Phil Collins on health problems: "I can barely hold the drumstick"

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Phil Collins (2019)

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Christoph Schmidt / dpa

In the eighties there was little escape from Phil Collins and his band Genesis.

Many critics worked their way through the shallow pop music - it did little harm to the gigantic success.

To this day, world hits like "In the Air Tonight" and "I Can't Dance" are omnipresent on the radio.

This year, Collins turned 70 and will tour with Genesis again.

As he told the British BBC, playing drums is no longer an option for him.

In addition to his role as the band's singer, he was also long considered one of the best drummers in the world.

“I can barely hold the drumstick.

At least with this hand.

So there are certain physical things that make it difficult, ”said the musician.

On tour, his son Nic will be on the drums.

At least Collins can still sing - if only while sitting.

“I'm a little limited physically.

It's frustrating because I love playing up there on stage, ”Collins said.

Since the noughties, Collins has been plagued by health problems.

In 2000, as it turned out later, due to a virus infection, he lost hearing in his left ear, but recovered from it almost completely.

In 2009 he had to undergo an operation on the neck and in 2014 on the spine.

These affected his nerves and he also suffers from diabetes.

For the last time on a big tour

The autumn tour with Genesis is set to be the last of its kind, according to Collins: “We're all men of a certain age, and to some extent we're finishing this.

I can only speak for myself.

But I don't know if I want to go out again afterwards. "

With an estimated net worth of £ 120 million, Collins was one of Britain's wealthiest artists.

But dealing with his wealth also earned him criticism.

For a long time he lived in the tax haven of Switzerland and was repeatedly denounced for this in Great Britain.

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