Phil Collins poses with footballer son in rare photo and makes sweet gesture
Phil Collins travelled to Austria to watch his son Matthew's play-off match but it wasn't to be for the 20-year-old after Hartberg shattered his promotion dreams
Music legend Phil Collins was there to support son Matthew in his big game this weekend as they posed for a rare photo together in the stands.
The musician, whose hits include 80s anthem In The Air Tonight, has two children, Nicholas and Matthew who he shares with Orianne Cevey, as well as daughters Joely and Lily, and son Simon, 48.
Phil and Orianne met in the 90s when she was working as his translator in Switzerland, and they eventually tied the knot in 1999, but divorced nine years later in 2008.
Matthew plays for Austrian football club WSG Tirol, and Phil travelled over to see him in action. They may have lost their play-off match to Hartberg 3-2 on Saturday, but the family stuck around to show their support after the match.
Coach Manuel Ludwiger said he had no idea his player was related to Phil when they signed him. '"We Google the players we take on trial to find out about their past careers, it was only then that we found out Matthew is Phil Collins' son. We haven't signed him as a publicity stunt. It is purely down to his footballing ability."
Phil spoke about son's passion for football and knew he had a shot at turning pro from an early age. "Matt loves music, but loves his football even more," he said. "He is certain he'll turn professional. 'The other day he said, "Another five years and I'll be gone".
Genesis star Phil earlier this year opened up about being so ill that he's completely lost interest in making music. The 74-year-old drummer, singer, and songwriter - who retired in 2022 after he experienced worsening physical limitations as a result of a 2007 spinal injury - made the admission as he gave a poignant update on his health battles, after also being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2017.
He told Mojo magazine: 'I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens. But I'm not hungry for it anymore.' Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Phil added: 'The thing is, I've been sick, I mean very sick.'
The musician first opened up about about his spinal problems in 2009, saying: 'My vertebrae have been crushing my spinal cord because of the position I drum in. It comes from years of playing.' Phil added: 'I can't even hold the sticks properly without it being painful. I even used to tape the sticks to my hands to get through. Don't worry, I can still sing.'
Phil looked back at his life and music in his documentary, Phil Collins: Drummer First, which came out late last year after two years of filming. In the moving film, the star focused on his drumming career rather than his vocal fame. Some emotional scenes also show the multi-talented musician coming to terms with the fact that drumming was a skill lost to him, and that he'd never perform live again.
"It's still kind of sinking in a little bit. You know, I'm 71. I've spent all my life playing drums. To suddenly not be able to do that is a shock," Phil said as he sat at his drum kit and held his sticks. He also shared: "If I wake up one day and I can hold a pair of drumsticks, then I will have a crack at it. I just feel like I've used up my air miles," and admitted: "To be suddenly not be able to do that is a shock. If I can't do what I did as well as I did it, I'd rather relax and not do anything."
Explaining just how mentally debilitating his physical deterioration was to him, he also added: "I'm not a singer who plays the drums. I'm more of a drummer who sings a bit."
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