-hour live-in nurse and continues to deal with kidney problems linked to previous alcohol use.
Phil said he is now more than two years sober after undergoing five knee surgeries and years of declining mobility.
