Introduction
A life-changing injury marked the end of an era for legendary musician Phil Collins, who officially stepped back from the spotlight and live performances. But in an unexpected twist, it opened the door for his son, Nicholas Collins, to step in and continue the family’s musical legacy as the new drummer for Genesis.
While many younger fans might recognize Phil as the father of actress Lily Collins from Emily in Paris, his global fame came long before that. As the frontman and drummer of Genesis — and a wildly successful solo artist — Phil’s contribution to music is legendary. However, a severe back injury in 2009 began a series of health issues that would change his career forever.
It all started during a drumming duel with longtime bandmate Chester Thompson when something suddenly went wrong. Phil felt a sharp pain in his spine, which led to surgery. Unfortunately, that procedure resulted in nerve damage, leaving him without full use of his hands — a devastating blow to a world-class drummer. To continue performing, Phil had to tape drumsticks to his hands.
As time passed, complications piled up. In 2017, he suffered a fall due to a condition known as “drop foot,” which made it nearly impossible for him to play drums or even walk comfortably. Phil eventually became reliant on a wheelchair and publicly acknowledged that his hands and feet no longer functioned well enough for drumming or piano.
Despite these setbacks, Phil remained close to music. His youngest son, Nick, who had grown up watching his father on stage, had been developing his own drumming skills. And in 2017, at just 16, Nick joined Phil on his solo tour — impressing audiences around the world with his incredible talent and stage presence.
But this wasn’t a case of nepotism. When the opportunity arose for Nick to join Genesis for their 2021-2022 reunion tour, Phil insisted that his son earned the position based on merit. Bandmates agreed — they were taken by Nick’s skill and chemistry with the group.
During Genesis’ final tour, Phil transitioned fully into the role of lead vocalist, performing from a seated position while Nick handled the drums. It was a full-circle moment for the Collins family, as Phil had once taken over vocals after Peter Gabriel left the band in the 1970s.
Outside of Genesis, Nick has continued to make a name for himself. He drums and sings in his own band, Better Strangers, and even joined Mike + the Mechanics — the side project of Genesis’ guitarist Mike Rutherford — on their European tour.
Music clearly runs deep in the Collins family. Phil’s oldest son, Simon, is also a professional musician, and Lily has shown off her own vocal chops on screen. Watching his children grow into their talents is part of what motivated Phil to return to music after his initial retirement in 2011. His daughter Jolie once encouraged him, saying that giving up music would be like letting go of a vital part of himself.
Though Phil has now stepped away from the stage, he’s doing so with peace of mind, knowing his music lives on — quite literally — through his son. Nick’s rise as a drummer marks a new chapter in the Collins family story, one where passion, legacy, and talent continue to take center stage.