Is Phil Collins OK? Musician, 70, hints at declining health after daughter's wedding
A few days after 'Emily in Paris' star Lily Collins got hitched to writer-director Charlie McDowell, her father Phil Collins raised concerns over his health as he confessed to no longer being able to play the drums. During an appearance on 'BBC Breakfast' on Thursday, September 9 morning, the musician said, "No [I can't still play the drums]. I'd love to. But I mean, I can barely hold a stick with this hand." Fans expressed worries on social media over his health.
Collins has been battling health issues ever since undergoing back surgery following a fall in his bathroom in 2017. He has been using a wheelchair since then, and fighting various mobility issues. Collins was in attendance at his daughter's secret wedding in Colorado over the weekend.
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Speaking about his heath during the interview, Phil said, "I am kind of physically challenged a bit, which is very frustrating because I'd love to be playing up there with my son." He then added, "We're all men of our age, and I think to some extent, I think it probably is putting it to bed. I think yeah, I think just generally for me, I don't know if I want to go out on the road anymore."
Collins underwent surgery in April 2009 to repair dislocated vertebrae in his upper neck, which occurred during the 2007 Genesis tour. The operation, however, caused him to lose feeling in his fingers and could only hold drum sticks taped to his hands. The musician stated in 2010 that he was suffering from depression and had debated suicide but stopped at the thought of his children. In 2014, he revealed he still could not properly play the drums due to an undiagnosed nerve problem other than arthritis. Phil then underwent a spine operation in 2015 and announced the next year that he was still unable to drum with his left hand. Doctors, however, assured that he would be able to play again but only with step-by-step practice. In January 2017, Phil stated that he is a type 2 diabetic and had received treatment with a hyperbaric chamber after he developed an infected diabetic abscess on his foot.
The British musician came out of retirement and announced his comeback tour in October 2016. The tickets to his show at London’s Royal Albert Hall sold out in 15 seconds, but following a fall on the way to the bathroom a year later, he cancelled the tour. The musician hit his head on a chair as he fell, and had stitches for a severe gash near his eye. According to a statement released at the time, "Phil suffers from "drop foot" as a result of a back operation which makes it difficult to walk." Phil's mobility and health problems have persisted since then.