As the drummer and lead singer of the rock group Genesis, later branching out to enjoy
an equally successful solo career, Phil Collins has charted countless number 1 hits both in
the UK and the US.
In fact, during the 80s, he had more number ones than any other artist.
A few of his most successful singles include “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now),
“In The Air Tonight”, “Another Day in Paradise”, and “One More Night”.
While Collins is one of the best-known names in the music industry, his health reportedly
has taken a dramatic nosedive in recent years, leading to serious concerns that he may be
soon forced into permanent retirement.
It's been said that Collins's condition has deteriorated to the point that he is no longer
able to even hold a pair of drumsticks.
At the age of 71, it's not exactly surprising that a man who spent the better part of his
adult life in the spotlight might be showing signs of wear and tear.
After all, the lifestyle of a career musician can be quite taxing.
Recently, Collins's family has spoken out about the state of his health.
Join us as we check in with Collin's kids to see what they have to say about their father's
condition.
We’ll also be taking a look at their respective careers while discussing how they’ve managed
to find success without taking advantage of their family name.
Facts Verse Presents: Phil Collins' Children are Speaking Out as His Health Gets Worse
A Life Of Accomplishments
Phil grew up in West London and started playing drums at the age of five.
After going to drama school, he was able to secure a few acting roles as a child actor.
His first major role was in a West End production of Oliver!
When he was 13.
After that, he decided to shift gears and focus on a musical career instead.
In 1970, he joined the band Genesis as their drummer.
Eventually, he became the band’s lead singer after the departure of Peter Gabriel in 1975.
In the 80s, Collins began his solo career.
Throughout the decade, he grew into one of the most successful and celebrated pop and
adult contemporary singers.
He also became known for his signature gated reverb drum sound which was prominently featured
in a number of his recordings.
Collins continued to enjoy lasting success throughout the 90s and 2000s, with his music
frequently being featured in film soundtracks.
His song "You'll Be In My Heart" which appeared on the soundtrack for Disney's 1999 animated
film Tarzan ended up earning him an Oscar for Best Original Song.
After a long hiatus from performing with the outfit, Collins rejoined Genesis in 2007 for
their "Turn It On Again" Tour.
He then took a five-year sabbatical to focus on his family before releasing an autobiography
in 2016 and completing his "Not Dead Yet" Tour in 2019.
In 2020, Collins rejoined Genesis once again for a second reunion tour.
That tour ended up getting drawn out by the COVID-19 Pandemic and was plagued with cancellations
and delays.
It finally wrapped up, however, in March of 2022.
Throughout his decades-spanning career, Collins has released eight studio albums that have
sold more than 33.5 million units in the US alone.
It's estimated that his global record sales are around 150 million units, making him one
of the best-selling musical artists in the world.
Astonishingly, he is one of three recording artists, alongside Michael Jackson and Paul
McCartney, who have sold more than 100 million records both as a solo artist and separately
as a member of a band.
Additionally, Collins has been honored with numerous awards and accolades, including eight
Grammys, two Golden Globes, six Brit Awards, and an Academy Award.
In 1999, he was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2010, he and his Genesis
bandmates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
His Health Has Been Steadily Declining
Collins has suffered from numerous injuries over the years that have affected his ability
to play the drums.
In 2007, he sustained a spinal injury that left him with severe nerve damage.
In 2009 he told the Daily Mail that the position that he drums in led to his vertebrae crushing
his spinal cord.
After years of constant touring and recording, his spinal condition deteriorated to the point
that it had become difficult for him to hold his drumsticks properly without it being excruciatingly
painful.
In an attempt to combat this, he admitted to even needing to tape the sticks to his
hands just so he could make it through a set.
In 2010, Collins admitted that he had been suffering from depression and low self-esteem.
He even frankly admitted to contemplating suicide at one point but resisted the thought
for the sake of his children.
In 2016, Collins underwent spinal surgery in an attempt to alleviate some of his physical
discomfort.
Sadly, after the procedure, he was still unable to drum with his left hand.
At this point, his doctors advised him that if he wanted to play drums again, he'd need
to agree to go through rigorous physical rehabilitation.
In Collin’s 2016 autobiography, Collins acknowledged the fact that he had struggled
with alcoholism following his retirement and third divorce.
Fortunately, at that time he had been sober for more than three years.
In 2017, Collins received treatment in a hyperbolic chamber after he developed an abscess on his
foot that had become very infected.
