Rumours that Phil Collins is in hospice are ‘completely incorrect', says his rep

News24

3 days ago

A spokesperson for musician Phil Collins is setting the record straight about the former Genesis frontman's health.
Although it's unclear how or where these reports started, rumours have been spreading like wildfire that the 74-year-old drummer is in hospice care due to terminal illness.
'Phil Collins in hospice? So, help me God,' one fan wrote on X.
'If Phil Collins goes next, I'm done with this planet,' another added.
However, Phil's spokesperson has denied these claims, stating they, 'are completely incorrect'.
Phil is indeed in hospital, but it's for knee surgery.
'He's undergoing a procedure in the medical ward related to his knees – nothing more, nothing less,' his rep says.
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In a candid interview earlier this year with Mojo magazine, Phil opened about how his health struggles have diminished his passion for making music.
He revealed that although he's considered returning to his studio to create new music, his deteriorating physical condition has become a barrier.
'I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens. But I'm not hungry for it anymore,' he said in February. 'The thing is, I've been sick. I mean very sick.'
READ MORE| Phil Collins bids emotional farewell to fans at final Genesis concert
It wasn't the first time the Grammy winner had opened up about his health woes.
In his documentary, Phil Collins: Drummer First, released in December last year, he revealed that his deteriorating health had left him unable to pick up drumsticks.
'It's still kind of sinking in a bit,' he said. 'I've spent all my life playing drums. To suddenly not be able to do that is a shock.'
He said he'd been drumming since he was five, growing up in Hounslow, London, so losing that ability was extremely hard.
Phil's health issues date back to 2007 when he suffered a spinal injury that caused serious nerve damage.
In 2017 he was forced to cancel two shows after falling in his hotel room and hitting his head on a chair, requiring stitches to a severe cut near his eye. His fall was caused by foot drop, a neurological condition that developed after his back surgery and for which he now wears orthopaedic shoes.
He also suffers from acute pancreatitis, a condition in which the pancreas becomes inflamed and swollen, as well as type 2 diabetes.
In 2022 he retired.
However, before hanging up his sticks he made one last appearance that year alongside bandmates Mike Rutherford (74) and Tony Banks (75) for Genesis' final show on The Last Domino? Tour in London.
During the show, he performed seated while his son, Nicholas (24), from his marriage to ex-wife Orianne Cevey (51), took over the drumming.
'Tonight is a very special night. It's the last stop of our tour, and it's the last show for Genesis,' he said during the set at London's The O2 arena.
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In recent years, Phil has expressed that if he can't perform to the standards that helped him sell over 100 million records, he would rather not perform at all.
'If I wake up one day and I can hold a pair of drumsticks, then I'll have a crack at it. But I just feel like I've used up my air miles.'