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Music Icon Phil Collins Requires 24-Hour Care Amid Ongoing Health Battles
Legendary Genesis drummer Phil Collins, 74, has revealed he now requires round-the-clock care as he continues to grapple with a series of significant health challenges. The acclaimed musician opened up about his struggles, which largely stem from complications following a 2007 spinal injury.
Collins’ spinal injury caused damage to vertebrae in his upper neck, leading to subsequent nerve damage. In a candid interview on BBC’s “Eras” podcast series, he detailed the extensive impact on his well-being.
“You know, I have a 24-hour live-in nurse to make sure I take my medication as I should do,” Collins shared. “I’ve had challenges with my knee…
I had everything that could go wrong with me, did go wrong with me.”
The artist described undergoing five surgeries on his knee, leaving him with only one functioning limb. While he can walk, he requires assistance from crutches.
His health woes were further compounded when he contracted COVID-19 while hospitalized, leading to kidney issues. “My kidneys started to back up.
Everything seemed to converge at the same time,” he explained.
Collins also disclosed that a previous period of heavy drinking had “messed up” his kidneys. Now more than two years sober, he reflected on the consequences of his past habits.
“I guess I had too much of it. I was never drunk, although I fell over a couple of times,” he said.
“But it is just one of those things that happened and it all caught up with me, and I spent months in hospital. It’s just been a difficult, interesting, frustrating last few years.
But it’s all right now.”
The ongoing health issues have significantly impacted his ability to perform. In 2021, at the announcement of Genesis’ farewell tour, Collins admitted to the BBC that he could “barely hold a stick with (one) hand” due to a degenerative condition.
Throughout his illustrious career, Phil Collins has earned numerous accolades, including eight Grammy Awards. Notable wins include Album of the Year in 1986 for “No Jacket Required” and Record of the Year in 1991 for “Another Day in Paradise.” He also received an Oscar for “You’ll Be in My Heart” from Disney’s “Tarzan” and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Genesis in 2010.