Phil Collins, the legendary musician and lead member of Genesis, has announced that his recent farewell show in March 2024 will mark the end of his live performance career.
The 71-year-old Collins has faced a series of health issues over the last decade that have made performing increasingly difficult.
In 2007, Collins suffered a neck injury while playing drums, which led to severe nerve damage in his hands. Despite undergoing surgery in 2009, he lost the ability to feel his fingertips, which made it impossible for him to hold a drumstick without it being taped to his hand.
Collins struggled with the consequences of this injury for years, and by 2014, he was still unable to use his left hand. Doctors informed him that to return to drumming, he would have to completely relearn the technique.
Unfortunately, his health continued to deteriorate. In 2017, he revealed that he had developed type 2 diabetes and also suffered from a condition known as drop foot, which makes it difficult to lift the front of his foot. This led to him wearing orthopedic shoes and walking with a cane.
During his final tour with Genesis in 2022, Collins performed seated for the entirety of the shows, as his physical condition had become too severe for him to stand or play as he once did.
His health struggles were compounded by personal hardships, including a bitter divorce from his wife, Orianne Cevey, in 2008, which led to depression and an alcohol dependency.
Collins went through a period of heavy drinking, even suffering a near-death experience in 2012 due to acute pancreatitis. He eventually sobered up, but his health continued to decline.
Despite these challenges, Collins continued to perform and tour, even releasing music, but his health issues made it clear that he could no longer maintain his once energetic and dynamic stage presence.
His final show with Genesis in 2024, which was meant to be held in 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic, marked the end of an era for the band.
Although his performance was frail and his voice not as powerful as it once was, Collins’s fans remained deeply moved by his commitment and passion.
Phil Collins’s legacy lives on through his iconic hits such as “In the Air Tonight,” “Against All Odds,” and “Another Day in Paradise.”
While his touring days have ended, his music continues to resonate with fans worldwide, cementing his place as one of the most influential musicians in rock history.
