LAST Saturday (March 26), music legend Phil Collins bid farewell to his fans as he performed his last ever show with Genesis, the band that launched him to fame before he branched out as a solo legendary act.
Collins told the crowd: "It's the last stop of our tour, and it's the last show for Genesis. After tonight we all have to get real jobs."
The 71-year-old was performing at the O2 Arena in London as part of The Last Domino tour, which saw the band travel through Europe for the last time. The tour also served as a passing of the torch with Collins’ son Nic taking over as drummer.
Collins himself is no longer able to play the drums, piano or even stand due to a number of chronic health issues that have plagued him for the past 15 years or so.
Drumming on the 2007 Genesis tour caused him to dislocate vertebrae in his upper neck, which resulted in him losing the feeling in his fingers. He also has difficulty walking because of a number of ailments, requiring him to walk with a cane.
On the tour, he reunited with fellow Genesis members Tony Bans and Mike Rutherford for the first time in 14 years, though he himself looked frail and spent a lot of time sitting on a chair.
Collins was with the band from the early 1970s up to 1996, though he was already began his solo career in the 1980s with a string of hits such as In the Air Tonight, Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now), and Another Day in Paradise, among others. Some of these songs have endured through the decades and are much beloved by many generations.
Younger fans might remember Collins’ work writing songs for Disney’s Tarzan animated film in 1999. He received an Oscar for Best Original Song for You'll Be in My Heart.
He leaves behind a legacy as one of the most successful drummers in the history of rock and roll. – The Vibes, March 30, 2022
