Phil Collins is not in hospice, despite rumors swirling the internet.
The 74-year-old retired Genesis drummer and singer is in the hospital for knee surgery, a rep for the musician told TMZ.
The outlet wrote, further citing the rep, that Collins is ‘nowhere near death’.
Concerned fans took to social media earlier this week to express fear over the worst case scenario.
The former entertainer put away stopped playing drums in 2022 due to physical limitations, and in February said he no longer wants to make music.
‘I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens,’ the Grammy winner told MOJO magazine, adding, ‘But I’m not hungry for it anymore. The thing is, I’ve been sick, I mean very sick…’
Phil Collins is not in hospice, despite rumors swirling the internet; pictured in 2022
The 74-year-old retired Genesis drummer and singer is in the hospital for knee surgery, a rep for the musician told TMZ; pictured with bandmates Tony Banks (L) and Mike Rutherford (R) in 2006
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, suffers from type 2 diabetes and complications from a spine injury he incurred nearly 20 years ago.
‘My vertebrae have been crushing my spinal cord because of the position I drum in. It comes from years of playing,’ he told Daily Mail in 2009.
‘I can’t even hold the sticks properly without it being painful. I even used to tape the sticks to my hands to get through,’ he said at the time, adding cheekily, ‘Don’t worry, I can still sing.’
The MOJO interview was part of a larger story that served as a retrospective for all the eras of Genesis.
The actor, who is the father of Emily in Paris star Lily Collins, got his start in show business as the Artful Dodger in Oliver on London’s West End in 1964.
During that time, the young actor, who had been drumming since the age of five, got to know the orchestra leader and the drummer, which inspired him to become a professional percussionist, according to Drumeo.
Collins auditioned for Genesis and joined the group in 1970 at age 19, replacing John Mayhew on drums.
He became the frontman for the group when Peter Gabriel left to pursue a solo career in August 1975.
The former entertainer put away stopped playing drums in 2022 due to physical limitations, and in February said he no longer wants to make music; pictured in 2021
Phil’s health update comes days after he paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne following his death on Tuesday at age 76
The group released eight albums together, collecting numerous awards before Collins exited to pursue a solo career in 1996.
During that time he won eight Grammy awards, six Brit Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, three American Music Awards, two Golden Globes and an Oscar.
Phil’s health update comes days after he paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne following his death on Tuesday at age 76.
He shared a throwback photo of the two music artists embracing with smiles on their faces.
The caption simply read, ‘In happier times, love always PC x.’
