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Phil Collins Reveals He Nearly Died From Alcohol Abuse: “People Were Coming To Say Goodbye”
Phil Collins has revealed that he came close to death in April 2024 due to alcohol abuse, with his manager summoning his five children to his bedside at a Swiss hotel to say their goodbyes. The 75-year-old musician, best known as the former Genesis drummer and frontman, told The Times of London that his organs and kidneys were failing at the time, though he has no memory of the episode itself. The disclosure sheds new light on the severity of health problems that have plagued him for years and marks his most candid public account yet of his struggle with drink.
Collins, who detailed earlier bouts of addiction in his 2016 memoir Not Dead Yet, said he had continued drinking wine each morning even after periods of sobriety, including a stint at Eric Clapton's rehab clinic in Antigua. In late 2023 his condition deteriorated to the point that he spent seven months in hospital, culminating in the deathbed scene at the Swiss hotel; he has remained sober since and now relies on a 24-hour live-in nurse to manage lasting effects including type 2 diabetes, nerve damage and mobility issues from spine and knee surgery. Despite this, he has since enjoyed family gatherings and says he is open to a fourth marriage, and he is set to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist on 14 November in Los Angeles.
In short
- Phil Collins nearly died from alcohol abuse in April 2024, family said goodbye
- Hospitalised for seven months; now sober with 24/7 nursing care
- Set for solo Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction on 14 November
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
When prominent figures openly discuss addiction and recovery, they challenge stigma that prevents people from seeking help. Collins's candid account demonstrates that addiction respects no status or wealth, and recovery is achievable even at advanced age. By sharing his story, he creates space for others to acknowledge their struggles without shame and contributes to vital conversations about substance abuse.
The case against
Publicising one's most intimate health crisis raises substantive questions about privacy and whether such disclosure benefits society or oneself. Addiction and near-death experiences are profoundly personal matters, and their public airing risks reducing authentic suffering to entertainment, particularly given the exceptional resources available to celebrities. Some argue there is genuine dignity in private healing, and that meaningful support for others need not require transforming personal trauma into public testimony.
Explained simply
Phil Collins is a British musician who became famous as the drummer and later lead singer of Genesis, one of the best-known rock bands of the 1970s and 1980s. He also had a successful solo career, with songs such as “In the Air Tonight”. His memoir, Not Dead Yet, discussed earlier struggles with alcohol.
Alcohol misuse can cause serious harm to the body, including damage to the liver and other organs. Collins has also faced long-term health problems and operations that have affected his mobility, making his recent account part of a wider story about his health and recovery. He has said he has remained sober since the 2024 crisis.