Phil Collins Returns to the Drum Kit After a Decade, Evoking Nostalgia and Awe Among Fans Worldwide!
Phil Collins has been facing a challenging time recently, dealing with various health issues that have kept the “In The Air Tonight” legend from performing or even playing the drums he is celebrated for. Nonetheless, Collins recently had the opportunity to experience playing his iconic Gretsch tom kit once again for the first time in over a decade, featured in a new video by Drumeo.
The 73-year-old Genesis superstar has been battling his physical health since around 2007, when he sustained a severe spinal injury. This injury resulted in a condition known as drop foot, which makes lifting the front part of the foot difficult. Additionally, he suffers from chronic neck pain, a common issue among drummers. These ailments have naturally made drumming a challenge for him.
Phil Collins Briefly Tries Out His Former Drum Kit in New Drumeo Documentary
Drumeo interviewed Collins for their latest documentary, Phil Collins: Drummer First. The documentary delves into Collins’ legacy as one of the most legendary drummers of his generation and openly discusses his physical limitations and how he has managed them. A significant portion of the documentary features Collins alongside his musically talented son, Nic Collins, who is the drummer for Better Strangers.
Drumeo shared a clip from the documentary that shows Nic Collins and Drumeo host Brandon Toews attempting to assemble Collins’ long-unused drum kit. This kit is well-known as the one Collins used during Genesis’ legendary 1992 We Can’t Dance Tour.
After assembling the kit, Nic is the first to test it out. He does an impressive job, even playing the famous drum fill from Collins’ 1981 hit song “In The Air Tonight”. However, it’s important to note that this particular kit is not the one Collins used in the original recording of the song.
In the video, Nic mentioned that the drum setup required his father to lean forward to play properly. He speculated that this positioning may have contributed to Collins’ poor posture and subsequent neck pain in later years.
In the final minutes of the video clip, Collins approaches his old drum kit and sits behind it. He gives the drums a few test taps before saying “That’s enough of that” and stands up.
You can watch the full documentary, Phil Collins: Drummer First, on YouTube:
