Introduction
Phil Collins: “I’m Terrible at Retirement”
For most people, retirement is a chance to slow down, step away from the spotlight, and enjoy the quiet rhythms of life. For Phil Collins, however, stepping back has never been quite that simple. The legendary drummer, singer, and songwriter—whose career has spanned more than five decades—recently admitted with a wry smile: “I’m terrible at retirement.”
It’s hardly a surprise. Collins has always been driven by music, from his days behind the drum kit with Genesis to his reign as one of the most successful solo artists of the 1980s and 1990s. His hits—“In the Air Tonight,” “Against All Odds,” “One More Night”—became anthems that defined an era. Even after health setbacks and multiple “farewell” tours, Collins has repeatedly found himself drawn back to the stage, unable to resist the call of an audience and the pull of a melody.
His first attempt at retirement came in 2002, when he stepped away from recording and touring to focus on raising his young children. At the time, he insisted he was done with the grind of the music industry. But within a few years, he was back in the studio, producing new work and even reuniting with Genesis for a world tour. “The truth is, I missed it too much,” Collins admitted. “Music is in my blood. When I say I’m retiring, what I really mean is that I’m taking a break until I can’t stand it anymore.”
Health challenges have made the question of retirement even more complicated. Nerve damage, back surgeries, and ongoing mobility issues have forced Collins to give up drumming, the very instrument that launched his career. In recent years, he has performed mostly from a seated position, his son Nic Collins taking over the drums during Genesis’s The Last Domino? tour. Yet even limited by physical pain, Collins’s passion for music has kept him going. “I can’t play the way I used to,” he confessed, “but I can still sing, I can still perform, and I can still share something with the audience. That matters.”
His refusal to disappear into retirement speaks to a larger truth about artists like Collins. For him, music has never been just a job—it has been a lifelong companion, a form of expression, and a source of healing. Songs like “You’ll Be in My Heart” from Disney’s Tarzan or the haunting “Another Day in Paradise” are reminders of how deeply personal his artistry has always been.
Fans, for their part, have embraced his inability to retire gracefully. Each time Collins has returned to the stage, audiences have filled arenas, eager to celebrate his legacy once more. Whether in solo performances or with Genesis, his concerts are less about spectacle and more about gratitude—an artist and his fans cherishing the time they still share together.
At 73, Phil Collins knows he may never tour at the same scale again. Yet his honesty about being “terrible at retirement” only endears him further to those who have followed his journey. For Collins, retirement may remain elusive—but his music, and his impact, are eternal