Phil Collins on his illness: "Everything went wrong, but I'd like to try to get back into the studio"

Phil Collins breaks his silence in an interview given to Zoe Ball for the podcast the BBC dedicated to him. And when it comes to his illness, he doesn't mince words: “Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong”. 

In a preview shared by NME, Collins reveals that he now has round-the-clock nursing care: "They're there to make sure I take my medication." The main issue remains his knee: five surgeries so far and very limited mobility. "One of the two now works. I can walk, but only with the help of crutches or something similar." It's no coincidence that in Genesis's final shows, Collins performed seated, leaving the drums to his son Nic.

Over the past two years Phil Collins has stopped drinking. “They've been hard years, interesting, frustrating. But now things are good”. The toughest stretch began when alcohol started creeping into his daytime hours too: “I think I overdid it. I never got drunk, but I fell a couple of times. In the end the bill came due and I spent months in hospital”.

Despite everything, the idea of returning to music hasn't faded. Collins talks about the possibility of going back into the studio, with no guarantees but plenty of curiosity: “You have to try, to find out if you're still capable of doing it”. A cautious outlook, far from triumphant announcements, but enough to leave the door open.

Speaking of Collins, the drumming channel Drumeo recently released a documentary, roughly two hours long, entirely devoted to his story. At the heart of the film, titled "Phil Collins: Drummer First", is an interview originally recorded in 2022, the year in which - following an extraordinary 50-year career of touring and recording - the former Genesis drummer announced his retirement from the stage after the band's final show in London.

The footage was shot at Château de l'Aile in Switzerland, Phil Collins's home, where he tells his son Nic – who took his place during the band's last Genesis live shows – many previously unheard details about his career and the gear he used.

From the groundbreaking work with Genesis to the pop hits of his solo career, the two Collins trace the story of one of the greatest drummers of all time. Along the way, countless fellow musicians share how Phil Collins's music influenced them, regardless of genre. From Chad Smith to Mike Portnoy, from Matt Cameron to Eloy Casagrande and Billy Cobham, many are on hand to explain Collins's impact on their music and creativity.

Watch the documentary "Phil Collins: Drummer First" below.

“I'm not a singer who plays a bit of drums; I'm more of a drummer who sings a bit” is the famous quote from Phil Collins, one that perfectly captures the essence of a man celebrated by millions as a pop legend.

The 73-year-old musician was also asked to sum up his life and career. "I'm not the biggest fan of Genesis," he admits. "There are things I like, things I'm proud of, but also things I like less." He quickly adds that he loved his time with the band, but reflects: "I've been playing drums since I was 5, there are things you enjoy listening back to and others less so."

For the first time in a documentary, Phil Collins takes us on a journey through his life and career from a drummer's perspective: from his earliest days behind the drum kit to his groundbreaking work with Genesis and his hugely successful solo career; from his time with jazz-fusion group Brand X to composing the score for Disney's "Tarzan", all the way to forming his own big band and passing the torch to his son Nic during his final tours with Genesis and as a solo artist. The documentary offers a rare, personal look at the life and legacy of a true drumming icon.

Below is the list of chapters the documentary is structured into:

00:00 – Introduction

02:36 – How Phil Became A Drummer

06:24 – Joining Genesis, Nursery Cryme & “The Musical Box”

11:29 – A Tale Of Two Stools & Early Drum Kits

14:41 – The Earliest Version Of Phil’s Famous Drum Fill

15:12 – Setting Up Phil’s Drum Kit & Tour Stories

19:57 – “Watcher Of The Skies” & “Supper’s Ready”

22:09 – Selling England By The Pound & Switching To Concert Toms

27:04 – The New Singer

31:25 – A Trick Of The Tail & Phil’s First Gig As Lead Singer

34:48 – Peter Gabriel Stage Stories

37:54 – Drum Duets & “Los Endos”

41:15 – A New Band: Brand X

44:39 – Almost Joining Yes & Hiring Bill Bruford

47:03 – The New Drummer: Chester Thompson

49:10 – “Wot Gorilla?” & “Follow You Follow Me”

51:39 - Phil's Least Favorite Genesis Song

52:39 – A New Era Of Genesis

54:34 - Led Zeppelin vs. Genesis: Melody Maker Awards

56:00 – The Face Value Demo

1:00:33 – The “In The Air Tonight” Live Catastrophe

1:02:02 – How To Play “In The Air Tonight” (The Correct Way)

1:02:54 – The Birth Of Gated Reverb

1:06:24 – Becoming A Music Icon

1:07:58 – “Behind The Lines”, “Take Me Home” & Drum Machines

1:12:12 – Simmons Drums, “Invisible Touch” & “Home By The Sea”

1:16:49 – Collaborations: Frida, Robert Plant, Eric Clapton & More

1:21:26 – "Easy Lover", "Sussudio" & "I Don't Care Anymore"

1:30:00 – Limitations Of Drum Equipment

1:32:17 – Phil Buys A Big Band!

1:35:52 – Jazz Heroes: Buddy Rich & Tony Williams

1:38:30 – Tarzan, Retirement & Injuries

1:45:49 – Nic Collins Carries The Torch

1:49:33 – Drum Secrets & The Father-Son Piano Duet

1:55:28 – Reflections On Nic Playing Drums

1:57:12 – Phil Looks Back On His 50-Year Career

1:58:45 – Final Reflections & End Credits

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