Highlights
- Seven Grammys, an Oscar and many hits later, former Genesis drummer and frontman Phil Collins is laying down the drumsticks.
- Explaining his reasons for “calling it a day” in a post titled Breaking News on his personal website, Collins put to rest months of media speculation over what was left of his career and possible retirement.
Seven Grammys, an Oscar and many hits later, former Genesis drummer and frontman Phil Collins is laying down the drumsticks.
Explaining his reasons for "calling it a day" in a post titled Breaking News on his personal website, Collins put to rest months of media speculation over what was left of his career and possible retirement.
"Many of the articles printed over the last few months have ended up painting a picture of me that is more than a little distorted," Collins, 60, explained in the message posted Monday.
Suggesting that some of his comments were taken out of context, the singer shared how he feels the cause behind the media tirade is a 'mystery' to him. After some articles portrayed him as a "tormented weirdo," Collins reassured fans there was "no need for the straitjacket." Clearing the air, he stated that it's not the bad reviews, bad press or him feeling "unloved" that's causing him to finally quit.
The ageing rocker now wants to be a full time dad to his two young sons with third ex-wife, Orianne Cevey. He did not completely rule out bad healh and a constant barrage of stinging criticism as possible reasons for retiring.
The 60-year-old suffers from a dislocated vertebra, has lost some of his hearing and also has nerve damage, making drumming a tougher job.
"I don't really belong to that world and I don't think anyone's going to miss me," he told a magazine.
Speculation about a possible last act for Collins was sparked by an interview in FHM magazine's April issue, in which the British singer had said "it feels like a good time to stop for awhile."
More rumours followed, including a bizarre article in the Daily Mail that claimed a Texan clairvoyant had led Collins to believe himself the reincarnation of an Alamo survivor. Since 2007, the article reported, Collins had been consumed by an interest in the battle of 1836, where 1500 Mexican troops laid siege to 200 Texans.
Collins has sold an estimated 100 million albums as a solo artist, but he told FHM he looks at events like the MTV Music Awards and says he "can't be in the same business as this."
The 60-year-old singer of hits like "Groovy Kind of Love," "In the Air Tonight," "Another Day In Paradise," "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)," and "Separate Lives" with Marilyn Martin, has also won an Academy Award for his soundtrack to the film "Tarzan." His album "No Jacket Required" won a Grammy for album of the year in 1985.