The Genesis frontman has stepped away from the spotlight due to health issues
Phil Collins has shared a health update on BBC Breakfast(Image: BBC)
Phil Collins has shared a health update, admitting he has no plans to perform again.
The former Genesis frontman, 74, has remained out of the spotlight since several health setbacks left him unable to continue his music career.
He recently underwent five knee surgeries and developed kidney problems.
During Friday’s (May 22) episode of BBC Breakfast, Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt returned to our TV screens as they presented the day’s top stories from the UK and beyond.
Not long into the programme, the presenting duo announced that the hitmaker sat down with one of their colleagues to share a health update and plans for the future, four years after retiring from performing.
The singer, who has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, appeared on the show in a pre-recorded interview with culture reporter Charlotte Gallagher.
Speaking to Charlotte, he opened up about his knee problems but revealed that he is “healthier than he has been in a while.”
He said: “The last 18 months have been fine, but before that, not so good. Everything health-wise caught up to me at the same time. Whatever could go wrong did go wrong, but everything is fine now.”
The star continued: “I had a problem with my knee, which I had for a while, but I played through it – toured through it. But eventually, I had to have a knee operation, and I had to have five – five times because it kept either getting infected or it broke, so I was inactive for a long time.”
Phil’s music career began in 1970, when he joined Genesis as drummer. While remaining with the band, he also had a solo career in the 1980s, which included hits such as Against All Odds and Two Hearts.
Despite feeling better, he admitted he has no plans to perform again, but he has been working on some music he could release if he ever decides to make a surprise return.
In a candid moment, he said, “I can’t really see it (performing) happening, but I’m healthier now than I have been for quite a while. I mean, this Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – they asked if I would perform and I said no because you know, you’ve got to be match fit to do something like that.”
He explained, “You can’t just go on stage, you’ve got to rehearse, and then by that point, if you’ve not been singing, your voice is going to be shot, and then that’s not going to be good, so I’d rather not do it.
“But whether I would go out again… I would contemplate. I’m constantly saying to myself, ‘I’ve got to go back down into my studio at home.’’
The singer added: “I’ve got lots of lyrical ideas that I write down, and there are things that are half-formed and a couple of things that are finished. So there’s something that I can get my teeth into to start working on.”
BBC Breakfast airs everyday from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.