What you need to know
Phil Collins has opened up about his health issues.
On Wednesday, January 21, ahead of his 75th birthday, the Genesis musician appeared on the BBC’s Elas podcast and gave a rare insight into the health issues he has been experiencing in recent years.
“It’s an ongoing thing,” he told host Zoe Ball. “I have a nurse on call 24 hours a day to make sure I take my medication properly. I had problems with my knees. Everything that could be a problem for me can and did.”
“I contracted the coronavirus in the hospital. My kidneys started to fail. Everything seemed to come together at the same time,” he continued.
The “In the Air Tonight” artist has since revealed that he has had five knee surgeries, but only one is currently “working.”
“I can walk with crutches and other aids,” he added.
Roberto Ricciuti/Red Ferns
Collins later reflected on her recovery, admitting that her kidneys were “going crazy” due to “too much drinking”. He has since stopped drinking and revealed he recently celebrated two years of sobriety.
“It was fun to finish the tour. After the tour, I was like, well, I’m going to do all the things I didn’t get to do,” he explained. “I think I drank too much. I passed out a few times, but I was never drunk. But it was just one of those things that happened, and it all caught up with me and I spent several months in the hospital.”
“The last few years have been difficult, interesting and frustrating,” he admitted. “But it’s okay now.”
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Last year, Collins’ rep confirmed to PEOPLE that Collins was recovering from knee surgery, amid speculation online that he was receiving hospice care.
In February 2025, the eight-time Grammy Award winner spoke candidly about how his health issues have affected his desire to play music, telling MOJO magazine that he had considered stepping into the studio to create new music but was deterred by his health.
“I always think I’ll go downstairs to the studio and see what happens, but I’m not starving anymore,” he said at the time. “The fact of the matter is, I’m sick. I mean, very sick.”
In 2022, Collins retired from drumming due to health issues that made it difficult for him to hold the drumsticks. That year, Genesis toured for the last time.
