"I’m not hungry for it anymore": Phil Collins talks about losing passion for making music as he shares health update

Phil Collins renowned for being the drummer and singer of Genesis, has given an honest report on his career and health. Collins had to battle numerous medical conditions that affected his performance and capability to make music throughout his career. Now, at the age of 74, he admits that his passion for making music has faded, stating,

“I’m not hungry for it anymore.” in a post by usatoday.com.

This surprise is a collaboration departure for an artist whose name has held the number-one spot on music charts for decades. Collins, who once had fans mesmerized with his singular voice and skill at playing the drums, now struggles with physicalities that limit him from playing as often. While the fans still hold his gargantuan contribution to music in high esteem, his latest words suggest that his moment in the spotlight is waning.

---

Years of health challenges

Collins' health woes began in 2007 when he had a spinal injury that caused serious nerve damage to his hands. This increasingly made it hard for him to play the drums, an instrument he had played since childhood. Even with several operations to put things right, he never really got back to playing at the same level.

Collins experienced another health setback in 2017 when complications following back surgery caused drop foot, a condition which severely limited his mobility. Collins has since, used a walking cane and hasn't been able to stand for prolonged periods. All these medical ailments haven't only rendered him unable to play music but also have curtailed his activities of daily living.

---

Performing with limitations

Despite these setbacks, Collins tried to come back to the stage in the recent past. In 2022, while Genesis was touring with The Last Domino?, Collins performed seated on stage, his son Nic Collins filling in as the band's drummer. The tour was widely seen as a farewell for Collins, as he admitted that his declining health was making live shows more and more difficult.

During post-tour interviews, Collins admitted that his music enthusiasm had abated, at least in great part because of his physical issues. He described,

"I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens. But I'm not hungry for it."

This statement, posted on usatoday.com, is indicative of a change of heart from a performer who earlier was energized by making music and performing.

---

A legacy of enduring music

During his working life, Collins became one of the most powerful artists in rock and pop history. With his work in Genesis and being a successful solo artist, he has received numerous Grammy Awards, and an Academy Award, and has also received a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood. Songs like In the Air Tonight, Against All Odds, Another Day in Paradise, and You’ll Be in My Heart remain iconic and continue to resonate with audiences worldwide.

Although Collins is not actively making music anymore, his legacy lives on. His production efforts with Genesis and as a solo artist have influenced the overall style of present-day pop and rock and aided in the establishment of the paths of hundreds of artists across dozens of genres.

---

Phil Collins' life has been nothing less than remarkable from his start as a teenage drummer for Genesis to where he is today as a global music icon. But with ongoing health problems and waning interest in creating new music, it would appear that he is closing the book of music from his life.