Few musicians have had as deep a connection with audiences as Phil Collins, but in recent years the conversation around him has shifted from his drumming and songwriting to his health. It’s easy to wonder: What exactly is going on with the man behind “In the Air Tonight”? This article separates the verified medical facts from the rumors, drawing on reports from major outlets to give a clear picture of his chronic disc degeneration, drop foot, wheelchair use, and his life today with partner Lilly Gomez.

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Age: 74 (born January 30, 1951) ·
Studio albums sold worldwide: over 100 million ·
Career span: 1968 – present ·
Grammy Awards won: 8 ·
Health condition: chronic disc degeneration and drop foot

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

Six key details, one pattern: Phil Collins’s health decline is a cumulative story of spinal degeneration, surgical complications, and nerve damage, not a single catastrophic event.

Field Value
Full name Philip David Charles Collins
Born January 30, 1951 in London, England
Main instruments Drums, vocals, keyboards
Notable bands Genesis, Brand X
Health diagnosis Chronic disc degeneration, drop foot
Current partner Lilly Gomez

What condition is Phil Collins suffering from?

Official diagnosis of chronic disc degeneration

Phil Collins has been diagnosed with chronic disc degeneration, a condition in which the spinal discs lose hydration and elasticity, leading to pain and reduced mobility. People (celebrity news outlet) reported that back surgery helped his spine and hips but triggered a new problem: drop foot. This is a nerve-related condition where the front of the foot cannot be lifted, causing the foot to drag when walking.

How does drop foot affect his mobility?

According to ABC News (broadcaster), a representative for Collins confirmed that drop foot makes it difficult for him to walk. The condition arose after a back operation in 2015 and has progressively limited his ability to move without assistance. Variety (entertainment magazine) added that additional knee surgeries and kidney problems have compounded his health struggles.

The link

Disc degeneration → spinal surgery → nerve damage → drop foot: the chain of events is medically consistent, yet each step has been reported piecemeal. The full picture shows a musician paying a heavy price for decades of physical performance.

Is Phil Collins in a wheelchair in real life?

Mobility aids he uses in 2025

Public appearances and walking ability

Collins has been seen using a wheelchair at airports and during travel, but he can walk short distances with a cane. Rolling Stone (music magazine) reported in January 2026 that Collins said he was “mobile and healthy.” However, Fox News (cable news) reported that he now requires 24-hour medical care — a claim that contrasts with his own upbeat statements. The contradiction highlights the difficulty of pinning down his exact condition from press reports alone.

The catch

A 2026 Rolling Stone health update quoted Collins describing himself as “mobile,” while Fox News simultaneously ran a story citing “24-hour medical care.” Without a single authoritative medical statement, fans are left sorting through conflicting signals.

What happened to Phil Collins?

Spinal surgery and its aftermath

In 2015, Collins underwent neck spinal surgery to address chronic disc degeneration. ABC News (broadcaster) reported that the surgery was followed by a fall triggered by drop foot, a complication that his team said made walking difficult. The nerve damage responsible for drop foot is believed to have originated from the procedure itself or from the underlying spinal condition.

Decline in health over the last decade

Today (morning show) reported in 2026 that Collins said he could not make new music because he had been “very sick.” He also told The Guardian (British newspaper) in 2021: “I’ve been sick, I mean very sick. But I’m not dying.” That same year he discussed drop foot on BBC, calling it “just one of those things that happened” (BBC News (public broadcaster)). A 2007 injury during the Genesis reunion tour, reported by Variety (entertainment magazine), caused severe nerve damage that likely laid the groundwork for later complications.

Bottom line: The pattern across these reports: Collins’s health story is not a sudden crisis but a decade-long accumulation of spinal and nerve damage, with each surgery adding new complications.

What is Phil Collins doing now?

Current projects and performances

Collins retired from touring after the Genesis final concert at The O2 in 2022 (Rolling Stone (music magazine)). However, he has not stopped making music. Today (morning show) noted that he continues to record and produce from his home studio. In a 2026 interview with Rolling Stone (music magazine), he said he was working on new material, though his output has slowed considerably.

Living situation and family time

Collins resides in Miami with his partner Lilly Gomez. He has five children from previous relationships. His public appearances are rare, but he was photographed in 2025 attending a basketball game using a wheelchair. Yahoo Entertainment (news aggregator) described his lifestyle as quiet, focused on recovery and family.

For fans: Collins has not retired from music, but his physical health prevents touring. Expect occasional home-studio projects, not a return to the stage.

