Phil Collins’ Health Journey: Insights from the Musician on His Challenging Diagnoses
Phil Collins performs at Barclaycard British Summertime at Hyde Park on June 30, 2017.
Credit:
Brian Rasic/WireImage
Key Facts
- In January 2026, Phil Collins announced he has a 24-hour live-in nurse due to ongoing health issues.
- The Genesis musician has spoken about experiencing a spinal injury, type 2 diabetes, and challenges related to alcohol addiction.
- Collins retired from music in 2022 after struggles with his ability to drum.
Phil Collins has candidly shared updates regarding his health challenges over the years. In January 2026, the Genesis frontman discussed the particularly “difficult” obstacles he has faced in recent years during an interview on the BBC’s Eras podcast.
“It’s an ongoing thing,” Collins told host Zoe Ball on January 21. “I have a 24-hour live-in nurse to make sure I take my medication as I should. I’ve had challenges with my knee. I had everything that could go wrong with me, did go wrong with me.”
Over the years, Collins has dealt with nerve damage, kidney issues, and type 2 diabetes, all of which ultimately impacted his musical career. He stepped away from drumming in advance of Genesis’ final tour in 2022.
Collins Suffers Neck Injury Leading to Nerve Damage
Phil Collins performs live on stage for the Italian date of his Still Not Dead Yet Live tour 2019.
Elena Di Vincenzo/Archivio Elena Di Vincenzo/Mondadori via Getty
In 2007, Collins sustained a neck injury during a tour with Genesis. He underwent significant surgery in 2015 to address the injury and the resulting nerve damage that had hampered his ability to play the drums.
Reflecting on the procedure in a 2015 interview with Rolling Stone, Collins recounted, “I had an MRI and my back and hips were just shot. The doctor had to go in there, work on the sciatic nerve and take my back apart and unscramble the mess.”
After the surgery, he was told he could relearn drumming through practice. However, the surgery also introduced complications, including a condition known as “drop foot,” which affects mobility.
Multiple Knee Surgeries
Phil Collins of the band Genesis performs live on stage during a concert at Mercedes Benz Arena on March 7, 2022.
Gina Wetzler/Redferns
Collins has undergone five knee surgeries throughout his career. Following hospitalization in July 2025, a spokesperson confirmed he was recovering from one such procedure. He later noted that he has only one knee that fully functions.
“Now I’ve got a knee that works and I can walk, albeit with assistance, you know, crutches or whatever,” Collins stated during the January 21 podcast.
Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes
Phil Collins and Genesis perform part of the band’s “Turn It On Again Tour” at Arco Arena on October 10, 2007.
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In 2017, Collins revealed his diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, which he managed with hyperbaric medicine after facing complications. “I have Type 2 Diabetes, and without going into gory detail, I got an abscess on my foot that went septic,” he explained during an interview.
Collins described the treatment, which helped him recover by enhancing blood circulation and promoting wound healing.
Retirement from Music
Phil Collins performs on stage at the Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time Festival in Hyde Park on June 30, 2017.
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Collins announced his retirement from drumming and music in March 2022 after a final performance with Genesis at the O2 Arena in London. “It’s still kind of sinking in a bit. I’ve spent all my life playing drums. To suddenly not be able to do that is a shock,” he reflected days after his retirement in the documentary Phil Collins: Drummer First.
He attributed his health issues as the reason for stepping away from music, noting that “the drumming has taken its toll on my hands, legs.” He expressed a desire to only return if he could perform at the same caliber as before.
Years later, he shared that ongoing health struggles have deterred him from creating music independently. “I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens. But I’m not hungry for it anymore. The thing is, I’ve been sick. I mean very sick,” he stated.
Alcohol Addiction and Kidney Problems
Phil Collins from Genesis performs at U Arena on March 17, 2022.
David Wolff-Patrick/Redferns
In his 2016 autobiography, Not Dead Yet, Collins disclosed his struggles with alcoholism, which he attributed to a turbulent personal life and his ongoing health challenges. He candidly recounted moments of despair related to his substance use.
Though he had been sober for three years prior to the memoir’s publication, Collins later returned to moderate drinking. However, he acknowledged that past excessive alcohol consumption had led to significant kidney complications.
Collins remarked that he had enjoyed the post-tour phase of his life, but acknowledged that “it all caught up with me, and I spent months in hospital” due to his past habits.
Current Status and Ongoing Care
Phil Collins performs in concert at the Roseland Ballroom on June 23, 2010.
Brian Killian/WireImage
As Collins navigates his ongoing health challenges, he has prioritized his care, maintaining a live-in nurse for assistance. “It’s just been a difficult, interesting, frustrating last few years,” he admitted, while also expressing a sense of hope about his current situation.
“I got COVID in hospital. My kidneys started to back up. Everything seemed to converge at the same time,” he explained. “But it’s all right now.”
