At a Glance
- Phil Collins, 74, now relies on a 24-hour live-in nurse to manage daily medication and ongoing health issues
- The Genesis star has endured five knee surgeries and says only one knee “works,” forcing him to walk with crutches
- Collins recently celebrated two years of sobriety after alcohol-related kidney problems led to extended hospital stays
- Why it matters: The eight-time Grammy winner’s declining health has ended his drumming career and stalled new music plans
Phil Collins is detailing the extent of his health decline ahead of his 75th birthday, telling BBC’s Eras podcast that daily life now requires round-the-clock medical supervision.
The singer-drummer, whose hits include “In the Air Tonight,” told host Zoe Ball on January 21 that a cascade of medical issues has left him with limited mobility and a strict medication regimen supervised by a live-in nurse.
“It’s an ongoing thing,” he said. “I have a 24-hour live-in nurse to make sure I take my medication as I should do.”
Surgeries, COVID and Kidney Failure
Collins broke down the timeline of setbacks that began with repeated knee operations.
“I’ve had challenges with my knee. I had everything that could go wrong with me, did go wrong with me,” he explained, confirming he has undergone five separate knee surgeries.
Complications snowballed during hospital stays. He contracted COVID-19 while already admitted, then suffered acute kidney problems.
“I got COVID in hospital. My kidneys started to back up. Everything seemed to converge at the same time,” he recalled.
The result: only one knee functions well enough to support his weight.
“I can walk, albeit with assistance, you know, crutches or whatever,” Collins added.
Alcohol, Sobriety and Hospital Months
Collins traced part of his kidney trouble to heavy drinking after the final Genesis tour wrapped.
“Coming off the road, I thought, right, I’m gonna do all those things that I couldn’t do,” he said. “I guess I had too much of it.”
He admitted his kidneys were “messed up” because he’d been “drinking too much,” though he insisted, “I was never drunk, although I fell over a couple of times.”
The health spiral landed him in the hospital for extended periods. He has since quit alcohol and recently marked two years of sobriety.
“It’s just been a difficult, interesting, frustrating last few years,” he told Ball. “But it’s all right now.”
Career Impact: No More Drums, No New Music
Physical limitations have forced Collins to retire from the instrument that defined his career.
In 2022, he announced he could no longer play drums after losing the ability to grip a drumstick properly. That same year, Genesis mounted its last-ever tour with Collins as frontman.
Songwriting has also stalled. Speaking to MOJO magazine in February 2025, Collins said visiting his home studio feels pointless.
“I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens. But I’m not hungry for it anymore,” he said, blaming illness. “The thing is, I’ve been sick. I mean very sick.”
Rumor Control and Recovery Update
Online chatter last year speculated Collins had entered hospice care. A representative clarified to News Of Los Angeles that he was simply recovering from another knee operation.
Collins used the podcast appearance to reassure fans that, despite ongoing challenges, his situation has stabilized.
“It’s all right now,” he repeated, crediting his medical team and sobriety for the improvement.
Key Takeaways
- Collins’ daily routine now centers on medication management overseen by a full-time nurse
- Multiple knee surgeries, COVID-19 and alcohol-related kidney issues combined to erode his mobility
- The musician has accepted that drumming – once his signature skill – is no longer possible
- With touring and recording off the table, Collins says his focus is on maintaining the health gains he has achieved
