Phil Collins seems to have said goodbye to the stage. He didn’t confirm it, no, but he did give concrete signs that the closure of the Genesis tour might have been the last not only of the group’s career but also of his.
On Saturday, in London, the musician gave his last concert with Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks, his partners in the legendary British band Genesis, that in a first era knew how to be led by Peter Gabriel.
The singer, who has been dealing for some years with health problems that prevent him from moving normallytook to the stage of the O2 Arena in London to perform the last show of the Genesis reunion tourThe Last Domino?, and revealed that this would be the last show for the group and, probably, for him as well.
“Tonight is very special. Of course, because we are going to play in London, but also it is the last stop of our tour and the last concert of Genesis”, Phil told the public, who did not know that he was living a historic moment. “It’s hard for us to believe that they came to see it. I guess following tonight, we all have to get real jobs.”, He added putting humor to the situation while people lamented.
Among the lucky members of the public, witnesses of a unique night, were Peter Gabriel, the original singer of Genesis, and actress Lily Collins.. the protagonist of Emily in París went to support his father at this significant moment, and his brother Nic, who played drums throughout the tour.
“Tonight marks the end of an era. Having witnessed this last show has really been a memory that I will keep for the rest of my life and an event that will remain in my heart forever. To say that I am infinitely grateful is not enough, really. Much love was left on the O2 stage and even more was shared with the audience, who didn’t want the show to end. Thank you Genesis for the memories, thank you Dad for being an inspiration and thank you Nic Collins for making me the proudest sister there is.. 50 years of songs later and there are still more generations to celebrate, even long following this tour is over,” Lily wrote on her Instagram account, where she also shared photos from the show.
The deteriorating state of health of Collins was evident to all who saw him during the shows he gave in recent times. In 2015, the singer faced back surgery and, following his recovery, he suffered a serious fall in a hotel room where he was staying in 2017, where he hit his head on a chair. After receiving several stitches, she acknowledged for the second time that his physical health was beginning to deteriorate. A his 70 yearsCollins must use a cane to walk and can no longer play the drums.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be fit enough to play drums once more. My left arm changed, it’s a matter of nerves. The back surgery I had was excellent and I had no problems, but then when I was recovering on crutches, I fell and broke my foot”, he told the magazine Billboard, in 2016.
“I would love to, but there are certain physical barriers that prevent me,” he declared when asked the reason why he left the instrument that gave him world prestige. “It makes me very sad because I would love to be there, playing with my son,” said the man, who placed total trust in Nic as a musician. “When he wants to, Nic can almost play like me. I am one of many influences on him. He knows how to do it well and he has pretty much the same attitude as me and that’s a good start.”
In an interview with The Guardian days before embarking on the final tour, Collins had detailed how the show had to change by being unable to walk or stand on stage. “I don’t do anything at all. I don’t practice singing at home at all. Rehearsal is practice. Of course, my health changes thingsdoing the show sitting down changes things”, he assumed.
But far from being affected by his state of health, the musician puts his chest to the situation: “On my last solo tours I verified that this is not an obstacle, the public continues to listen and respond. It’s not the way I would have wanted it, but it’s the way it is,” she maintained.
