Phil Collins shared that his health has improved after years of challenges
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The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame asked him to perform at his induction in November, but he declined due to readiness concerns
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Collins hinted at possibly returning to music in the future
Phil Collinsis sharing a positive update on his health — and what that means for the possibility of future performances.
Though the legendary drummer, 75, has been plagued by anumber of health issuesover the past few years, he told theBBCin a new interview that the past 18 months or so have been “fine” for him.
“Before that, not so good. Everything healthwise caught up with me at the same time and whatever could go wrong did go wrong. But everything's fine now,” Collins said. “I had problems with my knee, which I had for a while, but I played through it, toured through it. But eventually I had to have a knee operation and I had to have [it] five times because it kept either getting infected or it broke, you know. So I was inactive for a long time.”
The “In the Air Tonight” singer is set to beinducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fameas a solo artist in November. Though he's been feeling better, Collins said it's unlikely he will perform at the induction ceremony.
“I can't really see it happening, but I'm healthier now than I have been for quite a while,” he said.
Collins — who was inducted as a member of Genesis in 2010 — confirmed that he had been asked by the Rock Hall to perform, but turned down the offer, as he didn't quite feel he was ready.
“You can't just go on stage. You have to rehearse. And then by that point, if you've not been singing, your voice is going to be shot and then that's not going to be good. So I'd rather not do it,” he explained.
Still, the rocker didn't close the door on one day returning to a different stage, saying it's something he “would contemplate.”
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“I mean, I'm constantly saying to myself, ‘I gotta go back down to my studio at home,'” he said. “I've got lots of lyrical ideas I write down. And there are things that are half-formed, and a couple of things that are finished. So there's things that I can get my teeth into to start working on.”
He last released an album of original material,Testify, in 2002.
Collins retired from playing drums in 2022 after his health woes made itdifficult for him to pick up a drumstick. He's undergone back and knee surgery in recent years, and said in a 2024 documentary that playing the drums since age 5 has “taken its toll” on his hands and legs.
In January, he told the BBC that his health issues are an “ongoing thing,” and he has a24-hour live-in nurse.
“I've had challenges with my knee. I had everything that could go wrong with me, did go wrong with me,” he said. “I got COVID in hospital. My kidneys started to back up. Everything seemed to converge at the same time… I can walk, albeit with assistance, you know, crutches or whatever.”
The star made arare public appearanceearlier this month alongside his ex-wife Jill Collins, Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster at The King's Trust 50th Anniversary Party at Buckingham Palace.
“Despite the downpours of torrential rain which did not seem to dampen the festivities @officialphilcollins and I were very proud and honored to be there and have a few private moments with King Charles who seemed genuinely pleased to see Phil who was the very first ambassador 40 years ago and a trustee even before that! We ran into @sirrodstewart and @penny.lancaster among other old (in the nicest sense of the word) friends," Jill wrote on Instagram.
Read the original article onPeople
