At 74 years old, Phil Collins is facing a reality far removed from the one that defined most of his life. In a rare and strikingly candid interview, the musician has spoken openly about the physical decline that now governs his daily existence. For fans who grew up with his music as the soundtrack to their lives, the truth is harder than many imagined. The man who once drove entire arenas with rhythm and force now requires a live-in nurse around the clock, not as a precaution, but as a necessity.
Years of relentless touring, compounded by a series of major medical issues, have taken a heavy toll. Collins has undergone five knee surgeries, leaving him with only one knee that functions properly. Multiple spinal and neck operations damaged his nerves so severely that he lost feeling in his fingers and one of his feet. Walking is no longer something he does casually. He relies on crutches or a cane, moving slowly and deliberately, aware that a misstep could mean another hospital stay.
There is no attempt to soften the truth. Collins admits that pain is a constant companion. Simple actions most people take for granted require planning and assistance. The physical freedom that once defined his identity has been stripped away piece by piece. The irony is impossible to ignore. The same body that carried him through decades of high-energy performances is now the source of his greatest limitation.
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