Phil Collins, one of the most successful artists of all time, recently bid farewell to his legion of fans in an emotional final concert. Joined on stage by his Genesis bandmates Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks, Collins closed out four decades of performing at London’s O2 arena. His health issues have led him to take a step back from touring, joking with the crowd that now he will need to find “a real job.”
The final tour, titled ‘The Last Domino?’ Tour, was initially postponed due to COVID-19. This reunion came after a 14-year hiatus from live performances by the band. Collins, who has been dealing with ongoing health problems, suffered dislocated vertebrae in his upper neck while drumming on the 2007 Genesis tour. This resulted in him losing feeling in his fingers and using a cane since 2015. Last September, he admitted that he could barely hold a drumstick and his son Nicholas Collins would take over the drums.
Reflecting on his future in an interview with the BBC, Collins hinted that this may be his last tour. At his age, certain physical limitations make it difficult for him to continue touring. He mentioned that going on the road might be put to rest, indicating that he may not want to continue this aspect of his career.
But let’s take a step back and appreciate Collins’ journey. It’s incredible to think that he started as a child actor, landing his first major role as the Artful Dodger in the West End musical Oliver! Six years after that, he joined the band Genesis as their drummer when he responded to an ad in the newspaper. After the departure of Peter Gabriel, Collins became the lead singer in 1975.
Transitioning from behind the drum kit to being the band’s frontman was not an easy task for Collins. He admitted feeling exposed and initially not wanting the job. Nonetheless, he rose to the challenge and became an integral part of Genesis, contributing to their success with five studio albums and touring the US.
In the 80s, Collins embarked on a solo career and became one of the most successful pop singers of the decade. He made headlines by performing at both the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium and a benefit show in Philadelphia for African famine relief within hours of each other. His dedication to philanthropy and his music during that time made a lasting impact.
Collins even ventured into acting, appearing in popular shows like Miami Vice and taking on the lead role in the movie Buster, which told the story of the Great Train Robbery. Additionally, he achieved great success with his solo singles, two of which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
At 71 years old, Collins performed his final show sitting down, acknowledging that his health has caused changes in his approach to performing. He mentioned that he doesn’t practice singing at home but rather treats rehearsals as his practice. Despite these adjustments, he found that his recent solo tours were still well-received by audiences.
Phil Collins will forever be remembered as a legend, cherished for his incredible body of work spanning several decades. Whether he can continue touring or not, his impact on the music industry is undeniably significant. We extend our well wishes to him as he moves into the next phase of his life.
