Phil Collins Bid Farewell At Moving Last-Ever Concert As He Admitted He & Bandmates Would 'Have To Get Real Jobs'

Oct 05, 2023

For years, Phil Collins has been a household name, bringing a mixture of emotions to those who hear his amazing voice. From heartbreaking to inspiring, the singer can really mess with all our feelings!

During his time as a musician, Collins has managed to collect eight Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, six Ivor Novello Awards, six Brit Awards, an Academy Award and a Disney Legend award. His wide variety of awards have set him apart in the music industry and led him to achieve legendary status.

According to Wikipedia, Collins got his start in the music world at a young age when he got a toy drum kit at 5 years old. Seeing how much he loved to play the drums, his uncle ultimately made him a more grown-up version later on.

When he was 5 years old, he also entered a talent contest where he was singing "The Ballad of Davy Crockett"; however, the performance went sour when the tiny boy stopped the orchestra to inform them that they were playing in the incorrect key. 

Collins started his First Final Farewell Tour back in 2004. The name was somewhat of a joke pointed toward other singers who have an endless stream of farewell tours that are supposed to be their last.

After years of bringing joy to fans with their music as well as performing at live concerts, Collins and his band, Genesis, finally decided to close the curtain and perform for the last time in 2022 due to health problems that he battled years prior to their final show.

In 2007, Phil Collins sustained a dislocated vertebrae in his neck, per Hollywood Life. At the time, he was performing on a reunion tour with Genesis. Unfortunately, the health problem caused nerve damage to him through the years which forced him to give up his love for drumming.

According to an article published by The Guardian in 2021, Collins also suffered from diabetes and had to use a stick in order to walk.

In an interview with the Daily Mail in 2009, the musician broke the news to his fans as he noted that he had to stop playing drums after five long decades.

“My vertebrae have been crushing my spinal cord because of the position I drum in. It comes from years of playing. I can’t even hold the sticks properly without it being painful, I even used to tape the sticks to my hands to get through,” he noted at the time.

Although he could no longer play drums, Collins was fortunate as he could still sing, but he told The Guardian that he doesn't practice his vocals at home. He said: “I don’t do anything at all. I don’t practice singing at home, not at all. Rehearsing is the practice.”

In a 2021 interview with the BBC Breakfast Show, the singer gave further updates about his health condition. At the time, the band made a big comeback after 14 years of taking a break. The interviewer asked him if he could still play the drums at the time, to which the singer said he would love to but he couldn’t because of his medical condition.

“No. I’d love to, but I mean, I can barely hold a stick with this hand. So there are certain physical things which get in the way,” he said.

The group, which consisted of Collins, Tony Banks, and Mike Rutherford, then hinted at the time that their “Last Domino?” tour would be their final one.

“We’re all men of our age and I think, to some extent, yeah, I think it probably is ‘putting it to bed,’” Collins said of their tour.

In March 2022, Genesis performed at the O2 Arena in London, United Kingdom, for the last time as it would be their final concert as a group.

At one moment, which was posted on YouTube, Collins, who needed to sit down throughout the entire show due to his health issues while his son Nicholas took over the drums, addressed the crowd as he told them that it was a special night.

“It’s the last show for Genesis,” the musician announced, leading to applause from the crowd.

He later joked to the audience: “That's all for tonight, we’ll all have to get real jobs.”

In March 2023, Rutherford spoke with the BBC Breakfast Show to promote his tour. At the time, he gave an update regarding his beloved bandmate, and it appeared that his condition had deteriorated after their final show.

“As you know, Phil is a bit… He’s much more immobile than he used to be, which is a shame, but at the tour, he was in good spirits,” he said, as reported by NME.

Regardless of his inability to function properly, Rutherford assured fans that Collins was enjoying his time at home.

“He’s fine now at home, enjoying life. He’s worked so hard over the years. I think he’s enjoying his time at home,” he added.

What do you think of Phil Collins' achievements throughout his work as a musician for decades? Did he have a massive impact on your life? Let us know your thoughts, and make sure to pass this on to your friends and family.