It's always sad to see an icon in the music industry step away from their instrument and leave the world with one less artist. However, since retiring, Phil Collins has given up the drums, no longer hitting the skins.
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Due to deteriorating health, Phil Collins hasn't been playing much in the way of the drums since retiring. Despite playing since he was only 5 years old, his health has meant that he isn't able to play anymore. This is due to something called drop-foot, which has taken the feeling from one of his feet.
Since 2015 he has been seen walking with a cane due to the injury. Of course, without the use of his feet, playing the drums could be quite a struggle. Although, saying that, Rick Allen, the Def Leppard drummer returned to his instrument after losing an arm.
But, Phil Collins says that since retiring, he has just felt that his time with the drums is up. "If I can't do what I did as well as I did it, I'd rather relax and not do anything," he said. "If I wake up one day and I can hold a pair of drumsticks, then I'll have a crack at it. But I just feel like I've used up my air miles."
It appears that his love for the music has faded. Where many artists will continue to play in some capacity until their dying day, Phil Collins is retiring from his art. He is choosing to live out his years as a listener rather than a player. But, there is no denying his contributions to the music industry.
Phil Collins Injuries Come From Drumming Prior To Retiring
As he pointed out in the Phil Collins: Drummer First, documentary, "the drumming has taken its toll on my hands, legs." It was his constant years, hammering away at drums, that ended up taking away his ability to play.
Due to his years of bad posture and playing for the crowds, Phil Collins developed some pretty severe issues with his neck. Because of this, he had to get surgery on a slipped vertebrae in his neck in 2007. This resulted in nerve damage in his hands. The problems were further compounded when he needed surgery on his neck in 2015.
This was the nail in the coffin for Phil Collins playing out his days after retiring. The lack of feeling in feet and hands was just too much to carry on. It must be hard for a man like him not to be able to do what he loves.
