Phil Collins has revealed that he was close to death during an April 2024 hospitalization, when organ failure left his family facing the possibility that doctors might take him off life support.
Speaking in a new interview with The Sunday Times, the 75-year-old Genesis musician said he was unconscious in a Swiss hospital after his drinking caused his kidneys and other organs to begin shutting down. His longtime manager called Collins’ five children to his bedside as doctors considered whether he would survive.
Buy Phil Collins’ Face Value (Full Value) Box Set
“There were some decisions to be made about, ‘Do we keep Phil on life support?’ kind of thing,” Collins recalled. “My kidneys were packing up, my organs were just seizing up.”
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“People were coming to say goodbye, but I don’t remember them coming,” he continued. “I didn’t have any idea this was going on. They were all worried that they wouldn’t see me again. It could all have gone so terribly wrong.”
Collins ultimately recovered and has since stopped drinking. As 2025 came to a close, he reunited with his family at London’s Mandarin Oriental, where they spent four days together celebrating the new year. Collins said his daughter Lily Collins sat beside him in tears and told him, “I never thought I’d get these moments.”
“We had an incredible time,” he added. “I can’t overemphasize how fantastic it was.”
The health crisis followed years of physical complications for Collins, who has undergone multiple spinal and knee surgeries and can now walk only with crutches. Nerve damage has also left him unable to hold a drumstick, while diabetes and kidney problems require him to have a live-in nurse available around the clock.
Collins’ limited mobility was apparent during Genesis’ farewell trek, “The Last Domino? Tour,” which concluded in London in March 2022. He performed seated while his son Nic Collins handled drums.
Collins is set to be formally inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist on November 14th, joining Genesis, who entered the institution in 2010. However, he will not perform at the ceremony. Despite his health issues, he said the loss of his ability to perform remains especially painful.
“I wish I could play still,” Collins said. “It’s been my life since I was given a drum kit at three. I’ve always wanted to just do that.”
Collins, whom Consequence named one of the 100 Best Drummers of All Time will revisit his landmark solo debut with Face Value (Full Value), a 45th anniversary box set featuring unreleased live recordings, demos, outtakes, and other rarities. The collection arrives on September 18th; find more details here.
