Phil Collins admitted to hospital as star speaks out on hospice rumours
Phil Collins, 74, has confirmed he was admitted to hospital after online rumours suggested he had been placed in a hospice for end-of-life care.
The Genesis legend, who retired from performing in 2022, has suffered from crumbling vertebrae for almost 20 years, crushing his spinal cord and severely impacting his ability to play drums.
He confirmed earlier this year while speaking to MOJO that he no longer has the hunger to make music due to his ill health.
Last week, unfounded rumours began circulating on social media that the legend had entered a hospice – stirring fears of another celebrity death after the passing of heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne.
A representative confirmed to TMZ that the star was not in hospice care, and that the rumour was false.
However, the spokesman did admit the star was in hospital recovering from a recent knee operation.
In 2007, the You Can’t Hurry Love musician suffered a spinal injury, resulting in severe nerve and vertebrae damage that has impacted his ability to play for many years.
He also dislocated the vertebrae in his neck while on tour with Genesis, but after two surgeries in 2009 and 2015, Phil was left reliant on a cane.
“My vertebrae have been crushing my spinal cord because of the position I drum in. It comes from years of playing,” he told the Daily Mail in 2009.
His condition became so severe that he began taping drumsticks to his hands in a desperate effort to continue performing.
Years of drumming and subsequent poor posture have left Collins with drop foot, a condition that makes lifting the front part of the foot difficult.
In 2021, he spoke about these challenges to the BBC: “I’m kind of physically challenged a bit, which is very frustrating because, you know, I’d love to be playing up there with my son.”
The eight-time Grammy Award winner also revealed he had diabetes.
“I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens,” he told MOJO magazine.
“But I’m not hungry for it anymore. The thing is, I’ve been sick, I mean very sick.”
Collins’s career started as a child in London’s West End, where he played the Artful Dodger in Oliver in 1964 at just 13-years-old.
He joined Genesis in 1970 aged 19, replacing John Mayhew on drums. After Peter Gabriel’s departure in August 1975, Collins stepped up as the group’s frontman.
His career achievements include a staggering eight Grammy awards, six Brit Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, three American Music Awards, two Golden Globes, and an Oscar.
The group released eight albums together before Collins departed for a solo career in 1996.
In the 2023 documentary “Phil Collins: Drummer First,” the music mogul reflected on his career and forced medical retirement.
“It’s still kind of sinking in a bit,” Collins said. “I’ve spent all my life playing drums. To suddenly not be able to do that is a shock.”