Later that year, he was forced to cancel two shows after slipping in his hotel room and
hitting his head on a chair.
Following that fall, he needed stitches to close a gash close to his eye.
The fall was caused by a condition called foot drop that he started suffering from after
having a back operation in 2015.
In 2021, Collins gave an interview with BBC Breakfast in which he once again opened up
about his health struggles.
In that candid discussion, he revealed that he could barely even hold a stick with either
of his hands.
He went on to add that there were other physical factors that have gotten in the way of his
playing as well, including type 2 diabetes.
Although his health has prevented him from drumming in recent years, he has continued
to sing at concerts.
Collin’s Children Speak Out
Phil's son Nic Collins has followed in his father's footsteps by pursuing his own musical
career.
Nic is a drummer in a rock band called Better Strangers.
The group recently released a single called Raincheck, which is available at digital marketplaces
and streaming services everywhere.
In early 2022, Nic stepped in to play drums in place of his father during Genesis's "The
Last Dominos" Tour, which wrapped up in May.
In that 2021 interview with BBC Breakfast, Phil said that he would love to be playing
up onstage with his son but lamented the fact that his physical condition had prevented
him from doing so.
In the previous five years, Nic had often joined his father on tour, playing sold-out
arenas across the US and the UK.
When asked what that experience was like, Nic said that he enjoyed 'every second' of
the work that he did his with his father and Genesis, but he's now at the point where he
thinks he's ready to stand on his own two feet as a musician and artist.
While he loves his father deeply and appreciates the doors that he’s opened for him, Nic
wants to prove to the world that he is more than a capable artist on his own.
Instead of taking advantage of his last name, Nic says that Better Strangers has always
tried to put their best foot forward while not making a big deal out of their connection
to Phil and Genesis.
Just as Nic is trying to pave his own way in the musical industry, his sister Lily Collins
is also trying to prove to the world that she is a competent actress.
In November, the "Emily in Paris" star told Vogue France that it was always 'out of the
question' for her to use her name as a 'free pass' when establishing herself as an actress.
While she's been very proud of her dad, she has always wanted to be seen as her own person
and not just as his daughter.
After successfully maneuvering her own breakthrough into show business, Lilly has found herself
in a position where she is able to support her dad.
In early 2022, she attended Genesis’s final performance in March.
She has also been very supportive of him as he has continued to struggle with his health.
Recently, Lilly shared the screen with Zac Efron in the 2019 drama Extremely Wicked,
Shockingly Evil and Vile.
That same year she played J.R.R.
Tolkien's wife, Edith, in the biographical film Tolkien.
In 2021, Collins announced that she would be producing a new children's film about the
toy franchise Polly Pocket while also playing the titular role.
Though Lilly has found success in Hollywood, she acknowledges the fact that she’s seen
by many as a textbook example of a “nepo baby”.
In case you’re unfamiliar with that term, it refers to a child of an artist, actor,
musician, or another prominent public figure who has benefited from nepotism.
Instead of accepting this label, however, Lily claims that her success has nothing to
do with her relationship with her famous father.
Lilly firmly believes that she has achieved fame on her own through hard work, dedication,
and sacrifice.
In fact, she has admitted that her relationship with her father has been quite complicated.
In that interview with Vogue France in late 2022, she made sure to reiterate how proud
she was of her father’s work, but at the same time, she said that she always desired
to be more than just the daughter of a world-famous musician.
Being a star's kid can be pretty trying.
Be it, actors or musicians, famous parents' careers often take them away from their children
for months on end.
Because her father was often gone, as a child, Lilly never wanted to do anything that would
make him stay away longer than he had to be.
In truth, she missed him dearly and wanted him to be more present in her life.
This led Lilly to develop deep resentments and insecurities that have followed her throughout
her life.
Fortunately, after going through several ups and downs, Lilly and Phil have finally come
to put the past aside and focus on what they have currently.
It's reported that the two are present in each other's lives and have worked through
their past issues.
On that note, we’ll go ahead and wrap this video up.
Now that you’ve heard what we have to say, we’d love to hear what you have to add to
the conversation.
Did you know that Phil Collin's health had deteriorated to the point where he is no longer
able to play the drums, and did you know that his kids Lilly and Nic have found success
in the entertainment industry as well?
Let us know in the comments, and as always, thanks for watching!