Does Phil Collins have a partner now?

His relationship with Lilly Gomez

Since 2017, Collins has been in a relationship with Lilly Gomez, a photographer and creative director. The couple lives together in Miami. People (celebrity news outlet) noted that Gomez has been a constant presence during his health struggles, accompanying him to medical appointments and public events. Prior to Gomez, Collins was married three times: to Andrea Bertorelli (1975–1980), Jill Tavelman (1984–1996), and Orianne Cevey (1999–2008).

Previous marriages to Andrea Bertorelli and others

Bertorelli, Collins’s first wife, was his bandmate in the early 1970s before Genesis achieved global fame. The couple separated in 1980, reportedly due to the pressures of touring and career. Collins’s second marriage to Jill Tavelman produced his daughter, Lily Collins, now an actress. His third marriage to Orianne Cevey ended in a contentious divorce.

The implication: Collins’s personal life has been stable since linking with Gomez, providing a support system that his earlier marriages lacked during his peak career years.

Rumor check

Social media posts in 2025 claimed Collins was receiving hospice care. E! News (entertainment channel) via Facebook denied those reports, and no major outlet has confirmed them. The rumor appears to have originated from fan speculation on Reddit (community forum) and remains unsubstantiated.

Timeline of Phil Collins’s health journey

  • 1951 – Born in London.
  • 1970 – Joins Genesis as drummer.
  • 1981 – Releases In the Air Tonight as a solo artist.
  • 2007 – Suffers nerve damage during Genesis reunion tour (Rolling Stone (music magazine)).
  • 2015 – Undergoes neck spinal surgery; later develops drop foot (ABC News (broadcaster)).
  • 2022 – Final concert with Genesis at The O2 (Rolling Stone (music magazine)).
  • 2025–2026 – Public appearances with cane/wheelchair; continues recording from home.

Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Phil Collins has chronic disc degeneration (People (celebrity news outlet))
  • He developed drop foot after surgery (ABC News (broadcaster))
  • He uses a wheelchair or cane (Yahoo Entertainment (news aggregator))
  • He retired from touring (Rolling Stone (music magazine))
  • He is in a relationship with Lilly Gomez since 2017

What remains unclear

  • Exact date of full drumming retirement
  • Whether his condition will improve
  • Conflicting reports on need for 24-hour care vs. being “mobile and healthy”
  • Hospice care rumors—denied but not formally refuted by a public statement

Quotes from Phil Collins on his health

“I’ve been sick, I mean very sick. But I’m not dying.”

— Phil Collins in The Guardian (British newspaper), 2021

“It’s just one of those things that happened.”

— Phil Collins on drop foot, in BBC News (public broadcaster), 2022

The pattern across both quotes: Collins acknowledges serious health problems but consistently rejects the narrative of imminent death. His own framing is one of acceptance, not alarm.

Additional sources

moderndrummer.com, abcnews.com, facebook.com, axs.tv

Fans concerned about the musician’s well-being can find a detailed update on Phil Collins ongoing health challenges, including his chronic disc degeneration and current mobility status.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Phil Collins completely paralyzed?

No. He has drop foot and uses a wheelchair for long distances, but he can walk short distances with a cane. He is not paralyzed.

Can Phil Collins still play the drums?

He has not drummed publicly since 2022, partly due to nerve damage and mobility issues. He continues to sing and produce music from his home studio (Today (morning show)).

Did Phil Collins lose his voice?

No. He has spoken about his health and continues to record vocals, though he has described being “very sick” in recent years. No major reports indicate long-term vocal damage.

How much is Phil Collins worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth (financial site), his net worth is estimated at $300 million, though this figure is not independently verified by official disclosures.

What is Phil Collins’s most popular song?

“In the Air Tonight” (1981) remains his most streamed and culturally referenced song, known for its iconic drum build-up. It was written after his divorce from Andrea Bertorelli.

Where does Phil Collins live now?

He lives in Miami, Florida, with his partner Lilly Gomez. He previously resided in Switzerland and Canada.

Has Phil Collins had any hip or knee replacements?

Variety (entertainment magazine) reported that he has undergone knee surgeries, and his spinal surgeries are well documented. Specific hip replacement details are not publicly confirmed.

Related reading

For anyone who grew up with Genesis or Phil Collins’s solo hits, the health update is sobering. The man who played drums every night for decades now navigates the world with a cane and a wheelchair, but he is still making music from his Miami home. The choice for fans is clear: accept that the live performances are over, or cherish the recordings he is still able to produce.