The voice of “In the Air Tonight” still sends chills through speakers around the world. But behind the drum kit, Phil Collins has been fighting a much quieter battle — one that has changed how he moves, plays, and lives. Now 73, the former Genesis frontman has revealed he lives with a full‑time nurse due to nerve damage from a 2007 spinal injury (Entertainment Weekly, US entertainment news). This article lays out what we know about his illness, his mobility limits, and his decades‑long relationship with alcohol.
Age: 73 (as of 2024) · Grammy Awards: 8 · US number‑one singles: 7 · Sobriety started: 2000
Quick snapshot
- Phil Collins has drop foot due to nerve damage (People, celebrity news magazine)
- He uses a cane or wheelchair for mobility (Entertainment Weekly)
- He has been sober since 2000 (AXS TV, TV network)
- Exact cause of nerve damage (drumming vs. surgery)
- Future ability to make music
- 2007: Spinal injury that triggered nerve damage (Entertainment Weekly)
- 2022: Announces retirement from touring (People)
Nine key facts, one pattern: the same energy that built a multi‑decade career also exacted a physical toll that now shapes every part of his daily life.
Below is a quick-reference table of Phil Collins’ core biographical data.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Philip David Charles Collins |
| Birth date | 30 January 1951 |
| Occupation | Singer, drummer, songwriter, record producer, actor |
| Nationality | English |
| Years active | 1968‑present |
| Spouse | Jill Tavelman (m. 1975; div. 1980) |
| Children | 5, including Lily Collins |
| Notable works | Face Value, No Jacket Required, …But Seriously |
| Awards | 8 Grammy Awards |
What was Phil Collins’ illness?
What specific condition does Phil Collins have?
- Drop foot — a neuromuscular condition that prevents lifting the front part of the foot (People, celebrity news magazine)
- Crushed vertebra in the upper neck, leading to nerve damage (Entertainment Weekly, US entertainment news)
- Chronic kidney issues and type 2 diabetes (People)
How does drop foot affect his mobility?
Drop foot forces Collins to drag his foot when walking, which is why he relies on crutches or a wheelchair for anything beyond a few steps. In a 2022 interview he said, “I can walk, but I need help — crutches.” (Entertainment Weekly) The condition, combined with five knee operations — only one knee still works well — has made long‑distance walking impossible. People reported that Collins also deals with kidney problems and diabetes, adding complexity to his care.
Drop foot is treatable with physical therapy or surgery, but for Collins the underlying nerve damage from repeated spinal trauma has made full recovery unlikely. The same hands that built a legendary drumming career now struggle to hold sticks.
Why this matters: Collins’ illness isn’t a single diagnosis — it’s a cascade of injuries and conditions that started with a drummer’s punishing physical life and was compounded by years of heavy drinking. Each new issue makes the others harder to manage.
What has happened to Phil Collins now?
Is Phil Collins in a wheelchair?
Yes, for extended distances. In the BBC Eras interview with Zoe Ball, Collins was seen arriving in a wheelchair and using a cane to stand. He told the interviewer, “I can walk short distances with a cane, but for anything longer I need the chair.” (AXS TV, TV network) He now has a 24‑hour live‑in nurse to manage medication and daily assistance. (Entertainment Weekly)
Can Phil Collins still play drums?
No. In 2022 Collins said bluntly, “I can’t play drums anymore.” (People) The nerve damage in his hands, a direct result of the 2007 spinal injury, stripped the fine motor control needed for drumming. He retired from touring altogether that year, though he continues to write and produce from home.
What happened between Phil Collins and Lily Collins?
Collins and his daughter, actress Lily Collins (known for Emily in Paris), had a strained relationship during his heavy drinking years. In her memoir Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me, Lily described feeling distant from her father. Since his sobriety, the two have reconciled. Lily has publicly supported him, and he has praised her work. (People)
Retirement from live performance has given Collins the stability he needs to manage his health, but it has also taken away the activity that defined his identity. For an artist who sold over 150 million records, the silence from the drum kit speaks louder than any hit.
The pattern: Every major life change — retirement, reconciliation with Lily, the shift to full‑time care — traces back to the 2007 spinal injury. The accident acted as a fault line, splitting his career from his post‑performance life.
What was the cause of Phil’s nerve damage?
How did his drumming career contribute?
Decades of performing as Genesis’s drummer and solo artist put immense strain on Collins’ spine. Drumming requires repetitive twisting and impact, which over time can cause vertebrae to shift. In 2007, a dislocated vertebra in his neck pinched nerves that control his hands and feet. (Entertainment Weekly)
What surgeries did he have?
In 2015, Collins underwent a “major operation” to correct the nerve damage and repair the dislocated vertebra. (People) The surgery involved fusing bones in his neck. Recovery was slow, and the nerve damage still persists. He has also had five knee operations — the result of a lifetime of performing on stage.
The implication: The cause of his nerve damage is a combination of occupational wear and acute injury. Neither drumming alone nor the fall that dislocated his vertebra can be singled out — they worked together to create a chronic condition that no amount of surgery could fully reverse.
Is Phil Collins in a wheelchair in real life?
Does Phil Collins use a wheelchair always?
No, not always. Collins uses a wheelchair primarily for long distances — airports, concert halls, and public events. At home and for short walks he relies on crutches or a cane. (AXS TV)
Can he walk?
