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Music legend Phil Collins has revealed he now requires 24-hour live-in nurse care as he continues to battle multiple health issues that have plagued him in recent years.
"I have a 24-hour, live-in nurse to make sure I take my medication as I should do," Collins told British presenter Zoe Ball during the final installment of BBC's "Eras" podcast series about his career. The interview comes as the former Genesis frontman approaches his 75th birthday on January 30th.
Collins, who last performed live in 2022, detailed a cascade of health problems that have significantly impacted his mobility and quality of life. "I've had five operations on my knee. Now I've got a knee that works and I can walk, albeit with assistance — crutches or whatever," he explained in the interview.
The Grammy-winning musician's health struggles began with a 2007 spinal injury that resulted in severe nerve damage. A subsequent back operation left him with drop foot, a condition that significantly impairs walking and ultimately ended his ability to play the drums.
"I had everything that could go wrong with me, did go wrong with me," Collins said. "I got COVID in hospital, my kidneys started to back up... everything seemed to converge at the same time."
The rock star also acknowledged that past drinking habits contributed to his kidney problems. "I'd probably been drinking too much, and so my kidneys were messed up," he admitted. "I wasn't one of those guys that sort of stayed up all night drinking. I'd drink during the day, but I guess I had too much of it."
Despite these challenges, Collins maintains a positive outlook. "It's just been a difficult, interesting, frustrating last few years. But it's all right now," he told Ball. Last summer, Collins' team had to refute rumors that he was in hospice care, clarifying that he had been hospitalized for knee surgery.
Collins has been open about his health struggles in recent years. In a 2021 interview, he revealed he could no longer play the drums, leading his son Nic Collins to replace him on drums during Genesis' farewell tour while Phil handled vocals.
Beyond his musical legacy, Collins expressed pride in his five children, including actress Lily Collins, star of Netflix's Emily in Paris. "My kids are amazingly well-adjusted considering some of the things that they've been through. I'm very, very proud of all of them," he said.