Phil Collins Declines Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Performance Due to Health Challenges
Phil Collins, the legendary Genesis frontman and drummer, has decided not to perform at his upcoming Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction due to ongoing health issues. At 75 years old, he will be honored with his first solo induction and second overall in November. However, Collins has made it clear that he will not take the stage unless he can give a full performance.
During an interview with BBC Breakfast, Collins explained that he would not consider performing if he couldn’t give it his full attention. “They asked me if I would perform and I said no, because you’ve got to be match fit to do something like that,” he told journalist Charlotte Gallagher. “You can’t just go on stage … you’re gonna have to rehearse, and then by that point, if you’ve not been singing, your voice is going to be shot and then that’s not gonna be good. So I’d rather not do it.”
Collins retired from performing in 2022 after dealing with a range of health challenges, including a spinal inquiry and five knee surgeries. Despite this, he hasn’t completely ruled out future performances, as he shared some positive updates about his health. “But whether I would go out again? I would contemplate [it], yeah,” he said.
The artist behind “In the Air Tonight” mentioned that he’s been planning to return to his home studio, where he has been working on “half-formed” and finished ideas. While he hasn’t ruled out live performances entirely, he acknowledged that it’s not something that would happen soon. “I can’t really see it happening. But I’m healthier now than I have been for quite a while.”
This solo induction marks the fourth time a drummer has been inducted into the Hall of Fame twice. Collins was previously inducted with Genesis in 2010, and now he joins other drumming legends such as Ringo Starr, Dave Grohl, and Matt Cameron.
Public appearances have become increasingly rare for Collins in recent years. During his last concert tour in 2022, he had to perform while sitting down, and his son, Nic Collins, took over drumming duties.
Last week, Collins made a rare appearance in London alongside former wife Jill Tavelman, Rod Stewart, and Penny Lancaster. He was pictured using crutches during the event. The occasion was the 50th anniversary of King Charles’ King’s Trust charity, which he was the first official ambassador for in the 1980s.
In January, Collins spoke to the BBC Era’s podcast about his ongoing health struggles. “I have a 24-hour live-in nurse to make sure I take my medication as I should do. I’ve had challenges with my knee,” he said. “I had everything that could go wrong with me, did go wrong with me. I got COVID in hospital. My kidneys started to back up. Everything seemed to converge at the same time.”
Collins revealed he had undergone five knee surgeries, and only one of them is currently functioning. He admitted that although he can walk, he still needs the aid of crutches or assistance. In 2007, he suffered a spinal injury that caused severe nerve damage, leaving him unable to play drums for a long time before undergoing surgery in 2015.
In 2017, Collins revealed he had type 2 Diabetes. After five decades of performing, the legendary drummer was forced to step away from the stage. “I’ve spent all my life playing drums. To suddenly not be able to do that is a shock,” he said in his documentary Phil Collins: Drummer First, released in 2024.
Despite these challenges, Collins remains hopeful about the future and continues to work on new music, showing that even after a long career, his passion for music remains strong.
