Phil Collins Health: Drop Foot, Personal Life, Current Status

Few musicians defined the 1980s as thoroughly as Phil Collins — his voice and drumming powered Genesis and a string of solo hits that still fill stadiums. But behind the Grammy awards and sold-out tours, Collins has been quietly fighting a different battle: a degenerative nerve condition that has taken away his ability to walk without assistance, let alone play the drums.

Age: 73 (born January 30, 1951) ·
Occupation: Singer, drummer, songwriter, record producer, actor ·
Health condition: Drop foot (peripheral neuropathy) following back surgeries ·
Current mobility aid: Cane and wheelchair ·
Marriages: Three (Andrea Bertorelli, Jill Tavelman, Orianne Cevey) ·
Net worth (estimated): $300 million

Seven key facts provide a baseline for understanding Collins’ situation.

What medical condition is Phil Collins suffering from?

What happened to Phil Collins?

• Collins developed drop foot — a condition where the front of the foot cannot lift properly — after a series of back surgeries (TODAY (health news outlet)).
• The root cause is widely linked to a 2007 spinal injury that caused nerve damage (Billboard (music industry publication)).
• In 2015, Collins underwent major neck surgery, which ABC News reported contributed further to the drop foot (ABC News (network news)).
• He has also undergone five knee operations (Variety (entertainment trade publication)).

Is Phil Collins in a wheelchair in real life?

• Yes. Collins uses a wheelchair and a cane to get around (ABC News (network news)).
• He told The Independent that he can walk with assistance such as crutches, but cannot stand for long periods (The Independent (UK news outlet)).
• In 2024, Collins described having a live-in nurse providing 24-hour care to ensure he takes his medication (Billboard (music industry publication)).

Mobility challenges are a permanent consequence of nearly two decades of spinal and orthopedic complications (Billboard (music industry publication)).

What is Phil Collins doing now?

Is Phil Collins still alive?

• Yes. As of 2025, Phil Collins is alive and lives in Miami, Florida (Variety (entertainment trade publication)).
• He has retired from performing and touring due to his health (Billboard (music industry publication)).
• He occasionally works on archival projects and Genesis reissues, but is not actively recording or producing new music (Rolling Stone (music magazine)).
• A 2026 Rolling Stone report quoted Collins saying he was thinking about making music again after feeling “mobile and healthy” (Rolling Stone (music magazine)).

Collins’ daily life is now structured around health management. The man who once drummed for three hours a night now requires 24-hour care. His rare public appearances — like the 2022 Genesis farewell show — are exceptions, not a new normal.

Does Phil Collins have a partner now?

Why did Andrea Bertorelli leave Phil Collins?

• Phil Collins is not currently married and has no publicly confirmed partner as of 2024 (Wikipedia (public encyclopedia)).
• He has been married three times: Andrea Bertorelli (1975–1980), Jill Tavelman (1984–1996), Orianne Cevey (1999–2008) (Wikipedia (public encyclopedia)).
• Andrea Bertorelli left him reportedly due to his demanding career and long absences (Wikipedia (public encyclopedia)).
• His relationship with Orianne Cevey ended in divorce, followed by later legal disputes over property (Wikipedia (public encyclopedia)).

Collins’ music career cost him his first two marriages. His third marriage collapsed amid reported financial disagreements. Today, no public evidence suggests a new partner, and Collins keeps his private life firmly out of the headlines.

Timeline

Eight milestones trace Collins’ journey from drummer to patient.

• 1951 — Born in London.
• 1970 — Joins Genesis as drummer (Wikipedia (public encyclopedia)).
• 1981 — Releases debut solo album ‘Face Value’ with hit ‘In the Air Tonight’ (Wikipedia (public encyclopedia)).
• 1996 — Leaves Genesis to focus on solo career and film scoring (Wikipedia (public encyclopedia)).
• 2000s — Suffers multiple back injuries; undergoes surgeries that lead to nerve damage (Billboard (music industry publication)).
• 2011 — Officially retires from performing due to health issues (Billboard (music industry publication)).
• 2022 — Performs with Genesis for their farewell tour (limited appearances using a chair) (Billboard (music industry publication)).
• 2024–2025 — Resides in Miami; no public performances; health condition managed with mobility aids; multiple knee surgeries reported (The Independent (UK news outlet)).

What we know for sure — and what remains unclear

In his own words: key quotes

“Everything that could go wrong with me, did go wrong with me.” — Phil Collins (NOVA.ie (Irish radio station))

Collins described feeling “totally mobile and healthy” after recent knee surgeries, as reported by Rolling Stone (Rolling Stone (music magazine)).

His son Nic Collins told ABC News that his father had a major neck surgery in 2015 that contributed to drop foot (ABC News (network news)).

The Independent reported Collins saying from hospital after his latest knee surgery, “I can walk, but only with crutches” (The Independent (UK news outlet)).

For fans who grew up with the driving beat of “In the Air Tonight,” the image of Phil Collins needing a wheelchair and 24-hour care is jarring. But the man himself has not disappeared — he lives quietly in Miami, occasionally surfaces for interviews, and has even hinted at making music again. Drop foot is permanent, touring is over, and his private life remains just that.

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