Phil Collins fans shocked as FRAIL singer sits during Genesis gig in Berlin
Fans of Phil Collins were heartbroken as he looked frail while performing with his band Genesis at the Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin on Monday night, March 7.
The acclaimed singer, 71, wore a glum expression and remained seated throughout the gig as he performed with fellow bandmates Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks, who are also 71. The 'In The Air Tonight' hitmaker has suffered a series of health maladies in recent years, starting with injured vertebrae in his upper back in 2009, which he sustained during a show and has left him with painful nerve damage.
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However, the English trio has been back on the road for their 'The Last Domino? Tour' despite Collins' health issues, two break-ups, and a reunion tour. Genesis opened their set with the song 'Behind The Lines' and 'Duke's End' -- hits from their chart-topping 1980 album 'Duke'. Monday night's setlist featured all-time favorites including 'The Mama', 'Follow You Follow Me', 'Invisible Touch', 'Throwing It All Away', and 'I Can't Dance'.
Collins performed from behind the drum kit during the early years of the band but was relegated to being out front as the singer in recent years as his son offered to take over as drummer. The legendary musician lost the feeling in his fingers following surgery and could only play the drums if the sticks were taped to his hands. Collins revealed in his 2016 autobiography that he'd struggled with alcohol abuse following his retirement. Furthermore, he is a type 2 diabetic and reportedly had to be treated in a hyperbaric chamber after a diabetic abscess developed on his foot and became infected. He also suffers from a condition called foot drop after the back surgery, and it has left him needing a stick to walk around.
Fans were disheartened to see the rocker looking frail and weak in his latest show.
"Can't believe it's him..." one tweeted.
"Jesus, I love me some Phil Collins. It's hard seeing him frail. One of my favorite artists. He has given this world such good vibes! May it come back on him😘" another chimed in.
"Omg! 😱 He is so unrecognizable. I love me some Phil Collins (Genesis). May God bless him and his health. 😟" someone else added.
Jesus, I love me some Phil Collins. It's hard seeing him frail. One of my favorite artist. He has given this world such good vibes! May it come back on him😘
— Sista T (@SistaLyrics) March 8, 2022
Omg! 😱 He is so unrecognizable. I love me some Phil Collins (Genesis). May God bless him and his health. 😟
— Sweeny💄💋 (@sweenyj73) March 8, 2022
Originally slated to commence in late 2020, the Last Domino tour was postponed twice due to the Covid-19 pandemic and eventually kicked off in September last year with a show at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham. Following a number of shows around Europe, the tour came to a halt on October 8, 2021, when one band member tested positive for coronavirus. The four remaining dates were rescheduled for March 2022.
Collins set the record straight ahead of the tour, declaring that this is the last tour for Genesis. "This English and American tour, that will be enough for me," he admitted during an interview with Mojo. When asked if the tour was putting Genesis “to bed,” Collins told Page Six, “We’re all men of our age, and I think — to some extent — yeah, it probably is putting it to bed.” He added, “Just, generally, for me. I don’t know if I want to go out on the road anymore.”