Genesis’ Steve Hackett on Phil Collins’ health problems: “I’m without words”
Steve Hackett has provided an update regarding the health of his former Genesis bandmate Phil Collins, who visibly struggled with mobility during the band’s farewell tour in 2022.
Collins’ condition has gradually worsened over the last two decades, especially after he suffered nerve damage after undergoing surgery on his back in 2017. During the group’s final set of shows, Collins was aided by a walking stick to help him move around the stage, and his son, Nic, deputised for him on drums.
Last year, Mick Rutherford said of Collins’ health during an appearance on BBC Breakfast: “As you know, Phil is a bit… He’s much more immobile than he used to be, which is a shame, but at the tour, he was in good spirits. He’s fine now at home, enjoying life. He’s worked so hard over the years. I think he’s enjoying his time at home”.
Genesis played their final show in March 2022 at the O2 Arena in London. During the concert, Collins told the crowd: “Tonight is a very special night. It’s the last stop of our tour. And it’s the last show for Genesis… After tonight, we’ve all got to get real jobs.”
Now, in a new interview with The Telegraph, Hackett said of his former bandmate’s health issues: “I mean, my God. I’ll always love Phil. Sorry, I’m without words. He doesn’t deserve what happened to him.”
During an interview in 2021 with BBC Breakfast, Collins explained how his son filling in on drumming duties for Genesis was a necessary move, stating: “I’d love to, but you know, I mean, I can barely hold a stick with this hand. So there are certain physical things that get in the way.”
Collins added: “I’m kind of physically challenged a bit, which is very frustrating because I’d love to be playing up there with my son.”
In 2022, Nic confirmed his father’s retirement, telling Rolling Stone: “I think at the moment, he’s definitely retired. If you ask me on a serious level, I think that show in London was my dad’s last show. But then again, he said that in 2004 and we wound up doing a tour in 2018. You can never be sure.”
Additionally, last year, Genesis member Tony Banks revealed the band would never return to the stage after bowing out in 2022. “I don’t think there’s anything else left. The well is dry,” Banks said. “We can’t tour any more because of Phil’s state, so that’s the end of that.”
When did Phil Collins’ health problems begin?
The start of Collins’ health problems began in 2007, a time when he suffered a spinal injury while on the road with Genesis. Despite undergoing surgery in 2009 and further surgery in 2017, Collins’ condition has only become more challenging.
In 2016, Collins admitted during a press conference that he’d “never play the way I used to” and explained how his injury occurred. “Something happened on the Genesis reunion tour. At the end of each show, I had a drumming duel with Chester Thompson, and one night something happened. It just went,” he revealed.
Collins added: “I tried everything – bigger drumsticks and so on, but it just never came back. It’s a mystery what happened; I just couldn’t get it back.”
Watch footage from the final Genesis concert below.
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