Phil Collins Health Now: Condition, Wheelchair, and Life in 2025

For millions who grew up with the unmistakable drum fill of “In the Air Tonight,” Phil Collins was a fixture of rock and pop. But in recent years, the music legend’s story has shifted from the stage to a quieter, more personal chapter marked by serious health struggles.

Born: 30 January 1951 · Nationality: English · Occupation: Singer, drummer, songwriter · Years active: 1968–2022 · Health condition: Chronic pain, nerve damage, foot drop · Marital status: Married to Orianne Collins (separated since 2020)

Six key facts about Phil Collins, drawn from verified reporting:

What condition is Phil Collins suffering from?

Back and nerve damage symptoms

• Collins has chronic back pain stemming from a dislocated vertebra he suffered in the early 2000s after a fall (People (celebrity health reports)).
• In 2015, he underwent spine surgery that led to nerve damage and foot drop (Variety (music industry)).
• Additional complications include knee problems, kidney issues, and type 2 diabetes (Variety 2026 report).

Foot drop explained

• Foot drop is the inability to lift the front part of the foot, caused here by nerve damage during surgery (Fox News (news network)).
• Collins uses a wheelchair for long distances and a cane around the house (People (24-hour care report)).

The implication: Collins’s mobility issues are physical, not neurological — he can still speak, sing, and has control of his upper body, but his legs no longer cooperate for drumming or prolonged walking.

What happened to Phil Collins?

Spine surgery and recovery timeline

• In the early 2000s, Collins injured his neck in a fall that later required multiple operations (Variety (chronology)).
• He underwent spine surgery in 2015 that failed to resolve the pain and created new nerve damage (People (health timeline)).
• By 2017, he was hospitalized after a fall, and the “We Can’t Dance” reunion tour that year was his last major tour (Variety).

Fall and hospitalization in 2017

• In 2017, Collins was hospitalized after a fall that exacerbated his back condition (New York Post (tabloid news)).
• The incident forced the cancellation of several Genesis dates (Variety).

What this means: the 2017 fall was a turning point — after that, Collins’s health became the dominant factor in his career decisions, eventually leading to full retirement.

What is Phil Collins doing now?

Retirement from drumming

• Collins officially retired from music in 2022, saying he could no longer drum due to nerve damage (People).
• He stated in a February 2025 interview with Variety that he had “no inclination to return to a recording studio” because of physical health issues.

Studio work and rare appearances

• Collins still keeps a home studio in London but has not released new music since retiring (Variety 2026 report).
• He gave a rare video interview to Drumeo in January 2025, mostly discussing his drumming legacy (Drumeo/YouTube).
• According to a 2026 Rolling Stone report, Collins described himself as “mobile and healthy” and said he had been sober for two years.

Is Phil Collins still with his wife?

Marriage to Orianne Collins

• Collins married Swiss national Orianne Cevey in 1999 (People).
• They divorced in 2008, remarried in 2015, and separated again in 2020 (People (timeline)).

Separation in 2020

• Orianne Collins moved out of the family home in 2020 (People (separation)).
• The current state of their relationship is unclear; Collins has not publicly discussed it since.

The pattern: Collins’s personal life has been as volatile as his health — two marriages to the same woman, two separations, and now an ambiguous status.

Is Phil Collins in a wheelchair in real life?

Mobility aids used in public

• Collins uses a wheelchair for airport travel, long walks, and concerts (when he still performed) (People).
• He also walks with a cane at home (Fox News (mobility report)).

Foot drop caused by nerve damage

• The foot drop prevents him from lifting his foot, making walking without aid difficult (Variety (medical context)).
• In the Drumeo interview, he was seated and used a cane to stand (Drumeo video evidence).

The trade-off: Collins’s wheelchair is a practical tool for nerve damage, not a sign of a terminal condition. He shuts down hospice rumors, as reported by Fox News in July 2025.

Timeline: Phil Collins’s life and health

• 1951 – Born in London
• 1970–1996 – Drummer and frontman for Genesis
• 2000 – Injured neck after a fall, leading to chronic pain
• 2015 – Underwent spine surgery that caused foot drop
• 2017 – Toured with Genesis “We Can’t Dance” reunion
• 2022 – Retired from music due to health issues
• 2025 – Gave rare interview; shut down hospice rumors

Clarity: what we know and what’s still unclear

For a deeper look at the specific nerve damage and wheelchair use that have defined his later years, nerve damage and wheelchair use provides a comprehensive overview.

Frequently asked questions