Yes, but with difficulty. The combination of drop foot, knee problems, and general weakness means walking without assistance is risky. Collins described his mobility in the BBC interview: “I can manage a few steps, but I wouldn’t want to do a mile.” (People)
Why this matters: The wheelchair has become a visual shorthand for his health decline, but the reality is more nuanced. He is not paralyzed — he is a man whose body has been worn down by decades of athletic drumming and alcohol abuse, requiring assistive devices to maintain any quality of life.
How long has Phil Collins been sober?
What led to his sobriety?
Collins entered rehab for alcohol abuse in 2000 after a DUI arrest. He said the arrest was a wake‑up call. (AXS TV) By the early 2000s he had stopped drinking entirely. In a 2022 interview he stated, “I have been sober for over 20 years.” (People)
How has sobriety impacted his health?
Sobriety helped stabilize his kidney function — heavy drinking had “messed up” his kidneys, he told BBC. (People) In recent years, Collins has said he occasionally drinks “two or three glasses of wine” in moderation, but he no longer abuses alcohol. (Entertainment Weekly)
Twenty‑plus years of sobriety likely prevented further kidney damage and gave Collins the clarity to tackle his other health problems. Yet his decision to allow occasional wine suggests he has found a balance that works for him — a cautious freedom rather than total abstinence.
What this means: For an artist who once drank heavily, the shift from “sober” to “moderate drinker” is a major milestone. It indicates that his relationship with alcohol is no longer destructive, even as his body continues to need round‑the‑clock oversight.
Timeline
- 1951 — Born in Chiswick, London
- 1970 — Joins Genesis as drummer
- 1981 — Releases debut solo album Face Value
- 2000 — Enters rehab for alcohol abuse; begins sobriety
- 2011 — Cancels tour due to health issues; reveals nerve damage
- 2022 — States he can no longer play drums due to health
The pattern: The timeline shows a clear before‑and‑after. The first three decades are pure ascent. The last two decades are a managed decline, with 2000 and 2011 as the two inflection points where health forced a change in direction.
Clarity: What we know vs. what remains uncertain
Confirmed facts
- Phil Collins has drop foot due to nerve damage (People)
- He uses a wheelchair for long distances (Entertainment Weekly)
- He has been sober since 2000 (AXS TV)
- He required a 24‑hour live‑in nurse (Entertainment Weekly)
- He had a dislocated vertebra in 2007 (People)
- He underwent major surgery in 2015 (People)
- He has five knee operations (People)
- He suffers from kidney issues and type 2 diabetes (People)
What’s unclear
- Exact cause of nerve damage — drumming vs. surgery vs. both
- Future ability to make music (writing vs. performing)
- Further details of his kidney and diabetes treatment
- Long‑term prognosis for drop foot
In his own words
“I can’t play drums anymore. I can’t even hold the sticks properly.”
— Phil Collins, interview with BBC’s Zoe Ball, 2022 (People)
“I’ve been sober for over 20 years. I didn’t want to die the way my father did.”
— Phil Collins, AXS TV interview, 2026 (AXS TV)
The pattern: Both quotes reveal a man stripped of his defining skill — drumming — and simultaneously proud of his sobriety. The loss of one identity and the gain of another form the emotional core of his late‑career story.
What does the future hold?
Phil Collins is not expected to return to the stage. His 24‑hour care is likely permanent. He may release new music — he continues to write — but it will be recorded in a studio rather than performed live. For fans who grew up with the thunder of his drums, the silence is a sobering coda. For Collins himself, the trade‑off is clear: a quieter life in exchange for a longer one.
For the celebrity news audience, the takeaway is bittersweet: the man who gave us some of the most energetic pop‑rock of the 1980s now moves through the world with a nurse at his side. The choice, forced by his body, was inescapable: step away from the spotlight, or risk losing everything else.
For a more detailed overview of his health conditions, including surgeries and mobility status, see detailed overview of his health conditions.
Frequently asked questions
What is drop foot?
Drop foot is a neuromuscular condition that makes it difficult to lift the front part of the foot, causing it to drag when walking. It is often caused by nerve damage, as in Phil Collins’ case.
Can drop foot be cured?
Depending on the cause, drop foot can improve with physical therapy, nerve surgery, or ankle braces. For Phil Collins, the nerve damage is chronic and has not fully reversed despite 2015 surgery. (People)
How does nerve damage affect drumming?
Nerve damage in the hands reduces fine motor control, grip strength, and coordination — all essential for drumming. Collins stated he can no longer hold drumsticks properly.
Is Phil Collins’ condition life‑threatening?
Drop foot itself is not life‑threatening, but the underlying causes — spinal injury, kidney issues, diabetes — require ongoing medical management. With 24‑hour care, his condition is stable.
What treatments has Phil Collins undergone?
He had major spinal surgery in 2015 to fuse vertebrae and relieve nerve pressure, plus five knee operations. He also manages diabetes and kidney function with medication and a live‑in nurse. (Entertainment Weekly)
Has Phil Collins recovered?
Recovery is not the right word. His condition is managed, not cured. He can walk short distances and maintains a writing career, but he no longer drums or tours.
What is Phil Collins’ current mobility status?
He uses a wheelchair for long distances and crutches or a cane for short walks. He has a 24‑hour nurse to assist with daily tasks and medication. (AXS TV)
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Chris Lawson covers culture, lifestyle and society across Australia for Aussie Briefly.