Phil Collins Gets Behind The Drumkit After A Decade

Phil Collins, the legendary drummer behind iconic tracks like “In The Air Tonight,” has faced a tough battle with his health in recent years. Due to ongoing issues, including a spinal injury from 2007 and the resulting drop foot, Collins has found it increasingly difficult to play the drums that made him famous. Drop foot, which makes it hard to lift the front part of his foot, combined with chronic neck pain, has kept Collins from performing. Despite these challenges, he recently had a special moment that reminded him of his drumming glory days.

Collins Reconnects With His Drum Kit After 10 Years

In a new Drumeo documentary titled Phil Collins: Drummer First, Collins revisits his roots as a drummer and reflects on his career. The documentary dives into his musical journey and candidly addresses how his physical limitations have impacted his drumming abilities. One of the highlights is a heartwarming moment where Collins gets a chance to sit behind his old Gretsch tom kit for the first time in over a decade. Drumeo shared a clip from the documentary where Collins’ son, Nic, and Drumeo host Brandon Toews work together to set up the famous kit, which Collins used during Genesis’ 1992 We Can’t Dance tour.

The Special Moment With His Drum Kit

Once the kit is set up, Nic Collins gives it a try, even playing the famous drum fill from “In The Air Tonight.” However, this particular kit wasn’t the one used for the original recording of the song. Nic shares his thoughts on the drum setup, explaining that the position of the drums made it difficult for his father to sit correctly, which likely contributed to his neck pain over time.

Toward the end of the video, Collins approaches the kit and gives it a few tentative taps. After a brief moment, he chuckles and says, “That’s enough of that,” before standing up. It’s a powerful and emotional moment, showing how much Collins misses his craft, even though his body no longer allows him to fully play like he once did.

The whole length of Drumeo’s documentary Phil Collins: Drummer First is available on YouTube: