Phil Collins set to release new music, friend reveals
Phil Collins looks set to make his return to the music world, according to intel from his close friend, producer and manager Simon Napier-Bell. After a 20 year recording hiatus, Napier-Bell has now confirmed that Collins has been updating his home studio in the build up to recording new material.
In 2011, Collins first shared the news that he was intending to retire to focus on his health and family life. However, it’s clear that the musician struggles to stick to his own plans as, in 2015, he came out of retirement. While Collins has toured as a solo artist and with Genesis, the world hasn’t heard any new, original music from him since 2003’s soundtrack for the Disney film Brother Bear.
His most recent album, Going Back, was in 2010, but the record consisted of covers. It’s been a lengthy wait for the artist’s fans, who have never quite known if he was coming or going in the music industry, flitting between contradicting messages as to whether he was officially finished with working or was coming back for more.
However, according to Napier-Bell, he is gearing up to deliver something new. “He’s just had his studio revamped,” the producer said on Facebook, having visited Collins at his Lake Geneva home. He added, “For sure, before too long, we’re going to hear some new music.”
Napier-Bell recently interviewed Collins for an upcoming documentary on London’s famous Marquee Club. He said of the interaction, “He was in top form, full of wicked stories – hugely fun.”
Recent health issues
Part of the reason why Collins has had such an extended hiatus and such a fluctuating relationship towards his music career comes down to his health. During Genesis’ 2022 farewell tour, the musician was visibly struggling with his mobility, causing his fans to worry.
Collins’ health problems began in 2007 when he first suffered a spinal injury while on a Genesis tour. Despite undergoing two surgeries, his condition has only become more challenging as the years have gone on.
By the end of the 2022 tour, Collins was seemingly done with touring after the exhaustive jaunt. After the tour, his son, Nic, who played with Genesis on the run of dates, said, “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.”
Collins himself previously said of his condition, “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.”
While he may never tour again, this new update from Napier-Bell is a sign that things are looking positive for Collins who is reportedly set to focus on making music once again.
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