Phil Collins, 73, admits it’s ‘still sinking in’ that he will not perform again after retirement for health issues

Phil Collins has admitted he is still struggling to cope with the fact he will not be able to perform again after his retirement in 2022.

The 73-year-old former Genesis frontman quit live concerts after suffering from long-term neck and back problems.

Now the musical legend, known for his iconic drumming and powerful vocals, has starred in a new documentary, Phil Collins: Drummer first.

In a moving scene, the frail-looking musician emotionally returns to his personal drum kit, sitting at the instrument and holding a pair of sticks.

He also candidly discussed how he feels about the realization that he will no longer be able to give concerts, in footage filmed in 2022.

“It’s still sinking in a little bit,” he said. “You know, I’m 71. I’ve played drums all my life. It is a shock that this is suddenly no longer possible.’

In the documentary, Phil tells his life story in his own words, focusing on his passion for drumming rather than his singing career.

“I’m not a singer who plays drums,” Phil said in one part of the film. ‘I’m more of a drummer who sings a bit.’

In an emotional scene, Phil is seen walking to his drum kit with the help of his son Nic, 23, who stepped in as Genesis’ drummer during their farewell tours.

A visibly overwhelmed Phil held the drum sticks for the first time in years: “It just feels so strange to be holding a pair.”

“If one day I wake up and can hold a pair of drumsticks, I’ll give it a shot,” he said.

“I just feel like I’ve used up my airline miles.”

The documentary, created by online drum education platform Drumeo, features tributes to other drumming legends, including Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater.

While Chad praised Phil for his unique sound and said that ‘Phil Collins’ drumming has such a unique sound and style that you recognize it the moment you hear it, Mike claimed that he is ‘really criminally underrated as a prog icon. ‘

Now the musical legend, known for his iconic drumming and powerful vocals, has a starring role in a new documentary, Phil Collins: Drummer First.

In a moving scene, the frail-looking musician emotionally returns to his personal drum kit, sitting at the instrument and holding a pair of sticks (pictured with his son Nic)

The documentary, premiering next week, sees the music icon tell his life story in his own words, focusing on his passion for drumming rather than his singing career (pictured in 1980).

But the most striking tribute comes from the late Dom Famularo, who poignantly said before his death: “The fact that we are living in the time of Phil Collins is almost similar to what it was like when people lived in the time of Mozart.”

Phil’s health problems began in 2009 when a serious spinal injury suffered during a performance led to debilitating nerve damage.

In 2009, he told the Ny Breaking that it was unlikely he would ever play drums again, revealing: ‘After 50 years of playing drums I had to stop. My vertebrae have crushed my spinal cord because of the position I’m drumming in.’

“It comes from years of playing. “I can’t even hold the sticks properly without it hurting, I even taped the sticks to my hands to get through,” he said.

Despite his struggles, and after two breakups and a reunion tour, he managed to reunite with Genesis for The Last Domino? tour in 2022, marking a bittersweet chapter in the band’s history.

And in August, a close friend of Phil’s revealed that the musician has been working on new music despite his ongoing health problems.

Phil last released original music for the 2003 Disney film Brother Bear, and his last solo album of original material was Testify in 2002, followed by a cover album of R&B standards in 2010, Going Back.

Phil Collins: Drummer First can be viewed on Drumeo’s YouTube channel from Wednesday 18 December.