Phil Collins opens up on health challenges after multiple operations

EntertainmentHealth & Fitness
21 Jan 2026 • 4:21 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Musician Phil Collins discussed his health challenges, including two years of sobriety and multiple knee operations, in a rare interview for the BBC's Eras podcast with Zoe Ball.
  • Collins, who turns 75 on 30 January, revealed he has undergone five knee surgeries and now requires assistance to walk, alongside having a 24-hour live-in nurse.
  • He admitted to previously drinking excessively, which affected his kidneys and led to hospitalisation, but has now been sober for two years.
  • The former Genesis frontman played his final live concert in 2022, having suffered a spinal injury in 2007 that caused lasting nerve damage and impacted his ability to drum.
  • Collins reflected on his varied career and expressed a desire to be fully mobile and healthy again, potentially returning to the studio to create more music.

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