Phil Collins Says 'People Were Coming to Say Goodbye' Amidst Alcoholism Battle

As Phil Collins sat in his hospital bed in Switzerland, his kidneys failing and organs seizing up, his family gathered around him, worried that they might not see him again. Phil Collins, the 75-year-old musician, was at his lowest point, a victim of his own battle with alcoholism. "People were coming to say goodbye," he revealed in a recent interview with The Sunday Times, published on August 3. Collins' manager of 50 years had summoned his five children to his bedside, as there were decisions to be made about whether to keep him on life support.

Phil Collins has lived a life in the spotlight, with a career spanning over five decades. As the drummer and singer of the iconic rock band Genesis, he has sold millions of records and performed to sold-out crowds around the world. But beneath the surface of his successful career, Collins has struggled with addiction. In his 2016 memoir, Not Dead Yet, he wrote candidly about his struggles with alcoholism, and was sober at the time of writing. However, in 2024, Collins relapsed, and his life took a devastating turn.

Collins' relapse was a gradual process, one that he couldn't even pinpoint. "When I was drinking, the calendar goes out the window," he said in the interview. He would start his day with a glass of wine, and continue drinking throughout the day. But Collins didn't realize the severity of his problem until it was too late. "I didn't drink into the night, you know. So I wasn’t really aware of having a problem, to be honest," he admitted.

Collins' hospitalization in Switzerland was a wake-up call, one that brought him back from the brink of disaster. He spent seven months in hospital, and credits Antabuse medication with helping him to stay sober. "I was very lucky to have come out of that," he said. Collins has not had a drink since, and is grateful for a second chance at life.

As Collins navigates his new reality, he is also healing old wounds. He has been working to mend his relationship with Paul McCartney, after a previous interview in which he accused the former Beatle of treating him "condescendingly." However, thanks to a charity auction involving Collins and the King's Trust, the two musicians have been able to put their differences aside. Collins wrote a letter to McCartney, and the former Beatle agreed to donate an item to the charity auction. "I wish I hadn’t said it, although it did leave a bad taste in my mouth," Collins said.

As I read Phil Collins' story, I am struck by the fragility of life. Collins, a man who has performed to millions of people around the world, was brought to his knees by his own addiction. But he is not alone. Many artists struggle with addiction, and it's a reminder that even the most successful among us can fall victim to the demons of substance abuse. Collins' story is evidence of the power of redemption, and a reminder that it's never too late to seek help.