Phil Collins Confirms 24-Hour Care as He Manages Health Issues

Phil Collins has never been one to sugarcoat things, and his latest comments are no different. Speaking on BBC’s Eras podcast, the former Genesis frontman offered a clear-eyed update on where he’s at physically after several difficult years. Rather than framing it as a comeback story, Collins kept the focus on day-to-day reality.

He revealed that he now has a 24-hour live-in nurse to help manage his medication and overall care. For Collins, this isn’t about dramatizing his condition, but about staying stable and safe. As he put it, nearly everything that could go wrong did go wrong, and managing those consequences has become part of his routine.

Despite the seriousness of his health issues, Collins’ tone wasn’t bleak. He acknowledged the frustration of the past few years, but also emphasized that he’s reached a point of acceptance. It’s been difficult and often limiting, but, in his words, things are “all right now.”

Surgeries, Mobility, and Compounding Health Issues

One of Collins’ biggest ongoing concerns is his knee, which has undergone five surgeries over the years. He explained that only one knee is now functional, making walking possible but only with assistance like crutches. It’s a far cry from the physical demands of life behind a drum kit.

Those mobility issues were only part of a much larger health crisis. While hospitalized, Collins contracted COVID and also experienced kidney problems. He described that period as everything converging at once, leaving him in the hospital for months as doctors tried to stabilize multiple conditions at the same time.

Collins was candid about the role alcohol played in his kidney issues. He admitted that years of drinking eventually caught up with him, even if he never felt out of control at the time. Since then, he’s stopped drinking entirely and recently marked two years of sobriety, a milestone he seems quietly proud of.

Stepping Away From Music and Accepting Limits

Collins’ health struggles trace back to a spinal injury he suffered in 2007, which slowly changed what he was physically capable of doing onstage. By 2022, he made the decision to retire from touring, later reflecting on that choice in the documentary Phil Collins: Drummer First. For him, stepping away was about honesty rather than defeat.

He explained that if he can’t perform at the level he expects of himself, he’d rather not perform at all. While he hasn’t completely ruled out the idea of picking up drumsticks again, he’s realistic about the odds. His comment about having “used up my air miles” felt less like resignation and more like perspective.

In later interviews, Collins suggested that his days as a musician are likely behind him. The desire to head down to the studio still crosses his mind, but the hunger isn’t there anymore. After years of being very sick, his priorities have shifted, and for now, preserving his health outweighs the pull of making new music.