Phil Collins has said he nearly died in April 2024 after his kidneys and other organs began to shut down due to drinking, leaving his family gathered at his bedside as doctors considered withdrawing life support, per consequence.net.
The 75-year-old musician told The Sunday Times he was unconscious in a Swiss hospital when the crisis occurred. His longtime manager called his five children to the hospital as medical staff assessed whether he would survive.
“There were some decisions to be made about, ‘Do we keep Phil on life support?’ kind of thing,” Collins said. “My kidneys were packing up, my organs were just seizing up.”
Collins said he has no memory of the period. “People were coming to say goodbye, but I don’t remember them coming,” he said. “They were all worried that they wouldn’t see me again. It could all have gone so terribly wrong.”
The Genesis drummer and singer said he has since stopped drinking and recovered. As 2025 drew to a close, he reunited with his family for four days at the Mandarin Oriental in London to mark the new year.
He said his daughter, actor Lily Collins, sat beside him in tears and told him: “I never thought I’d get these moments.”
“We had an incredible time,” he said. “I can’t overemphasise how fantastic it was.”
The incident followed years of health problems. Collins has had multiple spinal and knee surgeries and now walks with crutches. Nerve damage has left him unable to hold a drumstick, while diabetes and kidney problems require a live-in nurse.
His limited mobility was evident during Genesis’ farewell run, The Last Domino? Tour, which ended in London in March 2022. He performed seated, with his son Nic Collins on drums.
Collins is due to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist on November 14, having previously been inducted with Genesis in 2010. He said he will not perform at the ceremony.
“I wish I could play still,” he said. “It’s been my life since I was given a drum kit at three. I’ve always wanted to just do that.”
He will revisit his solo debut with Face Value (Full Value), a 45th anniversary box set including unreleased live recordings, demos and outtakes, due for release on September 18th.
Collins is one of Britain’s most successful solo artists and former frontman of progressive rock band Genesis. He stepped back from live performance after decades of touring and health complications, with his 2022 Genesis farewell marking his last major tour.
•Featured image: Phil Collins/Will Ireland/courtesy of Concord Music Group